Fly-by-night

Fly-by-night

<fleye-bye-nite>

dishonest; deceitful; crooked;

being unreliable and untrustworthy.

My friend is not a fly-by-night person. I know I can trust him.

Memory trick:
a dishonest person flees in the cover of darkness.

At work.
We did not sign the contract with that fly-by-night company. They were stealing from clients.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Truncate

Truncate

<trun-kayte>

abbreviate; condense; abridge;

to shorten something by cutting things out.

You have to truncate a message when you send it on twitter. Long sentences are not allowed.

Memory trick:
truncate reminds of trunk.
we put things in a trunk and have less.

At work:
You need to truncate your advertisement. You only have a few seconds to grab their attention.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Encomium

Encomium

<en-kome-me-um>

eulogy; accolade; compliment;

something written praising someone.

The critic showered an encomium on the author. It was a great tribute.

Memory trick:
encomium reminds of economy or money.
we make a good economy for someone we praise.

At work:
We composed an encomium for his retirement party. He will be missed.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers

Mutinous

Mutinous

<mute-tin-nus>

rebel; defiant; riotous;

someone rebelling against authority.

The mutinous dog chased the stick and refused to bring it back.

Memory trick:
mutinous reminds of staying mute or refusing to talk.
we are mute when we refuse to answer.

At work:
The  mutinous employee did not show up because he did not like his assignment.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers 

Gratis

Gratis

<grat-tis>

free; gift; complimentary;

something given without charging money.

Our rooms were provided gratis. We did not pay a dime.

Memory trick:
gratis reminds of grateful.
we are grateful for a free gift.

At work:
We will give the computers gratis to the school. It's a way to give back to the community.


(c) 2016 E. Carruthers
 

Diverge

Diverge

<deye-verj>

split; deviate; separate;

to go off the path in a different direction.

We decided to diverge onto the exit and and leave the main road.

Memory trick:
di reminds of two.
verge means to approach.
we approach the second way.

At work:
Our concepts are starting to diverge. We need a meeting to get on the same page.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers 

Malingerer

Malingerer

<mah-ling-ger-ruh>

loafer; dodger; shirker;

someone who slacks off from work - often by lying about being sick.

The man is a malingerer. He is out sick but I saw him at the gym.

Memory trick:
malingerer reminds of malign or lie.
linger reminds of something constant and lasting.
a lie that lasts.

At work:
I think she is a malingerer. We need to ask for a note from the doctor.


(c) 2015 E. Carruthers