B1: Mneomonics Flashcards
baleful
(adjective): threatening harm. “BALE full”
Think: Christian Bale
I’m not a big Christian Bale fan- he always has that baleful look on his face, like he wants to start a fight with you
banal
(adjective): unoriginal. “buh NALL”
Think: ban all
The banal librarian thought there were enough books already and wanted to ban all the new ones
base
(adjective): not honest or good; having low quality or value. (rhymes with “face”)
Think: basement
I live in my mom’s basement, but I don’t list that on my OKCupid profile: there’s an unfortunate stereotype that people who live in basements tend to be base
battery
(noun): a large group of similar things. “BAT er ee”
Think: batter-y
I though that my first mix of cupcake batter tasted a little too batter-y, so I put it through a battery of taste tests before baking my final batch
bauble
(noun): a small, inexpensive piece of jewelry or toy “BAW bull”
Think: bobblehead
The bauble that my favorite baseball player gave me was a bobblehead himself
baying
(verb): shouting. “BAY ing”
Think: Michael Bay movie
Even though I was in the other room, I could tell my roommates were watching a Michael Bay movie, like Transformers, because of all the baying from the T.V
beatific
(adjective): extremely happy. “bee TIH fick”
Think: beautiful! terrific!
If you feel beatific, you probably walk around exclaiming, “ beautiful! terrific! “ all day
beatify
(verb): to bless; to make happy. “BEE tih fie”
Think: beautiful home = happiness
The makeover will beautify your home and beatify your family
becalm
(verb): to make motionless: to soothe “buh KAHM”
Think: be calm!
When my 3-year-old is running around causing havoc, i usually whisper “be calm!” to becalm him
bedlam
(noun): a state or uproar and confusion “BED lum”
Think: bed lamb
It was complete bedlam when I entered my hotel room and saw that the bed had a lamb sleeping on it
beguile
(verb): to trick. “buh GILE” (rhymes with “dial”_
Think: be gullible
Be gullible, and you’ll be easy to beguile
beheomoth
(noun): something huge. “buh HE mith”
Think: beast mammoth
One really large beast was the woolly mammoth, a behemoth that lived during the ice age
beleaguered
(adjective): weary, tired, bothered
“bee LEE gerd”
Think: B- Leaguer
“I’m sick and tired of being a B-leaguer instead of an A Leaguer,” said the B-movie actor
belied
(verb): contradicted. “buh LIED”
Think: lied
The used car salesman’s smooth manner was belied by his sweaty handshake and made me think, “he lied!”
belittle
(verb): to put down; to disparage. “be LITTLE”
Think: be little
When you say “Good boy!” and pat me on head, you belittle me and make me feel as if I be little
