Vocabulary Flashcards
Achilles’ Heel
Refers to weakness
From Greek mythology where Achilles’ mother dipped him into the River Styx holding him by the heel.
I am trying to eat healthily, but my Achilles’ heel is chocolate.
On the nose
To be perfect, to do something really well.
It comes from radio were the producers would tell the DJ that it was perfectly timed by touching his or her’s nose.
All of Sara’s answers were right on the nose.
Demure
Reserved, modest, shy
From the 14th century with latin and French roots meaning “to clam” or in French “to stay” or “of good manners”
The outfit she wore on the first day of school was very demure.
Culminate
Verb
To reach the highest point of development.
The regular NHL season culminates with the playoffs and the Stanly Cup.
Disdain (noun)
(Diss-dain)
A person’s dislike of someone or something that they feel is unworthy of their respect.
He couldn’t mask the look of disdain on his face when he was assigned to sweep the floors.
Acquiesce (verb)
(Ak-wee-ess)
To give in; to consent without objections
When I saw the look on my father’s face, I decided to acquiesce to his demands.
Read the Riot Act
To give someone a severe scolding
Refers to the Riot Act of 1714 which was designed to control the middle class
(If more than 12 people where together they had to disperse or they could be arrested)
When I stayed out all night without calling, my mother read me the riot act.
Nitty-gritty
The small details of something.
To pull small nits (lice) from the hair, it is like the removing of small grains of grit.
The test was difficult because it covered the nitty-gritty of the course.
Anecdote
(noun)
Anne-ek-dote
A personal story.
Everyone liked Ashley because she told such funny anecdotes.
Blase
(adjective)
Blah-zay
From French, meaning boring and ordinary
Even though he had lots of money, his clothes were still blase.
On the Nose
To be perfect: to do something really well.
Comes from the radio, where producers would tell the DJ that the program was perfectly timed by touching his or her nose.
All of Sara’s answers were right on the nose.
Last Ditch Effort
Meaning: On leat, all-out try
Origin: Comes from WW1 where soldiers fought as if defending the last ditch or trench.
I shot the puck into the slot in a last ditch effort to tie the game.
Unique
(Adjective)
Pronunciation: Yoo-neek
Definition: Unlike anyone or anything else
She designed her own wedding dress because she wanted to it to be unique.
Pull out all the stops
Meaning: to give it all you’ve got; to try everything
Origin: “Stops” change the sound and volume of an organ. Pulling them all out allows it to be played at full volume.
I knew if I was going to win the election, I would have to pull out all of the stops in the last week of the campaign.
Futile
(adjective)
Pronunciation: “few-tile”
Definition: useless
Their efforts to raise the money were futile.
