Vocabulary: Batch 76

Named after a physical prop (two flat sticks that make a loud slap on impact). Masters: Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, the Three Stooges, Mr. Bean.

• comedy based on exaggerated physical action, pratfalls, and absurd situations rather than wordplay

  The film relies heavily on slapstick.

French for "black". As a standalone genre label, short for "film noir". Neo-noir = modern updates (e.g. "Blade Runner", "Chinatown").

• a genre of film or fiction characterized by cynicism, dark themes, and morally ambiguous characters

  The director is known for his noir style.

Classic era: 1940s-1950s Hollywood. Hallmarks: femme fatale, hard-boiled detective, low-key lighting, voice-over narration. "Double Indemnity" (1944) and "The Maltese Falcon" (1941) are textbook examples.

• a style of crime film featuring cynical characters, shadowy cinematography, and bleak themes

  "Double Indemnity" is one of the greatest films noirs.

"Crime scene", "crime wave", "hate crime". "Crime and Punishment": Dostoyevsky novel. "Perfect crime": undetected one.

• an act that breaks the law

  They were charged with a serious crime.

"Criminal record": record of past convictions. "White-collar criminal": financial/professional crimes.

• a person who commits a crime

  The criminal was sentenced to ten years.

Distinct from civil court. "International Criminal Court" (ICC): at The Hague, tries war crimes.

• a court that deals with criminal cases

  The case was heard in criminal court.

British: decriminalise.

• to stop treating something as illegal or as a criminal offense

  Several states have decriminalized marijuana.

"Declare war", "go to war", "at war". Distinct from "warfare" (the conduct of fighting, not the conflict itself).

• a state of armed conflict between different nations or groups

  The two countries have been at war for years.

• to engage in armed conflict

  The rival factions warred for control of the region.

Broadway musicals (New York) and West End musicals (London) are the two major traditions. Famous examples: "The Phantom of the Opera", "Hamilton", "Les Miserables".

• a film, play, or TV show in which singing and dancing play an essential part

  "La La Land" is a modern musical.

1. relating to or accompanied by music

   She comes from a musical family.

2. having a talent for or interest in music

   He's very musical.

Set in the American Old West (roughly 1860s-1900s). Subgenres: spaghetti western (Italian-made, e.g. Sergio Leone's films), revisionist western, space western. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" (1966) is the iconic example.

• a film or novel set in the American frontier, typically featuring cowboys, outlaws, and gunfights

  John Wayne starred in dozens of westerns.

"Murder mystery": popular fiction genre. "Mystery shopper": undercover quality assessor. Religious: ancient mystery cults required secret initiation.

• something unknown or difficult to explain

  The cause remains a mystery.

"In mysterious ways": common religious phrase. "Tall, dark, and mysterious": romantic stereotype.

• difficult to understand or explain

  He had a mysterious smile.

• utterly bewilder or perplex (someone)

  Maladies that have mystified and alarmed researchers for over a decade.

From Latin anima (soul, life). Same root as "animal", "animation".

1. to bring to life; to make lively

   Her enthusiasm animated the whole room.

2. to create moving images of (a character) for film or video

   Disney animators animated Mickey Mouse.

Adjective stress moves to second syllable; verb "animate" stresses first.

• not alive; not having the qualities of a living being

  Rocks are inanimate objects.

1. full of life; lively

   They had an animated discussion.

2. (of film) made using animation

   It's an animated movie for kids.

• a person who creates animation

  He works as an animator at Pixar.

Major studios: Disney, Pixar, Studio Ghibli (Japan), DreamWorks. Anime = Japanese animation.

• the technique of making moving images from drawings or models

  The film features stunning animation.

"Legal document", "Word document" (Microsoft Word file).

• a piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information or evidence

  Please sign the document.

• to record something in written or other form

  She documented her travels in a journal.

Famous documentarians: Ken Burns, Errol Morris, Michael Moore. "Mockumentary": fictional film in documentary style (e.g., The Office, Spinal Tap).

• a film providing a factual report on a subject

  He made a documentary about climate change.

A daydream or unrealistic wish; also a fiction genre.

1. the imagining of improbable or impossible things; a daydream

   He indulged in fantasies of winning the lottery.

2. a genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and invented worlds

   She writes epic fantasy novels.

British: fantasise.

• to daydream about something one desires

  He fantasized about quitting his job.

1. extraordinarily good; wonderful

   We had a fantastic time at the beach.

2. imaginative or strange; remote from reality

   The book is full of fantastic creatures.

• a person who indulges in fantasies, or who writes fantasy fiction

  He's a hopeless fantasist who's sure he'll be famous.

A musical or literary work of free, imaginative form.

• a musical composition with a free form and often an improvisatory feel

  She performed a Bach fantasia.

Informal clipping of "science fiction". Sometimes considered slightly lowbrow; purists prefer the full term for literary works.

• science fiction, especially in film and television

  He's a huge sci-fi fan.

Pioneers: H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin.

• fiction dealing with futuristic technology, space travel, time travel, or alien life

  "Dune" is a landmark of science fiction.

From medieval French "romanz": originally referring to vernacular Romance-language tales. "Romance languages": derived from Latin (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian).

1. a love affair, especially a brief or intense one

   They had a whirlwind romance.

2. a genre of novels or films about love

   She prefers romance novels.

• conducive to or characterized by the expression of love

  They had a romantic dinner by candlelight.

• a sudden strong feeling of excitement, pleasure, or fear

  She got a real thrill out of skydiving for the first time.

• to cause someone to feel a sudden intense excitement or pleasure

  The acrobats thrilled the audience with their daring stunts.

"Thriller" - Michael Jackson's 1982 album, the best-selling of all time. Common subgenres: psychological thriller, political thriller, legal thriller.

• a novel, film, or play with an exciting plot involving crime or espionage

  He loves reading thrillers.

• very exciting

  The final minutes were thrilling.

Common patterns: thrilled about/at something and thrilled to do something. Stronger than pleased.

• extremely pleased and excited

  We were thrilled to learn that our proposal had been accepted.

"Horror movie": film genre. "To my horror": common formal phrase. Bigger feeling than "fear": combines fear with disgust.

• intense fear or disgust

  She watched in horror as the car crashed.

• feeling or showing horror

  She was horrified by what she saw.

Common intensifier in spoken English ("a horrible day"). Often used hyperbolically: "horrible weather" rarely means literally horrifying.

• causing a feeling of horror; very unpleasant

  It was a horrible accident.

• extremely bad, unpleasant, or shocking

  Traffic was horrendous after the concert.

Stronger than "shock" or "upset". Often used about discovering bad news.

• to fill with horror

  The news horrified the community.

• causing horror

  It was a horrifying experience.

• a play or performance for theater or television; an exciting or emotional situation

  She acted in a school drama.

From Greek "dramatikos" (relating to drama). "Don't be so dramatic": common put-down for overreacting.

• sudden or striking; theatrical

  There was a dramatic change in weather.

"Stand-up comedy": solo performance. "Sitcom": situation comedy (TV genre). "Romantic comedy" (rom-com): popular film genre.

• professional entertainment intended to make people laugh

  She studies improv comedy.

"Comedic timing": skill of delivering jokes at the right moment.

• of or related to comedy

  He has great comedic timing.

Famous comedians: George Carlin, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler.

• a person who entertains by telling jokes

  He's a famous stand-up comedian.

From French: gendered feminine form. Increasingly considered dated; most female stand-ups now called "comedian". Like "actress" becoming "actor".

• a female comedian

  The comedienne brought down the house.

"Act up" = behave badly (or machinery malfunction). "Act out" = enact, or misbehave. "Get one's act together" = become organized.

1. to do something; to behave

   He acted quickly to stop the fire.

2. to perform in a play or film

   She acts in the local theater.

1. a thing done; a law

   It was an act of kindness.

2. a main division of a play

   The play has three acts.

• to act a role in an exaggerated manner

  The actors tended to overact.

• to act in such a way as to have an effect on another

  The two chemicals interact.

• reciprocal action or influence

  The interaction between the two groups.

• (of two people or things) influencing or having an effect on each other; (of a computer system) allowing two-way flow of information between it and a user

  An interactive display.

• in a way that allows a two-way flow of information

  The software can be used interactively.

• act against (something) in order to reduce its force or neutralize it

  Should we deliberately intervene in the climate system to counteract global warming?

• make (a bill or other proposal) law

  Legislation was enacted in 1987.

• the act of making a law official

  Enactment of the bill took six months.

• the process of doing something

  The plan requires immediate action.

Two senses: business jargon (clear enough to act on, "actionable insights"), and legal (grounds for a lawsuit). Often heard in tech and consulting.

• able to be acted upon; (legal) giving cause for a lawsuit

  We need actionable feedback.

Gender-neutral in modern usage; "actress" is still common for women but increasingly seen as old-fashioned outside award categories.

• a person who performs in a play, film, or TV show

  He's a well-known film actor.

Traditional feminine form; some prefer "actor" for all genders today.

• a woman who performs in a play, film, or TV show

  She won an award for Best Actress.

• the omission from speech or writing of a word or words that are superfluous or able to be understood from contextual clues; a set of dots indicating such an omission

  The sentence ends with an ellipsis.

• a line written or printed below a word or symbol, especially the character '_'

  Use an underscore between the words in the file name.

Formal. Common subjects include a report, result, event, or example. It underscores a point, risk, or need.

• to emphasize that something is important or to make its importance clearer

  The report underscores the need for stronger safety standards.

1. a sentence or matter that asks for an answer

   The student asked a difficult question.

2. doubt about whether something is true or right

   There is no question that the plan is risky.

• to ask someone questions or express doubt

  Police questioned the witness for an hour.

• doubtful as regards truth or quality

  It is questionable whether any of these exceptions is genuine.

• the punctuation mark ? used at the end of a question

  Don't forget the question mark at the end.

The "Oxford comma" (serial comma) is the comma before "and" in a list (red, white, and blue). Its use is debated but recommended in academic writing.

• the punctuation mark , used to separate items in a list, clauses in a sentence, or to indicate a slight pause

  Use a comma to separate items in a list.

Originally a clipped form of "quotation". Now both noun and verb. "Quote unquote": verbal air quotes for skepticism.

1. to repeat someone's words exactly

   He often quotes Shakespeare.

2. to state a price

   They quoted us $500 for the repair.

• a quotation or stated price

  That's a famous quote from Lincoln.

Often shortened to "quote". "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations": famous reference book of quotations (1855).

• a group of words taken from a text and repeated

  He used a quotation from Shakespeare.

American style uses " " (double); British often uses ' ' (single). Other languages use different symbols (« » in French, „ " in German).

• a punctuation mark (" or ') used to indicate a quotation

  Put the words in quotation marks.

The mark is used in contractions and possessives: don't, Sarah's.

• the punctuation mark ' used for omission or possession

  Do not put an apostrophe in a simple plural.

"Slash prices" = reduce dramatically. The character / is called a "forward slash"; \ is a "backslash".

1. to cut with a violent sweeping movement

   He slashed the canvas with a knife.

2. to reduce greatly

   The store has slashed prices by 50%.

1. a cut made with a sweeping stroke

   There was a slash across the painting.

2. the punctuation mark / used to separate alternatives or to write fractions

   Use a slash between yes/no.

Introduced by Bob Bemer in 1961 for ASCII. Windows uses it as a path separator (C:\Users\); Unix uses the forward slash. In programming, \ is the escape character.

• the symbol \, used in computing as an escape character or path separator

  Use a backslash to escape special characters in the string.

"Knee brace", "back brace": orthopedic support. "Braces" (US) = teeth straighteners (UK: also "braces" = suspenders!). "Brace yourself": prepare for impact.

• a device that supports or holds something firmly

  He wore a brace on his knee.

• to prepare for something difficult

  They braced themselves for bad news.

Also called "curly bracket". Used in programming to delimit code blocks (C, Java, JavaScript) and in mathematics for set notation {1, 2, 3}.

• the symbol { or }, used in pairs to enclose items in programming, mathematics, and writing

  Wrap the function body in curly braces.

1. either of a pair of marks ( ) [ ] { } used in writing to enclose words or figures

   The author's name is in brackets.

2. a category of similar people or things, especially defined by income or age

   He moved into a higher tax bracket.

3. a right-angled support attached to a wall to hold up a shelf

   They mounted the shelf on two metal brackets.

Plural: parentheses.

1. a word, phrase, or clause inserted as an explanation or afterthought

   The sentence continued in parenthesis for another line.

2. (usually plural) one of a pair of round brackets ( ) used to set off such an insertion

   Put the date in parentheses.

Also called "grave accent" (when used as a diacritical mark, e.g. in French: a, e, u). In programming, backticks delimit template literals in JavaScript and inline code in Markdown.

• the symbol `, a left-leaning single quotation mark used in computing and as a diacritical mark

  Wrap the variable name in backticks.

Origin likely from a handwritten abbreviation of Spanish "peso". In programming, $ is a variable prefix in PHP, Perl, and shell scripts.

• the symbol $, placed before a number to indicate an amount in dollars or other currencies

  The dollar sign goes before the number, not after.

1. a dish of chopped meat and vegetables fried together

   She ordered corned beef hash for breakfast.

2. (informal) a confused or badly handled mess ("make a hash of")

   He made a hash of the presentation.

Usually slightly pejorative: implies lack of originality. "Hollywood rehashes" of old films. Originally referred to literal cooking (hash = chopped meat reheated).

• to present old material again without significant change

  The movie just rehashes the original plot.

The symbol # has many names: "hash" (computing/social media), "number sign" (US), "pound sign" (US telephony). In social media, #topic is a "hashtag".

• the symbol #, used to denote a number, a hashtag, or a musical sharp

  Type a number sign before the keyword to create a hashtag.

Also called "at symbol". Essential in email addresses (user@domain). Origin debated: possibly from a medieval scribal abbreviation of Latin "ad" (at/to).

• the symbol @, used in email addresses and social media handles to identify users or locations

  Type the at sign before the domain name in an email address.

Homophone of "carrot". In programming, ^ is the bitwise XOR operator in C-family languages. In regex, ^ matches the start of a line.

• the symbol ^, used in proofreading to show where something should be inserted, or in computing/mathematics as an operator

  Place a caret where the missing word should go.

• a symbol (*) used to mark printed or written text, typically as a reference to an annotation or to stand for omitted matter

  He had placed an asterisk next to the name.

Related: exclamation, exclamation mark (!). "\"What!\" he exclaimed": common storytelling phrase.

• to cry out suddenly

  "That's amazing!" she exclaimed.

"Exclamation mark/point" (!) - punctuation showing strong feeling.

• a sudden cry or remark expressing strong emotion

  "Ouch!" was her only exclamation.

• the punctuation mark ( ! ) used after an exclamation or interjection

  Don't overuse exclamation marks in formal writing.

From a slurred reading of "and per se and" ("and by itself [means] and"). Common in company names (Johnson & Johnson) and informal writing.

• the symbol & meaning "and"

  The firm was called Smith & Associates.

Stronger than a comma but weaker than a period. Joins two independent clauses that are closely related.

• the punctuation mark ( ; ) used to separate two independent clauses or items in a complex list

  She loves reading; he prefers watching films.

Two completely different meanings sharing the same word.

• the main part of the large intestine

  She had her colon examined.

• the punctuation mark ( : ) used to introduce a list, quotation, or explanation

  Use a colon to introduce a list.

From Spanish, itself from Latin titulus (title/label). Used as a diacritical mark in Spanish (n with tilde), in Portuguese (nasalization), and as the ~ symbol in programming and mathematics.

• the symbol ~, used as a diacritical mark over a letter (especially n) or as a mathematical/computing operator

  In Spanish, the tilde over the n in "senor" changes the pronunciation to "senyor".

Most common in legal, government, and journalism contexts (e.g., redacted documents released under freedom-of-information laws).

1. to censor or obscure parts of a text for legal, security, or privacy reasons before publication

   The names of witnesses were redacted from the released report.

2. (formal) to edit a text for publication

   The papers were redacted by his literary executor.

• the action of censoring or obscuring parts of a text before publication

  The heavy redaction of the report frustrated journalists.

Latin. Plural: ova. The mature female reproductive cell; synonym of "egg cell" in biology.

• a mature female reproductive cell that can be fertilized by a sperm to produce an embryo

  The ovum is released from the ovary during ovulation.

Latin plural of ovum. In everyday English, "eggs" is far more common.

• plural of ovum; egg cells

  Human ova are among the largest cells in the body.

"Rub the wrong way" = annoy. "Rub salt in the wound" = make a bad situation worse. "There's the rub": Shakespeare's Hamlet, meaning "that's the difficulty".

• to move one's hand or an object back and forth on a surface

  She rubbed her tired eyes.

"Stick out like a sore thumb" = be very noticeable in a negative way. American informal "sore" = angry, resentful ("He's still sore about losing").

• painful or aching

  My legs are sore from running.

• a raw or painful place on the body

  She had cold sores on her lip.

• weaken or damage something (especially a human faculty or function)

  Drug use that impairs job performance.

Often in compounds: hearing impairment, visual impairment, cognitive impairment.

• the state of being weakened or damaged, or a condition that weakens a particular faculty

  The test measures cognitive impairment in elderly patients.

1. having a disability or diminished function

   Visually impaired students receive extra support.

2. weakened or damaged

   Driving while impaired is a criminal offense.

Figurative: 'salivate over' = desire eagerly.

• to produce saliva, especially in anticipation of food

  The smell of bacon made him salivate.

• the watery liquid produced in the mouth; spit

  Saliva helps begin the digestion of food.

• relating to saliva

  the salivary glands

• a gland that secretes saliva into the mouth

  Mumps causes the salivary glands to swell.

Female-specific. General term: 'neuter' (either sex); male-specific: 'castrate'; broader/medical: 'sterilize'.

• to remove the ovaries of (a female animal) so that it cannot reproduce

  We had our cat spayed before she was six months old.

In a pinch means when there is an urgent need and no better option. Pinch is informal for steal in some varieties of English.

1. to grip or squeeze sharply between the finger and thumb, often causing pain

   The child pinched the fabric to check how thick it was.

2. to steal something small, informally

   Someone pinched my umbrella from the lobby.

3. to make a situation difficult by reducing available money or resources

   Higher fuel prices are pinching household budgets.

A pinch of salt is a small quantity. Take something with a pinch of salt is chiefly British for treating it skeptically.

1. an act of gripping or squeezing between the fingers

   She gave his arm a quick pinch to get his attention.

2. a very small amount of a powder or other loose substance

   Add a pinch of salt to the sauce.

3. a difficult shortage or financial pressure

   The business is feeling the pinch from higher borrowing costs.

Almost always about toes ('stub my toe'). The phrasal verb 'stub out' means to extinguish a cigarette by pressing it against a surface.

• to accidentally strike one's toe against a hard object

  She stubbed her toe on the bed frame in the dark.

• a short remaining piece of something after the main part has been used, removed, or torn off

  He kept the stub from his concert ticket.

"Bump into" = meet by chance. "Bump up" = increase. "Goosebumps": skin reaction to cold or strong emotion.

• to hit gently against something

  He bumped his head on the door.

• a small raised area or a slight collision

  She has a bump on her forehead.

• of a surface: uneven, with many patches raised above the rest

  A bumpy road.

• a bar at the front and back of a vehicle to absorb impact

  The car's bumper was dented in the accident.

• exceptionally large, fine, or successful

  A bumper crop.

"Day trip", "business trip", "road trip". 1960s slang: "trip" = drug experience ("acid trip"). "Power trip": abuse of authority.

• a journey to a place and back

  We took a trip to Paris.

• to catch one's foot and fall

  He tripped over the wire.

"Twist someone's arm" = persuade against their will. "Twist of fate": unexpected turn of events. "Plot twist": surprising story development.

1. to bend or turn into a different shape

   She twisted the wire into a loop.

2. to injure a joint by turning it suddenly

   He twisted his ankle.

• an unexpected development

  The movie has a great twist at the end.

"Twisty plot": common in mystery/thriller reviews. "Twisty road": winding country road.

• full of twists and turns

  The mountain road was twisty and dangerous.

From Greek 'en' (in) + 'zyme' (leaven). Names usually end in '-ase' (e.g. lactase).

• a protein produced by living cells that speeds up specific biochemical reactions

  Digestive enzymes break down food in the stomach.

Discovered by Banting and Best (1921), they won the Nobel Prize. Type 1 diabetics need insulin injections to survive. "Insulin resistance": precursor to type 2 diabetes.

• a hormone that regulates blood sugar

  Diabetics often need insulin injections.

The adjective is 'anal'. Latin.

• the opening at the end of the digestive tract through which waste leaves the body

  The medication is inserted into the anus.

(informal) 'anal' = excessively fussy, from Freud's 'anal-retentive'.

1. relating to the anus

   He was treated for an anal infection.

2. (informal) excessively neat, fussy, or obsessive about detail

   He's really anal about keeping his desk tidy.

Also pronounced /æbˈdoʊmən/. In insects, the rear body section.

• the part of the body between the chest and the pelvis, containing the stomach and intestines

  The patient complained of pain in the lower abdomen.

• relating to the abdomen

  He had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia.

Informally shortened to 'abs'.

• the muscles of the abdomen

  Crunches mainly work your abdominals.

From Old English nosþyrl (nose-hole). Plural: nostrils.

• either of the two external openings of the nose

  He flared his nostrils in anger.

Noun stress on first syllable; verb /prəˈdʒekt/ on second. "Pet project": a personal endeavor someone cares deeply about.

• an individual or collaborative enterprise

  She manages a research project.

In psychology: "projection" = attributing one's own feelings to others. In statistics: "projection" = a forecast based on current data.

1. an estimate or forecast of a future situation

   Sales projections look strong.

2. the displaying of an image on a surface

   The projection on the screen was blurry.

3. a part that sticks out from a larger structure, especially a bone

   The projection of the pelvic bone can be felt on each side of the body.

Noun stress on first syllable /ˈprɑːdʒekt/; verb stress on second /prəˈdʒekt/.

1. to display (an image) on a surface

   They projected the movie onto the wall.

2. to present oneself or a quality in a certain way

   She projects confidence in interviews.

• a device for projecting an image, especially of a film or slides, onto a screen

  He set up the projector for the presentation.

'Drive shaft' (in a vehicle) transmits rotational power from the engine to the wheels.

1. a long, narrow vertical passage in a building or in the ground

   They descended into the mine shaft.

2. a long, slender, often cylindrical part of something, such as a tool or vehicle

   He gripped the shaft of the spear.

3. a ray of light

   A shaft of sunlight came through the window.

From Old French freier (Latin fricare, 'to rub'); unrelated to stitch despite both concerning fabric. The noun below ('a fight') is a separate homograph.

1. (of fabric, rope, or edges) to become worn or unraveled at the edges

   The cuffs of his old shirt were fraying.

2. (of nerves, tempers) to become strained or weakened

   Tempers were beginning to fray as the meeting dragged on.

Distinct meaning from the verb above. "Enter the fray" / "join the fray" = to get involved in a fight/competition.

• a battle, fight, or noisy dispute; a competitive contest

  The new candidate joined the political fray last week.

French loanword. Rouge = red makeup; rogue = dishonest or uncontrolled person.

• red makeup worn on the cheeks

  The actor wore heavy rouge on stage.

• a dishonest or unprincipled person

  The novel's hero is a charming rogue.

• acting independently and dangerously

  A rogue trader caused huge losses.

Adjective: urinary. The verb (to urinate) and the casual noun (pee): different registers. "Urine sample": common medical test.

• liquid waste produced by the kidneys

  The lab tested his urine.

• relating to urine or the organs that produce and pass it

  a urinary tract infection

• a bowl or fixture attached to a wall, used by men for urinating

  The men's room had a row of urinals.

• discharge urine

  He urinated in the bushes.

Famous in office culture; "cubicle farm" = an office filled with cubicles, often seen as soul-crushing.

• a small partitioned area within a larger room, especially in an office for one worker

  He's been working in the same cubicle for fifteen years.

Mostly seen in the idiom stick in one's craw = be hard to accept.

1. the crop or throat of a bird

   The old anatomy book described the bird's craw.

2. a person's throat or stomach, in idioms

   His smug apology stuck in my craw.

Literal: birds/insects taking off suddenly. Figurative: "fly off the handle" = lose one's temper suddenly.

• to depart suddenly by flying

  A magpie flew off with a piece of foil.

In UK/Australia: "mate" = friend (also: term of address). In US: less common. "Mate": also breeding partner in animals.

• (UK) a friend; a sexual partner

  He met his mates at the pub.

From Persian "shah mat" (the king is helpless). End of chess game. Figurative: "checkmate", unbeatable position.

• the winning move in chess

  She announced checkmate.

1. a place where a bird rests or sits, typically a branch or bar

   The parrot returned to its perch.

2. a high or precarious position or seat

   From his perch on the cliff he could see the whole valley.

1. to sit or rest on something high or narrow

   The cat perched on the windowsill.

2. to be situated on or above a high or precarious spot

   The village perches on the edge of a cliff.