Vagary

Vagary

<va-gair-ree>

erratic; change; oddity;

an unexplained and unexpected change.

His wearing a tie was a vagary to everyone. He always wore sweaters.

Remember:
vagary remind of vague.
changes are vague or unclear to us.

At work:
Never drink alcohol at the office party. Vagary behavior will occur and it's never good.

(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
  

Lackadaisical

Lackadaisical

<lak-ah-days-zik-kal>

lazy; passive; relaxed;

lacking energy or having no interest.

I felt lackadaisical and had no desire to clean. I watch movies all day.

Remember:
lackadaisical reminds of lack.
we have a lack of enthusiasm.

At work:
We felt lackadaisical after the big meal. We got back to work after drinking coffee.

(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
  

Vehement

Vehement

angry; furious; violent;

<vee-heh-meant>

showing strong and powerful emotions.

Her workouts are vehement. She always works up a sweat.

Remember:
vehement reminds of violent.

At work:
The stockholders showed their vehement opposition to the proposal. They became agreeable when they learned the details.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
  

Ostentatious

Ostentatious

<ahs-sten-tay-shish>

gaudy; classy; showy;

something flashy meant to impress others.

Her ostentatious hat had flowers and diamonds on it. Everyone gasped when they saw it.

Memory trick:
ostentatious reminds of ostrich.
an ostrich is flashy.

At work:
Our presentation should be ostentatious. Let's add dancing clowns with banjos.

(c) 2015 E. Carruthers

  

Pell-mell

Pell-mell

<pel-mel>

chaotic; hastily; confused;

to do something hurriedly and disordered.

She ran around pell-mell. She packed so quickly she forgot the tickets.

Memory trick:
pell-mell-fell

At work:
We can't build software in a pell-mell way. We have to design it and be organized.

(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
 

Exultant

Exultant

<ehk-zalt-tant>

elated; happy; joyous;

being gleeful and triumphant.

The exultant crowd roared with joy. The game was over and we won.

Memory trick:
exultant reminds of excitement.

At work:
We became exultant when we learned of winning the award. People danced in the halls.

(c) 2015 E. Carruthers
  

Unsavory

Unsavory

<uhn-save-or-ree>

unattractive; nasty; shady;

anything unappealing in sight, smell or character.

The man looked unsavory but he looked great after the makeover.

Memory trick:
un reminds of not.
savor means to enjoy.
not enjoy.

At work:
Our menus are unsavory. We need to make them look better.

(c) 2015 E. Carruthers