a simple presentation which often insults the intelligence of its audience
e.g.
I can't believe the boss liked Jack's dog-and-pony show! He didn't give any details and completely ignored all the important issues.
2006-12-29
burn the candle at both ends
to work on too many tasks at once
e.g.
Carol's been burning the candle at both ends in order to get promoted. She looks exhausted!
e.g.
Carol's been burning the candle at both ends in order to get promoted. She looks exhausted!
backstab someone
to sabotage someone else's career intentionally, usually for personal gain.
e.g.
Julie deserved that promotion, but Carlos backstabbed her so he'd be promoted instead. He told the boss she has a drinking problem.
e.g.
Julie deserved that promotion, but Carlos backstabbed her so he'd be promoted instead. He told the boss she has a drinking problem.
bleat
1. a. The characteristic cry of a goat or sheep. b. A sound similar to this cry.
2. A whining, feeble complaint.
feeble
1. a. Lacking strength; weak. b. Indicating weakness.
2. Lacking vigor, force, or effectiveness; inadequate. See synonyms at weak.
2. A whining, feeble complaint.
feeble
1. a. Lacking strength; weak. b. Indicating weakness.
2. Lacking vigor, force, or effectiveness; inadequate. See synonyms at weak.
orator
1. One who delivers an oration.
2. An eloquent and skilled public speaker.
oration
1. A formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion.
2. A speech delivered in a high-flown or pompous manner.
2. An eloquent and skilled public speaker.
oration
1. A formal speech, especially one given on a ceremonial occasion.
2. A speech delivered in a high-flown or pompous manner.
verbiage
1. An excess of words for the purpose; wordiness.
2. The manner in which something is expressed in words: software verbiage.
2. The manner in which something is expressed in words: software verbiage.
strenuous
1.Requiring great effort, energy, or exertion: a strenuous task.
2.Vigorously active; energetic or zealous.
2.Vigorously active; energetic or zealous.
2006-12-28
concoct
1.To prepare by mixing ingredients, as in cooking.
2.To devise, using skill and intelligence; contrive: concoct a mystery story.
2.To devise, using skill and intelligence; contrive: concoct a mystery story.
scourge
1. A source of widespread, dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.
2. A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.
3. A whip used to inflict punishment.
2. A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.
3. A whip used to inflict punishment.
2006-12-25
qualm
1. A sudden feeling of sickness, faintness, or nausea.
2. A sudden disturbing feeling: qualms of homesickness.
3. An uneasy feeling about the propriety or rightness of a course of action.
e.g.
Larry had no qualms about stealing from the cafeteria cash register. He didn't even feel guilty when someone else was blamed.
After hiding Lori's bike as an April Fool's joke, I began to have qualms. What if she thought it was stolen and called the police?
2. A sudden disturbing feeling: qualms of homesickness.
3. An uneasy feeling about the propriety or rightness of a course of action.
e.g.
Larry had no qualms about stealing from the cafeteria cash register. He didn't even feel guilty when someone else was blamed.
After hiding Lori's bike as an April Fool's joke, I began to have qualms. What if she thought it was stolen and called the police?
immaculate
1. Impeccably clean; spotless. See synonyms at clean.
2. Free from stain or blemish; pure.
3. Free from fault or error: an immaculate record.
4. Having no markings.
e.g.
It's amazing that while Carolyn always appears immaculate, her apartment often seems very dirty.
Don't expect a child to come home from a birthday party with immaculate clothing. Children usually manage to get as much birthday cake on their clothing as in their mouths.
2. Free from stain or blemish; pure.
3. Free from fault or error: an immaculate record.
4. Having no markings.
e.g.
It's amazing that while Carolyn always appears immaculate, her apartment often seems very dirty.
Don't expect a child to come home from a birthday party with immaculate clothing. Children usually manage to get as much birthday cake on their clothing as in their mouths.
gloat
To feel or express great, often malicious, pleasure or self-satisfaction: Don't gloat over your rival's misfortune.
e.g.
The coach told his team, "There's only one thing worse than a score lose, and that's a mean winner. Don't gloat."
Neil's sister always tattles on him and then gloats when he's punished, saying "I told you so."
tattle: To reveal the plans or activities of another; gossip.
e.g.
The coach told his team, "There's only one thing worse than a score lose, and that's a mean winner. Don't gloat."
Neil's sister always tattles on him and then gloats when he's punished, saying "I told you so."
tattle: To reveal the plans or activities of another; gossip.
2006-12-22
gaunt
1.Thin and bony; angular.
2.Emaciated and haggard; drawn.
3.Bleak and desolate; barren.
e.g.
Abraham Licoln's beard made his gaunt face look fuller.
Sharo's eating disorder, called anorexia nervosa, has made her so gaunt that she looks like a walking skeleton.
2.Emaciated and haggard; drawn.
3.Bleak and desolate; barren.
e.g.
Abraham Licoln's beard made his gaunt face look fuller.
Sharo's eating disorder, called anorexia nervosa, has made her so gaunt that she looks like a walking skeleton.
garble
1. To mix up or distort to such an extent as to make misleading or incomprehensible: She garbled all the historical facts.
2. To scramble (a signal or message), as by erroneous encoding or faulty transmission.
3. Archaic. To sort out; cull.
e.g.
The typesetter accidentally garbled the newspaper story, giving the reader only a mixed-up articles.
The company had garbled the bike's assembly instructions so badly that we were constantly confused about which step to do next.
2. To scramble (a signal or message), as by erroneous encoding or faulty transmission.
3. Archaic. To sort out; cull.
e.g.
The typesetter accidentally garbled the newspaper story, giving the reader only a mixed-up articles.
The company had garbled the bike's assembly instructions so badly that we were constantly confused about which step to do next.
contrive
1. To plan with cleverness or ingenuity; devise: contrive ways to amuse the children.
2. To invent or fabricate, especially by improvisation: contrived a swing from hanging vines.
3. To plan with evil intent; scheme: contrived a plot to seize power.
4. To bring about, as by scheming; manage: somehow contrived to get past the guards unnoticed.
e.g.
My eight-year-old son could write a book titled 101 Ways I Have Contrived to Stay Up Past My Bedtime.
Jill has to contrive a way to get a day off from work for her firend's wedding. She's already used up her vacation time.
2. To invent or fabricate, especially by improvisation: contrived a swing from hanging vines.
3. To plan with evil intent; scheme: contrived a plot to seize power.
4. To bring about, as by scheming; manage: somehow contrived to get past the guards unnoticed.
e.g.
My eight-year-old son could write a book titled 101 Ways I Have Contrived to Stay Up Past My Bedtime.
Jill has to contrive a way to get a day off from work for her firend's wedding. She's already used up her vacation time.
blight
1. a. Any of numerous plant diseases resulting in sudden conspicuous wilting and dying of affected parts, especially young, growing tissues. b. The condition or causative agent, such as a bacterium, fungus, or virus, that results in blight.
2. An extremely adverse environmental condition, such as air pollution.
3. Something that impairs growth, withers hopes and ambitions, or impedes progress and prosperity.
e.g.
Nothing has hurt our country more than the blight of drugs.
There are two ways of looking at TV: as a blight that dulls the mind or as a valuable source of information.
2. An extremely adverse environmental condition, such as air pollution.
3. Something that impairs growth, withers hopes and ambitions, or impedes progress and prosperity.
e.g.
Nothing has hurt our country more than the blight of drugs.
There are two ways of looking at TV: as a blight that dulls the mind or as a valuable source of information.
2006-12-18
doctor
〈車などを〉修理［修復］する; 〈写真・原稿などを〉修正［改作］する; 〈文書などに〉不正な変更を加える, …をごまかす《 up 》
～ a leak in the roof 屋根の穴を修理する
～ (up) a balance sheet 貸借対照表に手を加えてごまかす.
Some photos and videos that have appeared on the Internet show the strap flying out of the gamer's hand during play, or the final result -- a Wii controller apparently jammed into a smashed television screen. A number of the photos appear to be doctored, Abel said.
-- Nintendo recalls 3.2M straps for Wii controllers
～ a leak in the roof 屋根の穴を修理する
～ (up) a balance sheet 貸借対照表に手を加えてごまかす.
Some photos and videos that have appeared on the Internet show the strap flying out of the gamer's hand during play, or the final result -- a Wii controller apparently jammed into a smashed television screen. A number of the photos appear to be doctored, Abel said.
-- Nintendo recalls 3.2M straps for Wii controllers
2006-12-16
2006-12-11
2006-12-10
2006-12-08
2006-12-07
incite
1 〈人を〉励ます, 激励［鼓舞］する, 〈人を〉刺激［鼓舞］して（…）させる《 to... 》
The speaker ～d the workers to strike. 弁士は労働者を扇動してストライキをやらせた.
2 〈怒り・好奇心などを〉起こさせる.
The speaker ～d the workers to strike. 弁士は労働者を扇動してストライキをやらせた.
2 〈怒り・好奇心などを〉起こさせる.
2006-12-04
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