Monday, June 11, 2007

A turn for the worse ( Toon Doo comic )







Vocabulary Finder- Madeleine

1) A turn for the worse :

Meaning : A turn for the worse means that if a situation or an ill person takes a turn for the worse, they become worse or more ill.

Sentence: Their relationship took a turn for the worse when he lost his job.

Why did you choose this word or idiom?: I think that this idiom is useful and we can use it in our composition.

2)Stammering:

Meaning: To speak with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds, either because you have a speech problem, or because you are nervous, excited etc.

Sentence: Whenever he was angry he would begin stammering slightly.

Why did you choose this word?: Because this word can help to describe the sound when we want to say words but always afraid to say it.

3)Chuckles:

Meaning: To laugh quietly.

Sentence: Bettty gave a little chuckle when her admirer fell in front of her.

Why did you choose this word?: This is one of the many words which can describe laugh.

4)Rattle:

Meaning: If you rattle something, or if it rattles, it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds.

Sentence: Danny banged on his sister's door and rattled the handle.

Why did you choose this word?: This word can desciribe a particular sound made.


5)Straining:

Meaning: Worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time or stress.

Sentence: I don't babysit anyone any more,the strain was too much for me.

Why did you choose this word?: This word can be replaced with the word "stress".

6)Muffled:

Meaning: Sounds cannot be heard clearly, for example because they come from behind a door or wall.

Sentence: I could hear muffled voices in the next room.

Why did you choose this word?: This word can be replaced with the word" quiet "

7)Blubbering:

Meaning: The act of weeping or crying noisily.

Sentence: He spake well save that his blubbering interrupted him.

Why did you choose this word?: This word can be used instead of always saying or writing weeping or crying noisily.


8)Gloating:

Meaning: To show in an annoying way that you are proud of your own success or happy about someone else's failure.

Sentence: When you score number 1 in the class don't gloat over others failure.

Why did you choose this word?: I find this word very interesting.


9)Grunting:

Meaning: To utter or express with a deep guttural sound.

Sentence:He merely grunted his approval.

Why did you choose this word?: This word can use to describe sounds.It is also very helpful in writing composition.

10)Squealing:
Meaning: To give forth a loud shrill cry or sound or having or making a high-pitched sound such as that made by a mouse or a rusty hinge.

Sentence:When Mrs Tan heard something squeal, she immediately jumped to a nearest chair.

Why did you choose this word?: This word can represent mouse squeaks or rusty hinge.It can also be used in writing compositions.


11)Jeopardy:

Meaning: Risk of loss or injury; peril or danger.

Sentence: When you take drugs, not only it will affect your health, you are also putting your life in danger.

When did you choose this word?: This word can replace the word" danger".


12)Only a matter of time:

Meaning: sure to happen at some time in the future.

Sentence: If she wins next year's olympic race, it seems only a matter of time before she meets her target of getting 4 golds.

Why did you choose this idiom?: I thought it was a pretty good idiom and it can be very useful in writing composition.


13)Rubbing in it:

Meaning: If someone rubs it in, they keep talking about something that makes you feel embarrassed or upset.

Sentence:I know I made a mistake, but you don't have to rub it in.

Why did you choose this idiom ?: This idiom is useful and can be used in writing compositions.


14)Taunted:

Meaning: Reproach in a mocking, insulting manner or aggravation by mocking or criticizing.

Sentence: The other children taunted him about his weight.

Why did you choose this word?:This word can be used instead of "making fun of".


15)Wheeze:

Meaning: To breathe with difficulty, producing a hoarse whistling sound or to make a sound resembling laborious breathing.

Sentence: If John runs non-stop for 2.4 KM, he will start to wheeze because he has asthma.

Why did you choose this word ?: I find this word very interesting.


16)Gust of wind:

Meaning: A strong, abrupt rush of wind.

Sentence: When it was raining cats and dogs yesterday, a strong gust of wind blew and a tree by the roadside fell, causing traffic jam.

Why did you choose this idiom ?: This word can be used instead of"the wind blowing very hard".

17)Piece of cake:

Meaning: Something very easy.

Sentence: Our team is strong, but it won't be a piece of cake to make it to the finals.

Why did you choose this idiom ?: We can use this idiom instead of always using " this is very easy".