tidbit

Happy Leap Day!

"In Ireland, February 29 is Bachelor's Day - a traditional holiday when women propose to men. Scotland began the tradition in 1288 by passing a law permitting women to propose and if refused, the man had to pay a fine. Now, the tradition is just an amusing historical tidbit."

tidbit    [TID-bit]

noun.  a small piece of interesting  information, or a small dish of pleasant-tasting food

"Our tour guide gave us some interesting tidbits about the history of the statue."

"Grandma always has a few tidbits for the children during lunchtime."

resounding

resounding    [ri-ZOUN-ding]

noun.  filled with echoes; loud

"A Samsung spokeswoman called the ruling of the patent case against Apple a resounding victory for the company."

"Riding the strength of her support among African-Americans to a resounding victory in the Palmetto State, Clinton seized the momentum in the Democratic presidential race before the Super Tuesday."

“It will send a resounding message to Asian capitals that the United States is committed to this” - Obama at Southeast Asian Summit. 

rancor

rancor    [Rang-ker]

noun. a feeling of deep bitter anger and ill-will 

“It’s one of the few regrets of my Presidency—that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better." - Obama

"Let us be friends as we once were, and have no more of this rancor."

"The open rancor in political discussion prevents cooperation between political parties."

beset

beset    [bih-SET]

verb.  (of a problem or difficulty) trouble or threaten persistently

"Ben Carson’s campaign was beset with frustration, disappointment and grief."

"The power plants in Japan, beset by an earthquake, were having a problem that nuclear scientists said couldn't happen."

"The social problems beset the inner city."

jockey

jockey    [Jok-ee] 

noun. horse rider 

verb.  to struggle or compete

"This pack of three presidential candidates  -- Rubio, Cruz, and Kasich -- has been jockeying for second place in the state for some time."

"He took private batting practice, and members of the news media jockeyed to get close-up shots."

"The private rental segment of the lodging industry is growing quickly, raising the stakes as companies jockey for market share."

laypeople, layperson, layman, laywoman

laypeople, layperson, layman, laywoman 

noun. a person without specific  knowledge of a certain subject 

"German Forest Ranger Peter Wohlleben wrote a book 'The Hidden Life of Trees' to show laypeople how great trees are and how they are very social."

demur

demur     [dih-MUR] 

verb.  to raise doubts or objections or show reluctance.

"Asked whether American Catholics should vote for Trump, Francis demurred."

"Normally she would have accepted the challenge, but she demurred this time."

"He was a good-looking man. Women fell for him, and he did not demur."

tandem

tandem     [TAN-duh m] 

noun.   a bicycle for two riders;  a group of two people or machines working together

"The Miller-Ware tandem at defense is the reason why Broncos won Super Bowl this year."

"The Giants had the greatest pitching tandem in baseball history."

"The basketball team has a tandem of talented guards."

the lion's share

the lion's share

phase.  the largest part of something 

"The eldest son received the lion's share of the estate."

"The lead actress deservedly got the lion's share of credit for the show's success."

"For most, working a job (or jobs) takes up the lion’s share of our waking hours."

squabble

squabble     [skwob-uh l] 

verb.  / noun.  quarrel noisily over a trivial matter.

"Donald Trump and Jeb Bush even squabbled about Bush’s mother in the debate."

"Aside from squabbles with family and friends and money issues, our careers provide a sizable chunk of life’s stresses."

"The boys were squabbling over a ball"

retool

retool

verb.  adapt or alter (someone or something) to make them more useful or suitable

"There is a need to retool yourself. People should spend five to ten hours a week in online learning, to prevent from being obsolete with the technology.”

"He likes to retool the old stories to make them relevant for today’s kids."

"Over the longer term, the political Party needs to retool itself so it canbecome competitive in the Northeast, Midwest, and California."

reciprocate

reciprocate    [ri-SIP-ruh-keyt] 

verb. act, feel, or give in return 

"In Japan, it’s women who do the gift giving on Valentine’s Day. Men reciprocate a month later (March 14) on White Day, when they may return the show of affection."

"World powers said they were ready to reciprocate, if Iran gave significant assurances."

"A pair of pandas arrived in the U.S. as a gift from China in April 1972. Nixon reciprocated the gift by sending two musk oxen to China."

pipe dream

pipe dream

phase.  a hope, wish, or dream that is impossible to achieve or not practical

"While getting the Super Bowl MVP - Von Miller - is a pipe dream, the New York Jets will be hitting the market and the draft to try to find a comparable edge-rushing option."

"For most aspiring actors, that starring role is just a pipe dream."

"I think that his plan to become a professional athlete is a pipe dream and that he should stay in school."

take a toll / take its toll

take a toll / take its toll 

phase. to cause damage, wear or suffering 

"Years of sun bathing took a toll on her skin."

"Divorce takes its toll on the children involved."

"The long lasting war between the two countries has taken its toll on both sides."

rectify

rectify    [REK-tuh-fahy] 

verb.  make right or correct 

"During routine testing in preparation for the New Hampshire primary a malfunction occurred which briefly showed errant data on our website. This error has been rectified. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused," - Fox News 

"To rectify this situation, Pope Gregory XIII initiated a new calendar in 1582."

"Your English teachers will give you a chance to rectify any mistakes you've made in an essay and hand in a second, edited draft."

buck

buck 

verb. (of a horse or bull) to lower its head and raise its hindquarters into the air, usually while kicking out with the hind legs

cassowary

cassowary    [KAS-uh-wer-ee]

noun.  a very large flightless bird related to the emu, from Australia and New Guinea

guacamole

guacamole    [gwah-kuh-MOH-lee]

noun. avocado mixed with chopped onion, tomatoes, chili peppers, and seasoning

"Avocados from Mexico discovers Earth’s greatest contribution was guacamole in 2016 Super Bowl ad."

"The Obama couple invited friends over to watch in the residence, surrounded by wings, pizza, nachos and guacamole."

fiend

fiend [feend]

noun. a person extreamly addicted to some pernicious habit; a person that causes mischief or annoyance; an evil

"Fans, fiends, critics and fanatics have all been showing off their "Star Wars" ticket purchases online."

"If he was a fiend on the battlefield, he was a lamb at home."

"Those two children in the neighborhood are little fiends."

cockatoo

cockatoo    [KOK-uh-too]

noun. a type of large parrot, with colored crests and white plumage 

innuendo

innuendo    [in-yoo-EN-doh] 

noun.  an indirect (and usually malicious) implication

Clinton added, “he’s great at innuendo and conspiracy theories and really defaming people.”

"Cosby and his camp have said women who have made similar allegations are engaging in innuendo and targeting him for financial gain, among other claims."

"The book is full of innuendos about her private life."

hummus

hummus    [HUh m-uh s] 

noun. a paste or dip made of chickpeas mashed with oil, garlic, lemon juice, and spices and usually eaten with pita, originated in the Middle East 

archipelago

archipelago    [ahr-kuh-PEL-uh-goh] 

noun. a large group of many islands 

rampant

rampant    [RAM-puh nt] 

adjective.  spreading quickly, out of control

"In late 2013, the virus went rampant in French Polynesia, a Pacific archipelago."

"Smithsonian Magazine reports that mislabeling fish is rampant, particularly in sushi restaurants."

"Private investment and business creation have slowed, while corruption is rampant and billions of dollars are kept outside the country."

in the ballpark

in the ballpark 

phase.  within an acceptable or similar range 

"We weren't even in the ballpark – we offered $170 million, but the offer they accepted was for $400 million."

"Policy makers' forecasts predicting four interest-rate increases in 2016 were in the ballpark.

demystify

demystify    [dee-MIS-tuh-fahy] 

verb.  to remove mystery, make easy to understand

"The world’s leading disease experts are anxious to demystify the world’s newest  pandemic threat caused by Zika virus."

"Over the years he has had a desire to demystify wines for myself and others."

"The health law was supposed to demystify shopping for health insurance."

Armageddon

Armageddon [ahr-muh-GED-n]

noun. the final destructive battle or conflict

"The collisions of the superpowers included the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, when the United States and the Soviet Union came perilously close to Armageddon."

"The arms race can lead to Armageddon."

"Human race needs to avoid nuclear Armageddon."

protracted

protracted    [proh-TRAKT-id] 

adjective.  prolonged 

"The IOWA caucus results signal the beginning of a protracted, three-way fight for the nomination in the Republican Party."

"The American Revolution was protracted: Five years elapsed between the Declaration of Independence and Yorktown."

"I have no desire to protract the process."

wrath

wrath [rath]

noun. extreme anger

"Noah saw the flood as a sign of the wrath of God."

"Donald Trump’s supporters directed their wrath toward career politicians, unlawful immigrants, terrorists and people who they said were taking advantage of welfare."

"When something terrible happens, it’s usually not long before someone on the religious right attributes it to God’s wrath."

potion

potion [POH-shuh]

noun. a magical drink, medicine or poison

"The hero in the play is given a magic potion so that he will fall in love with the princess."

"In folktales, a sleep potion is used to cause long-term or eternal sleep."