Often pejorative: "snivelling brat", pathetic crying child. "Stop snivelling!": common command to stop the self-pity.
to cry or complain in a whining way
He snivelled about his bad luck.
Common when crying quietly or with a cold. "The sniffles" = a mild cold (informal).
to sniff repeatedly, often from crying or cold
She sniffled into her tissue.
an act or sound of sniffling
She let out a small sniffle.
"Lame duck" = ineffectual outgoing official. "Like water off a duck's back" = no effect. "Sitting duck" = easy target. "Ugly Duckling": fairy tale.
a water bird with webbed feet
They fed the ducks at the pond.
to lower the head quickly
She ducked to avoid the branch.
Also spelled "whiz". Onomatopoeic. "Whizz kid": exceptionally talented young person. "Math whizz": gifted at math.
to move very fast
Cars whizzed past on the highway.
Largely obsolete in US (supermarkets replaced home delivery). Returning slowly with sustainability movement. "Joke's on you, milkman!": cultural cliche about adultery.
a man who delivers milk to homes
The milkman came every morning.
Most associated with the Netherlands. "Tulip mania" (1630s Holland): first famous speculative bubble. Originated from Turkey/Central Asia.
a bulb plant with cup-shaped flowers
The garden was full of tulips.
Many senses: plank, committee (board of directors), meals ("room and board"). "On board" = on a ship or in agreement. "Above board" = legitimate.
a flat piece of wood; a committee
He served on the board for ten years.
a group of individuals elected to represent shareholders and oversee a company or organization
The board of directors approved the merger.
Traditional Christmas cake (often given as gift, often criticized as inedible). Also slang: "fruitcake" = crazy person. "Nutty as a fruitcake": eccentric.
a cake with dried fruits and nuts
Aunt Mary made fruitcake every Christmas.
Past: stole. Past participle: stolen. "Steal the show" = outperform everyone. "Steal a glance" = look quickly without being noticed.
to take without permission
Someone stole my bike.
Vast variety of uses. "Round the world": common adverb. "Round of applause". "Round of drinks": buying one for everyone in the group.
shaped like a circle or sphere
The ball was perfectly round.
one stage in a competition
She won the first round.
"Well-rounded", about a person: skilled in many areas. "Rounded vowels", phonetics term: lips rounded.
having curved edges or surfaces
She had rounded shoulders.
Asthma sufferers wheeze. Often described in detective fiction (the wheezing villain). The whistling caused by narrowed airways.
to breathe with difficulty making a whistling sound
He wheezed after climbing the stairs.
Stronger than "confuse": implies complete inability to understand. Often passive: "I'm baffled by this problem."
to bewilder completely
The puzzle baffled everyone.
Noun form of "baffle". Stronger than "confusion": implies total inability to understand.
a state of being totally confused
His questions were met with bafflement.
In US: "turtle" covers all (sea, land, fresh). In UK: "turtle" mostly = sea turtle; "tortoise" for land. "Turtleneck": high-collared sweater. "Turtle Beach": many famous beaches with this name.
a reptile with a hard shell
The sea turtle laid eggs on the beach.
"Tortoiseshell": also a cat coloring pattern. "Tortoiseshell glasses": classic eyewear style. Real tortoiseshell now mostly banned (CITES protections).
the patterned shell of a tortoise, or its imitation
She wore tortoiseshell sunglasses.
Homophone of "ball". "Bawl one's eyes out" = cry very hard. "Bawl someone out" = scold loudly.
to cry or shout loudly
The baby bawled all night.
"A Christmas Story" film features a famous air rifle ("Red Ryder BB gun"). Lower power than firearms but can cause serious injury.
a gun that fires pellets using compressed air
He shot tin cans with his air rifle.
"Dangle a carrot": offer a tempting reward. "Dangling participle": grammar error where modifier isn't clearly connected.
to hang loosely
His legs dangled over the edge.
"Look through the keyhole": common scenario for spying or eavesdropping in old buildings.
the hole for a key in a lock
She peered through the keyhole.
Also called laparoscopic surgery. Less invasive, faster recovery. Standard for many procedures (gallbladder removal, appendix).
surgery done through small holes using cameras
He had keyhole surgery on his knee.
Very informal. "Stuff and nonsense!": old expression of disbelief. "Strut your stuff" = show off your abilities.
unspecified material or things
He has so much stuff in his garage.
to fill tightly
She stuffed the suitcase with clothes.
Traditional British seaside food, often eaten at the beach with vinegar. Found in cold waters worldwide.
an edible marine snail
He ate a plate of whelks.
More common in British English. "Elastic": refers to the material's stretchiness.
(British) a rubber band
She tied her hair with an elastic band.
More common in American English. Distinct from "hair tie" / "hair band". "Rubber Band Man": song.
(American) a thin loop of rubber for holding things
The papers were held together with a rubber band.
Two related senses: the sound (guitar string twang), or a regional accent ("Texan twang", nasal quality).
a sharp vibrating sound; a nasal accent
He had a Southern twang.
Also figurative: "don't be a doormat" = don't let others walk all over you. Common item: "Welcome" doormat at the entrance.
a mat at a door for wiping shoes; a passive person
Wipe your feet on the doormat.
"Big Bang": universe's origin. "Bang for the buck" = value for money. "With a bang" = dramatically. "Bangs" (US) = fringe (UK): hairstyle.
a sudden loud sharp noise
There was a loud bang from the kitchen.
"Dishrag": alternative term, more American. UK: "dishcloth" most common. "Tea towel": for drying dishes.
a cloth used to wash dishes
She wiped the counter with a dishcloth.
Largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Distinctive deep "oompah" sound. Often the comic instrument in cartoons.
a large brass instrument with a deep tone
He played the tuba in the band.
"Bathtub": full word. "Hot tub": heated leisure tub. "Tub of ice cream": small carton.
a large open container or bathtub
She filled the tub with warm water.
a large container for water, used for immersing and washing the body
She filled the bathtub.
Childish term for adult. "When I grow up": common phrase. "Grown-up table": adults' table at family dinners.
an adult
Ask a grown-up to help you.
Hard straw hat with flat top. Associated with rowing, summer formal wear, and barbershop quartets. Now mostly costume/historical.
a flat-topped straw hat
He wore a boater at the regatta.
Named after Tuxedo Park, NY (1880s). Often shortened to "tux". UK: "dinner jacket" or "DJ". Worn for black-tie events.
a man's formal evening jacket
He rented a tuxedo for the wedding.
Worn at white-tie events (the most formal dress code). Conductor's traditional attire. Charlie Chaplin's tramp wore an ill-fitting tailcoat.
a formal jacket with long divided tails at the back
He wore a tailcoat to the opera.
Two unrelated senses: dark red color (from French "marron" = chestnut), and verb "to maroon" = abandon on island. Maroon 5: pop band.
a dark brownish red color
The team's uniform was maroon and gold.
to abandon someone in a remote place
The sailors were marooned on the island.
Antonym: one-way. "Round-trip ticket": return ticket. Important when booking flights/trains.
a journey to a place and back
The round trip takes two hours.
Three main senses: exercise, solve, end up. As noun: "a workout" = exercise session.
to exercise; to solve or figure out
He works out at the gym every day.
a session of physical exercise
She had a tough workout at the gym.
"Against all odds": despite expectations. "Against the grain" = contrary to natural inclination. "Against the clock": racing time.
opposing; in contact with
He leaned against the wall.
"Capture the imagination": figurative. "Capture the flag": game. "Motion capture": tech for animating CGI from real motion.
to take by force; to record
They captured the fortress.
a person who captures and holds someone prisoner
The hostage escaped from his captors.
"Captive audience" = an audience that cannot leave easily.
imprisoned or confined
The captive soldiers were held for months.
a person who has been taken prisoner
The captives were freed after the war.
the breeding of animals in confined conditions, often in conservation programs
Captive breeding has saved several species from extinction.
the condition of being imprisoned or confined
The hostages were released after months in captivity.
to attract and hold the interest and attention of; charm
Her performance captivated the audience.
capable of attracting and holding interest; charming
She gave a captivating performance.
Multiple senses: ship/plane officer, sports team leader, military rank. "Captain Obvious": meme for stating the obvious. "Captain America".
the leader of a ship, team, or military unit
The captain steered the ship.
Self-service restaurant. From Mexican Spanish "cafetería" (coffee shop). Common in schools, hospitals, large workplaces.
a self-service restaurant
The school cafeteria served pizza on Fridays.
Bees buzz. Alarm clocks buzz. "Buzz": also figurative for excitement ("there was a real buzz about the new product"). "BuzzFeed": viral news site.
to make a continuous low humming sound
Bees buzzed in the garden.
a word or phrase, often an item of jargon, that is fashionable at a particular time or in a particular context
'Diversity' is the new buzzword.
"A bunch of" (informal) = a lot of. "Bunch of grapes", "bunch of flowers". "The whole bunch": entire group of people.
a group of things gathered together
She bought a bunch of bananas.
American term mostly replaced "coffin" by the 19th-century funeral industry (more polite). Originally meant a small box for jewels.
a coffin
The casket was carried into the church.
"Husking": removing outer covering. "Husk", also figurative for empty shell: "a husk of his former self".
the dry outer covering of seeds
They removed the husks from the corn.
Plural: buffalo or buffaloes. American "buffalo" usually = bison (technically a different animal). True buffalo are in Africa and Asia. "Buffalo wings": spicy chicken from Buffalo, NY.
a large wild ox-like animal
A herd of buffalo crossed the plain.
"Merry Christmas": standard holiday greeting. "Merry Old England": nostalgic phrase. "Merry-making": festive celebration. "Eat, drink, and be merry."
cheerful and lively
They had a merry Christmas.
Cognac and Armagnac are famous French brandies. "Brandy snifter": specific tulip-shaped glass. Often served as digestif after meals.
a strong alcoholic drink made from wine
He sipped his brandy slowly.
Often: "gibbering wreck", someone reduced to nonsensical speech by stress.
to speak rapidly and unintelligibly
He gibbered with fear.
Often used to dismiss arguments or specialized jargon: "This contract is gibberish." Also = nonsense made-up speech.
unintelligible or meaningless speech
He was talking gibberish in his sleep.
Snakes uncoil to strike. Garden hoses uncoil. Also figurative: "tension uncoiled in his shoulders".
to undo a coil
The snake uncoiled itself.
Penguins waddle. Pregnant women may waddle in late stages. Implies slow side-to-side motion.
to walk with short steps swaying from side to side
The duck waddled to the water.
Boxing: "jab", straight punch. UK informal: "jab" = injection/vaccination ("flu jab", "booster jab").
to poke quickly with a pointed object
She jabbed him with her finger.
Two senses: low cry of pain/pleasure, or complaining. "Have a moan" (UK) = complain. "Moan and groan" = complain repeatedly.
to make a long low sound of suffering
He moaned in pain.
to complain
Stop moaning about the weather.
"T" silent. Often used for wet surfaces, eyes (with tears), or sweat. More poetic than "shine".
to shine with a soft sparkling light
The dew glistened on the grass.
Multiple senses unified by "firm" origin: quick, secure ("hold fast"), not eating ("break one's fast" = breakfast). "Fast food", "fast lane", "fast asleep".
moving or able to move quickly
He drove a fast car.
to go without food
Muslims fast during Ramadan.
Associated with snakes. Harry Potter's Slytherin house: named after Salazar Slytherin, snake symbol.
to slide smoothly along, like a snake
The snake slithered through the grass.
slippery and squirming
He held the slithery fish.
American slang from late 19th century. Origin uncertain. Somewhat dated: "thug" or "hood" more common today.
a violent young criminal
The neighborhood was plagued by hoodlums.
From Greek "mania". Often hyperbolic: "driving like a maniac", not literally insane. Original psychiatric meaning largely outdated.
a person who behaves wildly
He drives like a maniac.
extreme enthusiasm or desire; (psychiatry) a period of abnormally elevated mood and energy
the mania for tulips in 17th-century Holland
behaving wildly or as if insane
maniacal laughter
"Puppet government": figurative for regime controlled by another power. Famous: Punch and Judy (UK), Sesame Street puppets, Bunraku (Japanese).
a doll moved by strings or hand
The children watched the puppet show.
a person who operates puppets
The puppeteer brought the characters to life.
Many senses: adhesive tape, cassette tape, video tape. "Red tape" = bureaucratic obstacles. "Tape recorder": now mostly obsolete tech.
a long narrow strip of material
She wrapped the package with tape.
Suggests hasty, careless writing. Different from "scribble" (which can also mean meaningless marks).
to write quickly in a messy way
He scrawled a note on the napkin.
From Greek "phrenitis" (brain inflammation). Same root as "frenzy" and "frenetic". Implies wild distress or hurry.
wildly anxious or hurried
She was frantic with worry.
"At a snail's pace" = very slowly. Edible variety: escargot (French cuisine). Garden pests in many regions.
a small slow-moving creature with a spiral shell
A snail crawled across the path.
Coined in the 1980s to contrast with email. Slightly humorous, sometimes pejorative. Implies postal service is comically slow.
physical postal mail (as opposed to email)
I prefer snail mail for birthday cards.
Plural: wolves. "Wolf in sheep's clothing" = deceitful person. "Cry wolf" = give a false alarm. "Lone wolf" = independent person.
a wild carnivorous mammal of the dog family
A wolf howled in the distance.
to eat greedily
He wolfed down his sandwich.
"Screech to a halt": common phrase for sudden stop. "Screech owl": small owl with shrill call.
to make a long high harsh sound
The car screeched around the corner.
Often gendered/pejorative when applied to women's voices. "Shrill criticism": figurative for harsh complaint.
high-pitched and piercing
She let out a shrill scream.
"Blonde" (with -e): French feminine form, often used for women; "blond" (no -e): masculine or general. Distinction softening in modern English. "Blonde Bombshell": sexy blonde stereotype.
having yellow or pale-brown hair
She has long blonde hair.
Masculine or general form (no "-e"); "blonde" is often reserved for women.
having yellow or pale-brown hair
Her brother has short blond hair.
Two unrelated senses: old-fashioned head covering (esp. in period dramas), and UK term for car hood. "A bee in one's bonnet" = obsession.
a hat tied under the chin; (UK) the hood of a car
She wore a straw bonnet.
Also spelled "mantlepiece". Traditional display spot for clocks, photos, ornaments. "On the mantelpiece": common location in domestic stories.
a shelf above a fireplace
Her photo sat on the mantelpiece.
the events that will necessarily happen to someone, seen as outside their control
It was her fate to become a great leader.
Distinct from "fatal" (causing death). "Fateful" implies historically significant. "That fateful day": common dramatic phrase.
having major consequences for the future
It was a fateful decision.
Common British garden hedge. "Privet Drive": fictional street where Harry Potter grew up with the Dursleys.
a shrub used for hedges
The garden was bordered by privet.
Tech: "prod", short for "production" environment. Also figurative: "prod someone into action" = push someone to act.
to poke with a finger or pointed object
He prodded the campfire with a stick.
"Shoot the breeze" = chat casually. "Breeze through" = do easily. "A breeze" (informal) = something easy.
a light gentle wind
A cool breeze blew off the sea.
"Hedge maze": a labyrinth made of hedges. "Hedge fund": investment vehicle that uses risk-management strategies ("hedging").
a row of bushes forming a boundary
He trimmed the hedge.
to avoid giving a direct answer
She hedged when asked about her plans.
Past: slunk. Implies stealthy, often guilty movement. "Slinky": both an adjective (sinuous) and a famous toy (spring that walks downstairs).
to move in a stealthy way
The cat slunk away.
"Reply all": common email function (often regrettable). "In reply to": formal phrase. "Reply guy": internet slang for habitual male commenter.
to answer someone
She replied to his email.
Different from "mucous" (the adjective: mucous membrane). "Mucus": the noun, the substance itself. Common confusion.
slimy fluid produced by the body
His nose was full of mucus.
The adjective form; distinct from the noun "mucus".
relating to or covered with mucus
The mucous membrane lines the nose and mouth.
"Muffle one's voice" = speak quietly with hand over mouth. "Muffled sound": common collocation.
to wrap up to deaden sound
He muffled the sound with a pillow.
deadened or made quieter
There were muffled voices from next door.
US: car part that reduces engine noise (UK: silencer). Also: a scarf (dated). "Midas": famous US muffler shop chain.
a device to reduce engine noise; a scarf
The car needed a new muffler.
Past: shone (UK) or shined (US, for polishing). "Make hay while the sun shines": proverb. "Take a shine to someone" = like them.
to give out bright light
The sun shines brightly today.
"Bundle of joy": baby. "Bundle": software packaging concept. "Cost a bundle" = expensive.
a group of things tied together
He carried a bundle of firewood.
Etymology unrelated to "ginger" (the spice). From Old French "gensor" (delicate). Both adverb and adjective.
in a careful or cautious way
He stepped gingerly over the broken glass.
"Get a grip" = control yourself. "In the grip of" = controlled by. Film industry: "grip" = crew member who handles rigging.
to hold tightly
He gripped the railing.
a firm hold
She lost her grip on the rope.
"On the spot" = immediately, or in a difficult situation. "Hit the spot" = exactly satisfy. "Spot on" (UK) = exactly right.
a small round mark; a particular place
There was a spot on his shirt.
to notice or see
She spotted him in the crowd.
"Spotted dick" : British steamed pudding with raisins (the dotted appearance). "Spotted owl" : endangered species.
having spots
The leopard's spotted coat camouflaged it.
Often used in weightlifting or aviation.
a person who looks for or observes something
The sniper worked with a spotter.
absolutely clean or pure; immaculate
A spotless white shirt.
irregular, inconsistent, or patchy; not uniformly good
His attendance at school has been spotty this year.
covered with spots, marks, or pimples
He had a spotty complexion as a teenager.
Stronger than "cry": implies convulsive breathing. "Sob story" = emotional tale meant to elicit sympathy.
to cry with loud catching breaths
She sobbed into her pillow.
Snakes hiss. Cats hiss when threatened. Audiences hiss at villains (booing). Onomatopoeic.
to make a sound like a long "s"
The snake hissed at him.
"By a whisker" = by a very small margin. Cats' whiskers are sensitive sensors. Also: facial hair (often plural "whiskers").
a long stiff hair near the mouth of some animals
The cat's whiskers twitched.
having whiskers
The whiskery old man chuckled.
"Jet" here refers to the gemstone (a deep black variety of lignite), not the aircraft. Often hyphenated when used attributively.
a deep glossy black
She had jet black hair.
"Tuft of hair", "tuft of grass". Lyrebirds and lynxes have distinctive ear tufts.
a small bunch of hair, grass, or fibers
A tuft of hair stuck up at the back.
a shrub or clump of shrubs
They trimmed the rose bush.
"Bushy eyebrows": common collocation (often male feature). "Bushy tail": squirrels.
thick and shaggy
He had a bushy beard.
Lions roar. "The Roaring Twenties": 1920s in US. "Roar": Katy Perry hit song. Crowds roar with approval.
to make a loud deep sound
The lion roared.
"Roaring success": very successful. "Roaring fire": large fire making crackling/roaring sound.
loud and continuous
They sat by the roaring fire.
"H" silent in "hour". Shortest and slowest hand on an analog clock.
the shorter hand on a clock that shows the hour
The hour hand pointed to three.
Stress: /MIN-ət/ (the time unit), not /maɪˈnjuːt/ (small). Same spelling, different pronunciation.
the longer hand on a clock that shows the minutes
The minute hand was on the six.
Compare with "second-hand" (with hyphen) = used, previously owned: different word. Thinnest hand on a clock.
the thin hand on a clock that shows seconds
The second hand swept silently around.
"Dab on cologne": apply lightly. "The dab": viral 2015 dance move. "A dab of": small amount.
to press lightly with quick movements
She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
Synonyms: gloomy, morose, downcast. "Look glum" = appear sad. Less severe than "depressed".
looking or feeling dejected
He looked glum after the loss.
"Press on" = continue. "Press release": news announcement. "Press conference": formal media event.
to apply steady force
He pressed the button.
the news media
The press covered the event.
requiring quick or immediate action or attention
Pressing problems.
continuous physical force exerted on or against an object
The slight pressure of his hand.
to persuade or intimidate someone into doing something
They pressured him into signing the contract.
"Ruffle feathers" = annoy or upset someone. "Ruffle hair": affectionate gesture, often parent to child.
to disturb the smooth surface of
The wind ruffled his hair.
disturbed; gathered into decorative folds
She wore a ruffled blouse.
Can be physical (seizures) or figurative ("convulsed with laughter"). Implies uncontrollable shaking.
to shake uncontrollably
He convulsed with laughter.
Medical: usually associated with seizures (epilepsy, fever convulsions in children).
an uncontrolled violent shaking
The child had a convulsion from the fever.
involving sudden uncontrolled movements
He gave a convulsive sob.
"Baby shower" / "bridal shower": pre-baby/wedding party with gifts. "April showers bring May flowers": proverb. Meteor shower.
a quick wash under spraying water; a brief rainfall
He took a hot shower.
liquid soap used for washing the body in a shower
I packed shampoo and shower gel for the trip.
Weather word: showery means with short periods of rain.
having frequent short rain showers
The forecast says it will be showery in the afternoon.
the ability to see; the action of seeing something
Her sight has gotten worse with age.
"UFO sighting", "celebrity sighting". Often used for rare or unexpected observations.
an instance of seeing something unusual
There was a UFO sighting last week.
Often describes skin, animal coats, leaves, or paper. Suggests irregular spotting.
marked with spots or patches of color
Her hands were mottled with age spots.
"Come unstuck": common idiom for plans/situations going wrong. Past: unstuck.
to separate stuck things
He tried to unstick the pages.
"Come unstuck" (UK) = fail or go wrong (figurative).
no longer stuck
The label came unstuck.
"Don't flinch": common in suspense scenes. "Without flinching": bravely. Often involuntary, suggests nervous reaction.
to make a sudden small movement from fear or pain
She didn't flinch when the needle went in.
not showing fear or hesitation in the face of danger or difficulty
She gave an unflinching account of her experiences.
"Breast cancer": second-most-common cancer in women. "Chicken breast": popular cut. "Make a clean breast of it" = confess fully.
either of two soft fleshy organs on a woman's chest
Many women get yearly breast exams.
"Brave face": pretend everything's fine. "Brave New World": Huxley's dystopian novel. "Home of the brave": US national anthem.
showing courage
It was a brave thing to do.