Writing Tools By Roy, Peter Clark Flashcards
Decrepit
Elderly and infirm
Pun
Make a joke, exploiting different meanings of words
Cadaver
Corpse
Bemoan
Express discontent
Intractable
Hard to control or deal with
Wry
adjective
1.
using or expressing dry, especially mocking, humor.
“a wry smile”
Similar:
ironic
sardonic
satirical
mocking
scoffing
sneering
derisive
scornful
sarcastic
double-edged
dry
droll
witty
humorous
sarky
2.
(of a person’s face or features) twisted into an expression of disgust, disappointment, or annoyance
Cliffhanger
noun
an ending to an episode of a serial drama that leaves the audience in suspense.
“it will take more than outrageous cliffhangers to win the ratings wars”
a story or event with a strong element of suspense.
“the game was a cliffhanger right up to the final buzzer”
Gazillion
numberINFORMAL
a very large number or quantity (used for emphasis).
“I’d like to sell gazillions of books”
Squish
verb
make a soft squelching sound when walked on or in.
“the mud squished under my shoes”
noun
a soft squelching sound.
“the squish of wet sand between the toes”
Swish
verb
1.
move with a hissing or rushing sound.
“a car swished by”
2.
BASKETBALL
sink (a shot) without the ball touching the backboard or rim.
noun
1.
a hissing or rustling sound.
“he could hear the swish of a distant car”
2.
INFORMAL•BASKETBALL
a shot that goes through the basket without touching the backboard or rim.
adjectiveINFORMAL
1.
BRITISH
impressively smart and fashionable.
“dinner at a swish hotel”
Visceral
adjective
relating to the viscera.
“the visceral nervous system”
relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect.
“the voters’ visceral fear of change”
Anecdote
noun
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
“told anecdotes about his job”
Synonymes :
story
tale
narrative
sketch
urban myth
urban legend
reminiscence
yarn
shaggy-dog story
an account regarded as unreliable or hearsay.
“his wife’s death has long been the subject of rumor and anecdote”
the depiction of a minor narrative incident in a painting.
“the use of inversions of hierarchy, anecdote, and paradox by Magritte, Dali, and others”
Vignette
noun
1.
a brief evocative description, account, or episode.
“a classic vignette of embassy life”
2.
a small illustration or portrait photograph which fades into its background without a definite border.
verb
portray (someone) in the style of a vignette.
Brooding
adjective
showing deep unhappiness of thought.
“he stared with brooding eyes”
appearing darkly menacing.
“a dark, brooding landscape”
Elude
verb
evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way.
“he managed to elude his pursuers by escaping into an alley”
Synonymes :
evade
avoid
get away from
dodge
flee
escape (from)
run (away) from
lose
duck
shake off
give the slip to
slip away from
throw off the scent
slip through someone’s fingers
slip through the net
circumvent
bilk
Antonymes :
be caught by
(of an idea or fact) fail to be grasped or remembered by (someone).
“the logic of this eluded most people”
(of an achievement, or something desired or pursued) fail to be attained by (someone).
“sleep still eluded her”