WINSOME

WINSOME

<Win-sum>

Appealing; captivating; delightful;

Causing joy or pleasure.

The singer had a winsome voice and the music was delightful.

Win - some

Win (Reminds) Win or to gain

Some (Reminds) Some or a bunch
Memory trick: We win some when we are pleased.

WIN SOME


 

There is a canon in your house. You tell me not to leave towels on the floor. 

Why do I follow your orders?

Answer below...

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email

(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

Answer:  

A canon is a collection of rules. Your rule is to pick up towels after a shower.

TERMINUS

TERMINUS

Term-min-nus

End; limit; boundary;

Limiting boundary or border. 

The caboose was the terminus of the train.


We reached the terminus and we could go no farther.

Termin - us

Termin (Reminds) Terminate or end

Us (Reminds) Us
Memory trick: Terminate us because we reach the end.

TERMINATE US

I am going to inculcate you. You will like it. What will I do to you?

Answer below...

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email

(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

Answer:  

It means that I am going to teach you persistently and earnestly. Inculcate is pronounced: In-kul-kayt

MEA CULPA

MEA CULPA

<May-ah-kul-pa>

My mistake; my fault; my error;

Admitting a personal error.

The child made a mea culpa and a confession was made.

The boy made a mea culpa and offered a flower as an apology.

Mea - culpa

Mea (Reminds) Me or my

Culpa (Reminds) Culpable

Memory Trick:  My guilt makes me culpable because I did it.

ME CULPABLE

You descry a book on your bookshelf. Why don't you have any tears?

Answer below...

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email

(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

Answer:  

Descry means to see something. You just found a new book.

ETCETERA

ETCETERA

<Et-set-er-ah>

More; additional; etc;

Meaning the rest and other things.

 
The store had balls, kites, boomerangs and etcetera.

I have a horse, a dog, a cat and etcetera.

Etcetera

Etcetera (Reminds) Extra

Memory trick: We add extra to what we just said.

EXTRA

You brook, a brook. Did you enjoy your swim?

Answer below....

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email

(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

Answer:  

No. Brook means to tolerate or endure. Brook also means a small stream or river. You endured a small stream. It may be too cold.

PERDITION

PERDITION

<Per-dish-shun>

Ruin; loss; punishment;

Being complete destruction.

The perdition is cleaned up and the city is no longer in ruins.

The perdition was complete. Nary a flower was left standing.

Per - dition

Per (Reminds) Perilous

Detion (Reminds) Condition
Memory trick: It is a perilous condition when everything is gone.

PERILOUS CONDITION

You don't like germane things. Why don't you respond when someone greets you?

Answer below...

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email

(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

Answer:  

Germane means appropriate. You don't like appropriate things like greeting people.

ACRIMONIOUS

ACRIMONIOUS

<Ack-kre-moan-ee-us>

Acrid; bitter; caustic;

Having a bitter temper.

You are never acrimonious because you are always happy.

The acrimonious cat was always mean.

A - crim - onious

Crim (Reminds) Crime

Monious (Reminds) Harmonious

Memory trick: It is a crime to not be harmonious.

HARMONIOUS


 

You walk in the woods. You enjoy the preternatural scenery. Why do you feel funny?

Answer below...

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email

(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

Answer: 

Preternatural means being unusual. You feel funny because the scenery is unusual and strange.

ABLUTION

ABLUTION

Ah-blew-shun

Cleansing; washing; sanitizing;

Bathing your body with water.

An ablution is made better by a good bar of soap.

A - blu - tion

Blu (Reminds) Blue or water

Tion (Reminds) Motion

Memory Trick: Blue water and motion makes us clean.

BLUE MOTION

I say your fame is ephemeral. Why do I talk about fifteen minutes?

Answer below...

New Word A Day - Kindle e-books - FREE 

Subscribe to New Word A Day 

Subscribe to New Idiom A Day - FREE daily email
(c) 2014 E. Carruthers

 

Answer:  

I probably mean fifteen minutes of fame. Fifteen minutes of fame is when someone is famous for a short time. Ephemeral means short-lived.