09/24

Question 1

define:

finesse
(fuh NESS)

Answer 1

Today, finesse is skill or tact in handling tricky situations.

And to finesse a tricky task or situation is to perform it with skill or tact.

e.g. I admire Heidi’s finesse on the guitar.
e.g. She plays with finesse.
e.g. Playing the guitar requires finesse. I need more finesse.

Question 2

define:

gangrenous
(GANG gren us)

Answer 2

In a literal sense, gangrenous wounds or limbs are affected by gangrene.

And in a figurative sense, gangrenous things are either colored a nasty deathly shade, like yellow or green or black; or, they’re rotten and diseased and dying, eating away at the life of otherwise healthy things.

e.g. Her hair was a knot of greasy filth, her teeth a gangrenous yellow, her breath a reek of garbage.

Question 3

define:

praxis

Answer 3

First, praxis can be the actual practice or execution of some skill, art, or area of expertise, as opposed to the theory underlying it, as in “the praxis of chemistry” or “the praxis of public speaking.”

Second, praxis can be the actual actions or behaviors of a certain group of people, as opposed to the ideas underlying them, as in “Christian praxis” or “the praxis of fighters for social justice.”

Question 4

define:

tendentious
(ten DEN chuss)

Answer 4

When you call something tendentious, you mean it’s biased in a way that twists the facts to fit a certain purpose.

You might talk about tendentious arguments, articles, books, documentaries, explanations, interpretations, etc.

Question 5

define:

dégagé
(DAY gah ZYAY)

Answer 5

We borrowed the word “dégagé” from French around the year 1697. It literally means “disengaged,” or less literally, “at ease: relaxed, not nervous, and not emotional.”
…

He tried against his wont to keep up a dégagé manner.

Question 6

define:

to exude smb
(eck ZOOD)

Answer 6

The word “exude” has Latin bits that literally mean “to sweat out.” So, in a very literal way, people who exude things are sweating them out through the pores in their skin.

Less literally, and much more often, to exude something is to thoroughly show it or demonstrate it, as if you’re naturally sweating it out.
…
President Obama was there, too, in sunglasses, exuding celebrity.

Question 7

define:

Goldbergian
(gold BURG ee un)

Answer 7

If you call something Goldbergian, you mean it’s designed to do something simple in an unnecessarily complicated way.

Or, more generally, you might mean it’s hilariously, needlessly overcomplicated.

You might talk rather literally about people building Goldbergian machines and contraptions. That’s actually a popular activity for kids interested in engineering.

Or you might talk more figuratively about Goldbergian designs, machines, devices, processes, systems, institutions, scheming, plots, logic, etc.

Question 8

define:

hair-trigger

Answer 8

The word “hair-trigger” dates back to about 1795 in English. It describes firearms that go off at the slightest, gentlest of touches, like that of a single hair.

In a figurative sense, a hair-trigger thing, like a hair-trigger temper or personality, is the kind that reacts explosively to very small things.

To imply that someone is easily provoked, often into loud reactions or strong emotions, say that they have hair-trigger reactions, responses, tempers, or mood swings.

Or, say that they’re on a hair-trigger alert.

Or, more lightheartedly, say they have a hair-trigger laugh

Question 9

define:

rapscallion
(rap SKAL yun)

Answer 9

A rascal, or a rapscallion, is a sneaky, tricky, dishonest person.

Or, more lightheartedly, a rapscallion is a playful, mischievous person.
…
He’s a bad one, that Aladdin, a rapscallion and a thief.

Question 10

define:

deleterious
(dell uh TEER ee us)

Answer 10

It comes from a Greek word meaning “destroyer,” and the meaning hasn’t changed much: today, deleterious things are harmful or hurtful, causing a bad impact on something, especially on health.

Pick the formal, common, serious word “deleterious” when you want to emphasize how something really destroys a person’s health—or the health of a relationship, a company, the environment, etc.

We talk about the deleterious effects of something, or the deleterious impact of something.

That “something” is often a drug, an illness, or a terrible situation of any kind, such as a toxic relationship or an overly demanding job with inhumane working conditions.

Question 11

penchant
(pen(t)SH(ə)nt)

Answer 11

A definite liking; a strong inclination
…
His penchant for art flourished in the calm privateness of the studio.

Question 12

to exult (intr)

Answer 12

Say that someone exults, or that someone exults in something. You might exult in a pleasant feeling or realization, exult in a victory or an achievement, or exult in a wonderful moment or memory.

Although it’s often people who exult in things, you can also say that people’s creations exult in things, as in “Fiona Apple’s latest album exults in thick, messy harmonies.

Question 13

lax (adj)

Answer 13

We get the words “relax” and “lax” from the Latin laxus, meaning “wide, free, loose, roomy, or spacious.”

In English, we first applied “lax” to loose bowels, and we still do—so that may be the image that comes to people’s minds when they hear it!

More generally, we describe things as lax when they’re too loose: they should be more firm, rigid, strict, or disciplined, but they’re not.

You might talk about lax rules, laws, policies, approaches, methods, enforcement, oversight, security, protections, safety measures, etc.

Or you might say that people are lax in getting important things done, as in “That company has been lax in protecting the sensitive data of its customers.”

Question 14

precept (n)

We use it to describe all kinds of rules and guidelines: you might talk about moral or religious precepts (like “Thou shalt not kill”), or personal precepts (like “Tell the truth; it’s much easier to remember”), or professional precepts (like “Writers must write what they know”).

We also talk about people issuing or laying down precepts, following or practicing or obeying precepts, discussing or negotiating precepts, questioning and defying precepts, etc.

Answer 14

A general rule or a guideline, often one that helps anyone live a good, moral, satisfying life.

Question 15

Guess I pulled the losing card in the DNA lottery.

Question 16

to stave smt off

Answer 16

To stave something off is to fight it off, as if it’s an attacker and you’re defending yourself with a long, strong piece of wood.
…
He swears this juice helps him stave off the common cold.

Question 17

define:

tenuous
(TEN you us)

Answer 17

Tenuous things are thin or delicate in a weak, flimsy, loose, unsubstantial way.
…
Tenuous connections and friendships just barely exist.
Tenuous claims and arguments are shaky and unconvincing.

Question 18

define:

asinine
(ASS uh nine)

Answer 18

Asinine people or things are very stupid.

You might talk about asinine questions, comments, ideas, plans, choices, behaviors, assumptions, expectations, conclusions, arguments, and so on.

Although you could describe a person as asinine, that’s less common. We tend to slam the asinine things people do, say, and create, rather than the people themselves.

Question 19

define:

Hanlon’s razor

Answer 19

Hanlon’s razor is the rule or idea that when people have caused you problems or pain, it’s better for you to assume that they did it accidentally (because they were being stupid) and not purposefully (because they were being mean).
…
You might talk about people accepting, applying, or remembering Hanlon’s razor, or failing to.

Or you might say that someone’s guess, assumption, attribution, or ascription abides by Hanlon’s razor, or violates it.

Question 20

define:

Occam’s razor

Answer 20

Occam’s razor is the rule or idea that explanations are better (or more likely to be true) when they’re as simple as possible.
…
Talk about people using, applying, wielding, ignoring, remembering, forgetting, or abiding by Occam’s razor.

Or, say that some guess, thought, theory, analysis, assumption, understanding, explanation, or hypothesis uses or applies or wields Occam’s razor, abides by Occam’s razor, violates Occam’s razor, etc.

Or, talk about people applying (or failing to apply) Occam’s razor to their guesses, their thinking, their theories, etc.

Or, say that people trust, prefer, or believe in some idea or explanation (instead of others) because of Occam’s razor, or on the basis of Occam’s razor.

Question 21

define:

to precipitate smt
(pruh SIP uh tate)

Answer 21

To precipitate something is to hurl it suddenly and violent downward.

More abstractly, to precipitate something is to cause it in a sudden, violent way.

Usually we say that a comment, an event, or a decision precipitates that effect.

For example, an argument could precipitate a breakup, a scandal could precipitate an investigation, a person’s sudden illness could precipitate their death, a rise in grocery prices could precipitate outrage, and a hurricane could precipitate a crisis as people are stranded without food or water.

Question 22

define:

rara avis
(RARE uh AY vis)

Answer 22

“Rara avis” is Latin for “rare bird.”

For centuries, we’ve used both the Latin and the English versions to label any person who’s rare, strange, and amazing.

Like the person it describes, “rara avis” is weird and rarely seen. But it’s pretty easy to understand: it looks like “rare avian,” which is quite accurate.

So, to strike a tone that’s complimentary and very formal, even flowery, refer to someone as a rara avis. When you do, you’re saying that they’re intriguing, weird but fascinating, and absolutely one of a kind.

Question 23

define:

Vorfreude
(for FROY duh)

Answer 23

“Vorfreude” is German for “anticipatory joy,” or more literally, “before-joy.”

While it’s not commonly used in either English or German, it’s a lovely word that some English speakers have embraced. It gets included on lists of cool words from other languages that have no precise equivalents in English.

So, when you want a word for the feeling of happy anticipation as you look forward to something, call it Vorfreude.

You might talk about people seeking, cultivating, experiencing, or savoring Vorfreude. Or you might talk about events and situations that invite or stimulate Vorfreude, such as booking a vacation; planning a wedding; or imagining an upcoming meal, date, concert, or party.

Question 24

define:

to stellify smb

Answer 24

When you want a tidy little word that means “to make someone into a star, or put someone into a cluster of stars, figuratively, by making them famous,” you can use “stellify.”

Although “stellify” is a very rare word, it’s pretty easy to understand. Its tone is quirky and academic.

To use it, talk about the people, actions, and creations that stellify people: “Technophiles stellified Steve Jobs in the late 90s.” “It was the act of bringing Apple from bankruptcy to prosperity that stellified Steve Jobs.” “Products like iPods and iPhones stellified Steve Jobs.”

Question 25

define: watchword

Answer 25

Today, we sometimes use "watchword" to mean a secret password that proves your membership in a group. But the meaning of "watchword" has also morphed from "a word you say to the people on watch" to "a word that you watch because it's important." So, more often, a watchword is a word or phrase that expresses the most important idea within a group of people. In general, we talk about a word or phrase being (or becoming) the watchword of some sphere or movement or period in time or in some particular context. For example: "'click-bait' became the watchword of the Internet economy" (Scientific American). We also say that something is the watchword for some person or group: "Surveillance is becoming a watchword for men with less-aggressive prostate cancer" (Nature).

Question 26

define: asperity

Answer 26

Asperity is usually roughness in the way someone talks, writes, or acts. When you need to sound formal and academic, instead of talking about the "roughness" or "meanness" of someone's voice or manners, you can talk about their "asperity." You could say that someone speak, writes, comments, or responds with asperity, meaning they're treating their listener or their subject harshly. Or say that someone sings with asperity: with a rough, harsh, rugged voice. Or say that some actor brings asperity to the character they're playing.

Question 27

define: garrulous GAIR uh luss

Answer 27

Someone garrulous likes to talk on and on for a long time, especially in a way that seems rambling or tiresome to others. To call someone garrulous is to make a mild complaint. And it's a complaint that's often applied to older people. You might even think of "garrulous" as an ageist term; if so, you might want to avoid using it. Still, it's generally acceptable to describe people as garrulous: "I hope I don't get a garrulous taxi driver;" "The story opens with a garrulous old shopkeeper and an impatient customer;" "She's as garrulous as ever."

Question 28

define: hypnogogic (HIP nuh GODGE ick) hypnopompic (HIP nuh POMP ick)

Answer 28

"Hypnogogic" has Greek bits that mean "sleep-leading" or "sleep-inducing." It came into English through French around the year 1886. That was when Edmund Gurney, a paranormal enthusiast, published a book called Phantasms Of The Living, in which he described "hypnogogic hallucinations" that people experienced as they were falling asleep. Gurney mused that these hallucinations were "truly the projection of the percipient's own mind as the dream." The word "hypnogogic" has stuck around in the dusty pseudoscientific corners of English, and today, it can mean either "related to falling asleep" or "helping you fall asleep." Even less common is its exact opposite, "hypnopompic," which has Greek bits that mean "sleep-departing," or more literally, "sleep-sending (away)." It was coined around 1897 by another paranormal enthusiast and an associate of Gurney, a poet named Frederic William Henry Myers. Myers wrote: "To... illusions accompanying the departure of sleep, as when a dream-figure persists for a few moments into waking life, I have given the name hypnopompic." People mocked him for being so pedantic. But if you happen to need a pedantic adjective that means "related to waking up from sleep," you can use "hypnopompic." You might talk about hypnogogic or hypnopompic thoughts, visions, illusions, hallucinations, impulses, paramnesia, confusion, or states of being.

Question 29

define: precipitous (pruh SIP uh tuss)

Answer 29

Precipitous things can be literally sharp or steep, like a cliff; or sudden and violent, like a fall from a cliff. To use the literal meaning, talk about precipitous drops, falls, collapses, hills, mountainsides, slopes, cliffs, edges, and streets. "We drove up precipitous roads to get to the mountaintop observatory, wondering if our struggling rental car would even make it." To be less literal, talk about precipitous drops or declines in abstract things, like prices, values, crime rates, or even reputations. "After a precipitous drop in the Mortgage Credit Availability Index, Americans struggled to buy homes." Precipitous things generally go down, not up.

Question 30

define: rarefied (adj) (RARE if ide)

Answer 30

To rarefy things—like to rarefy air—is to make it thinner by spacing out the particles: "The morning sun rarefied the fog." And when things rarefy, they get spaced out: "As the sun rose, the fog rarefied." Rarefied things, then, can be thin, with the particles spread far apart. And figuratively, because air rarefies as you climb higher on a mountain or ascend higher into the atmosphere, rarefied things can be lofty, noble, and elevated. And we talk figuratively about the rarefied air or atmosphere somewhere: "the rarefied air of the art-collecting world," "the rarefied atmosphere of New England country clubs," "the rarefied air of multi-million-dollar home buying," "the rarefied air of fame (Washington Post)." We also talk about rarefied skills, artistry, tastes, experiences, thrills, challenges and so on: the kind that are elevated far above what's normal. Even types of people can be rarefied: you might talk about rarefied artists, for instance, or rarefied poets.

Question 31

define: to stenograph (vi, vt) (STEN uh graff)

Answer 31

If you stenograph something literally, such as a speech or a conversation, you write it down extremely quickly, using stenography. If you stenograph something figuratively, you create a very quick record or representation of it. You might pick it instead of more familiar terms like "scribble down," "abbreviate," or "condense" when you want to startle your reader with a quaint reference to old technology. (I think that's what's happening in Philip Matthews's poem, quoted below.) You could talk about people stenographing words, phrases, ideas, confessions, conversations and so on.

Question 32

define: aspersion

Answer 32

Aspersions, now, are comments or verbal attacks that stain someone's character, as if by sprinkling that person's character with flecks of mud. Generally we stick to the metaphor of sprinkling or tossing verbal mud at someone: we talk about people casting aspersions on someone, or on someone's character or reputation. Occasionally we talk about casting aspersions on someone's motives, actions, decisions, or values, as in "They cast aspersions on her hiring practices, accusing her of nepotism" or "They cast aspersions on his devotion to his children, saying he's an absent father."

Question 33

define: gauche gaucherie (GHOSH) ou (GO shuh REE)

Answer 33

In French, gauchir means "to warp, to deform, to swerve, to twist out of shape"—and, somewhat insultingly, "to make left-handed." It's one of those words that shows society's nasty tendency to stereotype left-handed people as clumsy, stupid, or awkward. We took the adjective form, gauche, into English in the 1700s as a particularly snooty synonym of "awkward, clumsy, tactless, especially socially," and that's still how we use the word today. In other words, gauche things and people are socially awkward or cringey. And gaucherie is behavior that's socially awkward or cringey. Pick the formal, fancy, semi-common word "gauche" when you want to label some person, comment, or action as profoundly cringey. We talk about gauche people and the gauche things they say, ask, and do. "They've never spoken a word to me before, but they invited me to their baby shower? By email? How gauche." "They included a link to their gift registry? Even gaucher." The noun, "gaucherie," is fancier and rarer. Call something gaucherie (or a gaucherie) when it makes you cringe. "Asking strangers for gifts is a gaucherie I hope they outgrow."

Question 34

define: to preclude smt

Answer 34

"Preclude" has Latin bits that literally mean "to shut before." In English, hundreds of years ago, we talked literally about precluding passageways or precluding escape routes: shutting them off before anyone could use them. Today, we're less literal. We talk about precluding events and actions: preventing them from happening, as if we're shutting the doors on them. In other words, to preclude something is to take action to make it impossible. "Preclude" is a highly formal, semi-common word. Pick it when you want to sound serious as you talk about one thing making another impossible. Compared to the much more common word "prevent," "preclude" is more businesslike. It suggests the firm closing of a door on a possibility, whether someone is doing the precluding on purpose (as in "They planned the layoffs quietly to preclude a panic among the employees") or not (as in "His broken leg precluded him from playing football"). You might talk about goals, jobs, commitments, preferences, morals, or ideals that preclude certain actions: "The show’s Netflix contract precluded a move to another streaming platform (New York Times)." Or, talk about actions or processes that preclude bad or annoying things, like spills, messes, pains, complaints, whining, chaos, or rebellion: "They recommend taking an antihistamine to preclude an allergic reaction." Or, talk about mishaps, injuries, limitations, and other unfortunate circumstances that preclude certain events or abilities: "The pandemic precluded in-person classes for over a year." People also talk about things that don't preclude other things: "You hurt your foot? Okay, but that doesn't preclude you from doing your writing homework." "Ambition and power don’t preclude honesty and ideology (The Guardian)."

Question 35

define: stentorian

Answer 35

Since the 1600s, then, we've used the word "stentorian" to describe voices that are extremely loud and far-reaching in a way that reminds us of brazen trumpets of war. Pick the semi-common, super-scholarly word "stentorian" to call extra attention to how extremely loud something is, usually someone's voice. Although we most often talk about stentorian voices, we can talk about any stentorian sound, like thunder, music, instruments, alarms, speeches, performances, etc.

Question 36

define: concupiscent (kon KYOO puh sunt)

Answer 36

"Concupiscent" means "lusty or desirous in an unwholesome way." It has Latin bits that literally mean "very much longing for," or "very much desirous of." It's closely associated with the Christian writings of Saint Augustine, who argued that concupiscence was a sin, a force of evil in the world. Poor guy. So, when you want to sound squeamish and old-fashioned, or you want to distance yourself from things that are lustful and passionate in a distasteful or immoral way, you can call them concupiscent. "a concupiscent narrator," "their concupiscent appetites."

Question 37

define: diffident (DIFF uh dunt)

Answer 37

"Diffident" has Latin bits that literally mean "mistrusting" or "not confident." Diffident people and things are shy and modest, without a strong sense of self-confidence. The word "diffident" is formal and semi-common. Its tone can be neutral ("He's a diffident child"), or negative ("She's diffident and boring"), or positive ("They're diffident and endearing"). We talk about diffident people and personalities, manners and behaviors, glances and looks, speech and comments, etc.

Question 38

define: to explicate smt (EX pluh kate)

Answer 38

To explicate something is to make it very clear, or to describe or analyze it in detail. By saying that someone explicates an idea, you're saying that the someone is being thorough and the idea is complex. Talk about people explicating ideas and theories, factors and influences, relationships and correlations, systems and arrangements, goals and processes, etc.

Question 39

define: Goodhart's Law

Answer 39

The phrase "Goodhart's law" helps you quickly express the idea that when you focus too much on some particular outcome or statistic, people start to manipulate it, so it stops measuring what it was supposed to measure. You might talk about situations where Goodhart's law applies, or situations ruled by Goodhart's law. Or, talk about people or situations that obey, disobey, follow, flout, apply, account for, or forget about Goodhart's law.

Question 40

usage: is comprised of (e.g. 50 states) OR comprises (e.g. 50 states)

Answer 40

You shouldn’t ever use the phrase “comprised of." Comprise means to consist of or to be composed of. Compose means to make up the constituent parts of. Parts compose the whole, and the whole comprises the parts. For example, we could say that the United States comprises 50 states and that the 50 states compose the United States. But comprise is widely used in illogical ways, mainly in phrases such as is comprised of. For example, many people would write that the United States is comprised of 50 states even though they obviously mean compose instead of comprise. This usage is so widespread that trying to stop it is probably a lost cause, and we increasingly have to turn to editorially fastidious publications to find comprise used the old way. Still, careful writers tend to avoid the mixup.

Question 41

define: precocious (pruh KOU shuss)

Answer 41

We use it to describe children (and children's behavior and accomplishments) that are surprisingly mature or advanced for their young age. Pick the formal, common, positive word "precocious" when you want to describe a young child whose intellect or ability is so well-developed that it startles you. For example, a three-year-old child who reads fluently, like an adult, is precocious. Blaise Pascal was mathematically precocious: he published a treatise on conic sections at the age of sixteen. Mozart was musically precocious: he performed on the piano and wrote his own songs as a very young child. But a child doesn't have to be a prodigy like Mozart to be precocious. Precocious children can simply have adult-level skills: they might plan and cook an entire meal for the family, or read other people's emotions accurately in a complex social situation, or respond calmly and effectively in an emergency.

Question 42

define: sturmfrei (SHTOOM fry)

Answer 42

When you need a weird and whimsical word for the wonderful situation of being alone at home, doing whatever you want in absolute peace, call it sturmfrei. Talk about having sturmfrei: "Do you have sturmfrei today?" "I love having sturmfrei."

Question 43

define: termless

Answer 43

First, since a "term" can be a period of time, something termless can be infinite or never-ending. Second, since a "term" can be a word or a phrase, something termless can be unable to be named or expressed in words. Third, since a "term" can be a rule, a limitation, or a condition, something termless can be free from any terms or conditions. Pick the rare but easily understood word "termless" when you want to sound lofty and poetic, even dramatic. Let's explore its three senses. First, if things seem to have no boundaries or edges, or no stopping or starting points, you could call them termless. Talk about termless skies, waters, fights, challenges, work, fears, illnesses, bus rides, etc. Second, if things seem too intense or too amazing to be properly expressed in words, you could call them termless. Talk about termless joy, love, horror, relief, chaos, pride, charm, beauty, etc. Third, if things have zero strings attached—absolutely no conditions—you could call them termless. Talk about termless agreements, contracts, transactions, truces, surrenders, etc.

Question 44

define: meliorism mēl′yə-rĭz″əm

Answer 44

1. The belief that the human condition can be improved through concerted effort. 2. The belief that there is an inherent tendency toward progress or improvement in the human condition. 3. The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement. e.g. As a believer in meliorism, the activist felt that every small effort he made had a positive effect on the world.

Question 45

define: to ameliorate smt / to meliorate smt ə-mēl′yə-rāt″

Answer 45

To make or become better; improve. e.g. Volunteers were able to ameliorate conditions in the refugee camp. Conditions are ameliorating.

Question 46

define: to concur

Answer 46

"Concur" has Latin bits that literally mean "to flow together." In English, we first used it to mean "to collide: to crash together." But over time, we used it for more harmonious actions: "to happen together," and "to work together." These days, we most often use it to mean "to agree with someone else." That is, when you concur with someone, or when you concur that something is true, you agree, as if your thoughts are flowing together with that person or that idea. Say that someone concurs with someone else: "We think the US healthcare system needs reforming, and he concurs with us." Or, say that someone concurs with some idea, opinion, judgment, analysis, or conclusion: "He concurs with the need to reform our healthcare system." Or, say that someone concurs that something is true: "He concurs that the US healthcare system needs reforming." Or both: "He concurs with us that the US healthcare system needs reforming."

Question 47

define: gelid JELL id

Answer 47

Gelid things are intensely cold, either in a refreshing way or a painful way. You might talk about gelid water, liquids, air, or weather. Or, talk about someone's gelid glare or attitude.

Question 48

define: Hegelian huh GAY lee un

Answer 48

So, since the 1830s, we've used the word "Hegelian" to describe ideas and other things that remind us of Hegel or Hegel's ideas, especially the one about every truth having an opposite truth, or the one about opposing truths giving rise to a higher, more nuanced truth. It's a rare word, with many potential meanings and very small chances of being understood by your listeners. So, let's say, use the word "Hegelian" when you want to sound over-the-top scholarly in a goofy way. I'm pretty sure that's the tone that the two writers quoted below were going for. In that case, you might talk about a Hegelian split or dichotomy, a Hegelian balance or dilemma, or a Hegelian truth or analysis.

Question 49

define: to ratchet smt a ratchet

Answer 49

The word "ratchet" comes from a French one, rochet, meaning "a bobbin, or a spindle." As you can see above, a ratchet is a tool for tightening and loosening things, little by little. So if you ratchet a bolt or some other object, you move it in one direction a little bit at a time. And if you ratchet something abstract up (or down), like stress, heat, excitement, or charm, you increase (or decrease) it little by little. That's the common abstract meaning that we'll focus on here. Possibly because literal ratcheting is a jerky, ungraceful movement, "ratchet" is also a somewhat rude slang term meaning "the opposite of classy: nasty, gross, trashy, or low-class." When you want to emphasize how some quality is increasing (or decreasing) degree by degree, in one direction, as if someone is controlling it with a handheld tool, then you can say that it's ratcheting up (or down), or say that someone is ratcheting it up or down. Often it's financial stuff that gets ratcheted up (or down), like prices, fees, interest rates, inflation, budgets, and the overall cost of living. It can also be moods, feelings, and other abstract things that get ratcheted up (or down): interest, enthusiasm, energy, ambition, effort, commitment, intensity, pressure, tension, criticisms, and so on.

Question 50

define: to assay smt ASS ay

Answer 50

To assay something is to analyze it to see how strong or pure it is, as if it's a precious metal or a potent chemical. When you want to make some test, challenge, or analysis sound scientifically precise, instead of calling it a "test" or a "challenge" or an "analysis," call it an "assay:" "The book is an assay of the president's first term." Or, say that someone assays something: "The book assays the president's first term."