Where will English take you?

Author: Amy Estrada (Page 17 of 28)

paradox

Write a sentence using the word paradox in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

paradox /ˈpær əˌdɒks/

noun

  1. a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.
  2. a self-contradictory and false proposition.
  3. any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature. 
  4. an opinion or statement contrary to commonly accepted opinion.

Origin of paradox

Latin, Greek 1350-1360

Source: Dictionary.com

 

 

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Once Bitten Twice Shy

Once bitten twice shy.

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

That’s right, I want you to find the answer. Because remember, my job as your teacher is to guide you to the answer. If I just gave you the answer without asking you to do the work, I’d be robbing you of your learning opportunity. No pain, no gain!

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litigate

Write a sentence using the word litigate in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

litigate /ˈlɪt ɪˌgeɪt/

verb (used with object)

  1. to make the subject of a lawsuit; contest at law. 
  2. Archaic. to dispute (a point, assertion, etc.)

verb (used without object)

  1. to carry on a lawsuit.

Origin of litigate

Latin 1605-1615

Source: Dictionary.com

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A Penny For Your Thoughts

A penny for your thoughts. 

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

That’s right, I want you to find the answer. Because remember, my job as your teacher is to guide you to the answer. If I just gave you the answer without asking you to do the work, I’d be robbing you of your learning opportunity. No pain, no gain!

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flamboyant

Write a sentence using the word flamboyant in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

flamboyant /flæmˈbɔɪ ənt/

adjective

  1. strikingly bold or brilliant; showy: flamboyant colors. 
  2. conspicuously dashing and colorful: the flamboyant idol of international society.
  3. florid; ornate; elaborately styled: flamboyant speeches. 
  4. Architechure. a. having the form of an ogee, as a bar of tracery. b. noting or pertaining to French Gothic architecture of the late 15th and early and middle 16th centuries, characterized by the use of flamboyant tracery, intricacy of detailing, virtuosity of workmanship, attenuation of parts, and frequent complication of interior space.

Origin of flamboyant

Old French 1835-1835

Source: Dictionary.com

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A Watched Pot Never Boils

A watched pot never boils. 

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

That’s right, I want you to find the answer. Because remember, my job as your teacher is to guide you to the answer. If I just gave you the answer without asking you to do the work, I’d be robbing you of your learning opportunity. No pain, no gain!

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travesty

Write a sentence using the word travesty in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

travesty /ˈtræv ə sti/

noun

  1. a literary or artistic burlesque of a serious work or subject, characterized by grotesque or ludicrous incongruity of style, treatment, or subject matter. 
  2. any grotesque or artistic composition so inferior in quality as to be merely a grotesque imitation of its model.
  3. any grotesque or debased likeness or imitation: a travesty of justice. 

verb (used with object)

  1. to make a travesty on; turn (a serious work or subject) to ridicule by burlesquing.
  2. to imitate grotesquely or absurdly.
    to make a travesty on; turn (a serious work orsubject) to ridicule by burlesquing.
  3. to imitate grotesquely or absurdly.

Origin of affinity

French, Italian 1655-1665

Source: Dictionary.com

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Where There’s A Will There’s A Way

Where there’s a will there’s a way. 

Without googling or checking reference resources, what do you think this proverb means?

By guessing you are priming your brain for learning, which will help you remember the meaning more easily. It doesn’t matter if your guess is wrong, the key is to exercise your brain by guessing.

Write your guess in the comments below. After you post your guess, go ahead and look it up.

That’s right, I want you to find the answer. Because remember, my job as your teacher is to guide you to the answer. If I just gave you the answer without asking you to do the work, I’d be robbing you of your learning opportunity. No pain, no gain!

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apocalypse

Write a sentence using the word apocalypse in the comments. Practicing new words in sentences will help you remember them, and it allows me to see if your usage and understanding of the word is correct. If you are not sure, guess! Guessing about how to use new vocabulary also helps make it stick. I will provide correction and feedback for your sentence.

It’s also important to practice the pronunciation of a new word. I’ve created a pronunciation loop so you can listen and repeat.

apocalypse /əˈpɒk ə lɪps/

noun

  1. any of a class of Jewish or Christian writings that appeared from about 200 b.c. to a.d. 350 and were assumed to make revelations of the until mate divine purpose. 
  2. a prophetic revelation, especially concerning a cataclysm in which the forces of good permanently triumph over the forces of evil. 
  3. any revelation or prophecy.
  4. any universal or widespread destruction or disaster: the apocalypse of nuclear war. 

Origin of boisterous

Middle English 1125-1175

Related forms: boisterously, adverb; boisterousness, noun

Source: Dictionary.com

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Video | AH & UH Sounds

Today I want to talk about the pronunciation of AH & UH in American English.

Certain word pairs can be tricky to pronounce correctly. Many students confuse the pronunciation of these words. So I want to spend some time practicing with you today.

Let’s consider some examples.

The words body and buddy.

The word BODY has the AH sound. AH BODY BODY AH

The word BUDDY has the UH sound. UH BUDDY BUDDY UH

Let’s compare the vowel sound again.
AH body
UH buddy
AH UH AH UH

Boss
Bus

Hog
Hug

Wander
Wonder

You can instantly improve your English and sound more like a native speaker by practicing and speaking these word pairs correctly.

When you master American English pronunciation, you can speak with confidence knowing that your pronunciation is accurate and listeners will understand you.

If this lesson was helpful, give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to Go Places English. Where will English take you? Thanks!

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