naff (adjective) (British slang) – stupid or unstylish (The opposite of cool) Here are some examples of how you can use naff: Doesn’t she know her blue eyeshadow is so naff? We went to a naff party yesterday with no beer and eighties music, so we went home as fast as we could.
Make this your best English learning year with these tips. I’m not saying these tips are original, but sometimes you just need to try something small to make a big change. EwaS Read? Really? People read more than ever, but it’s mostly social media and personal messages. As you’ve probably noticed when you read snippets in… Continue reading English Learning Tips for 2016
congeal (verb) – to become or make solid congealer (noun) – something that makes solid Here are some examples of how you can use congeal: Soup that has a lot of fat will congeal when you let it cool. The blood congealed on the wound. Put the pudding into the fridge and just let it… Continue reading Word to the Wise: congeal
sclerotic (adjective) – hardening of a body part or tissue, or (figuratively) becoming stiff and inflexible sclerosis (noun) – a hardening of a body part Here are some examples of how you can use sclerotic: My grandmother suffered from MS, which is short for Multiple Sclerosis, due to which she passed her last days in… Continue reading Word to the Wise: sclerotic
upheaval (noun) – a lifting of the earth, or figuratively, a great and/or sudden change Here are some examples of how you can use upheaval: These hills were created by an upheaval in the earth’s crust (= outer layer). In 2008 there was a great upheaval in the stock market which caused many financial problems… Continue reading Word to the Wise: upheaval
About being late and early… No, this article won’t teach you any excuses when you’re late (again). That sure would be an entertaining subject. For now we’ll just discuss some expressions about time. First of all: There are people who are always late. They are tardy. Their weakness is tardiness. And there are people who are mostly… Continue reading Expressions with Time: Are You Tardy or Punctual?
gaze (verb) – look long and with interest gaze (noun) – a long, interested look Here are some examples of how you can use gaze: The lovers gazed into each other’s eyes. It’s fun to lie on your back and gaze at the stars. The boy gazed at the beautiful toys in the shop window.… Continue reading Word to the Wise: gaze
Two words that you might want to distinguish. They both go back to the same root (for example memor in Latin) that means existing in the mind. Memorize/memorise (verb) – learn something new so you remember Remember (adverb) – think of something that you already knew Memory (noun) – things that are remembered or the… Continue reading Word to the Wise: memorize and remember
Animals have families too! Check out this infographic to learn the names for male, female and child animals. These names are used a lot in literature: in poems and stories about farming etc., so it’s good if you know them. Also it’s good for your general knowledge to be aware of the different names for… Continue reading Animal Families: What to Call Female, Male and Baby Animals
Austere (adjective) – simple, serious and saving money, without luxury Austerely (adverb) – in a way that is simple, serious and saves money Austerity/austereness (noun) – keeping things simple, serious and cheap Living austere Here are some examples of how you can use austere: She remembered old school camps where dinner was austere with boiled… Continue reading Word to the Wise: Austere
English with a Smile 