Both burglarize and burgle are verbs that mean to enter a building illegally with the intent to commit a crime, particularly theft. They are exact synonyms; neither word implies a different type or severity of crime. The difference between the two terms is entirely regional: Where Did the Word “Burglar” Come From? To understand why … Read more
When someone is described as glum, they are silent, sad, gloomy, or morose, typically showing their disappointment or dejection through a downcast facial expression. While usually applied to a person’s mood or expression, the adjective glum can also describe a place or environment that is drab, dreary, or lacking cheer (e.g., “a glum little hotel … Read more
When someone is described as obsequious (pronounced ub-SEE-kwee-us), they are excessively eager to please, obey, flatter, or agree with someone in authority, often to a degree that appears servile, fawning, or insincere. The adjective obsequious is always pejorative. It is never used as a compliment; rather, it describes someone who lowers their dignity to gain … Read more
A caveat (pronounced ka-vee-aht or kav-ee-at) is a condition, limitation, stipulation, or warning added to a general statement, recommendation, or agreement. When someone “adds a caveat,” they are instructing you to consider this specific qualification or exception before weighing the value of the statement, acting on the information, or entering into a contract. Etymology & … Read more
To earmark something, often used in reference to monetary funds, means to keep or designate it for a certain purpose. For example, a company might earmark certain funds for advertising. The term earmark has been in use since at least the 1570s. It originally, and still does, refer to a distinguishing mark on an animal. … Read more
When someone is left alone to agonize over the consequences of their own bad decisions, with no one coming to rescue them, we say they are being left to “stew in their own juice.” It’s a vivid phrase, and if you search for its origin of the idiom, standard reference guides will almost universally point … Read more
Abecedarian is an archaic and extinct English word that began being used during the 1600s. See if you can guess the etymology of this unusual English word after learning the meaning. Abecedarian Meaning Abecedarian (noun): 1. person or book that teaches the alphabet 2. someone learning the alphabet 3. of or relating to the alphabet … Read more
While Donald Trump was still president, a news person said he had a bully pulpit. Given the context, and being interested in linguistics and etymology, I wondered if they were using the term correctly. You see, the term bully pulpit does not mean ‘using the pulpit to be a bully,’ as would seem to apply … Read more
Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel! If a person or a group of people boycott a business, organization, country, etc. they refuse to have any involvement with it in order to show their disapproval and to force a change in policy, habits, attitude, etc. To boycott a business is … Read more
To invent, in English, means to design or create something that has never been made before or to make up an idea, story, name, false fact, etc. for the purpose of deception. However, invent, originally, meant ‘find.’ Etymology of Invent Invent was originally based on the past-participial stem of the Latin word invenīre, inventus. Invenīre … Read more