Intermediate+ Word of the Day

Intermediate+ Word of the Day: guy

We’re pretty sure you know that guy is an informal word for a man or boy and that, in the plural form guys, it can refer to both men and women, but did you know that guy is also a verb meaning ‘to make fun of or ridicule someone?’ And do you know who Guy Fawkes was and why today the UK celebrates Bonfire Night?

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: sway

To sway means ‘to move or swing from side to side’ or ‘to cause to move or swing from side to side.’ Figuratively, it means ‘to influence’ and, related to this, it can also mean…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: goad

A goad is a rod with a pointed (or, nowadays, sometimes electrically charged) end for driving cattle or other animals. Figuratively, something that drives, urges, or encourages can also be a goad. The related verb to goad means…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: hoist

To hoist is a verb that means ‘to lift or raise,’ especially with a mechanical device. In US English, it also means ‘to raise to one’s lips and drink,’ mainly referring to beer, whiskey or any other alcoholic drink. As a noun, a hoist is…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: flounder

To flounder means ‘to struggle to move or to gain balance,’ usually helplessly and quite clumsily. Related to this, it also means ‘to speak or act in a clumsy way or with hesitation’ and, more generally, ‘to struggle’ or ‘to be in great difficulty.’ You might have also heard that a flounder is a type of…

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: egg

You probably know that an egg is the roundish reproductive body produced by female birds and most reptiles and, perhaps, that it is also the cell produced by female mammals that, when joined with a male cell, forms a baby. However, did you know that egg is used informally to refer to a person, normally with a descriptive adjective?

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Intermediate+ Word of the Day: hip

The hip is the part on each side of our bodies where the thigh bone meets the pelvis and also the joint of this area. Unrelatedly, the hip is the ripe fruit of a rose. As an adjective…

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