Skip to main content

The True Craziness of The English Language.


There is no EGG in EGGPLANT nor HAM in HAMBURGER,

neither
 APPLE nor PINE in PINEAPPLE. ENGLISH MUFFINS weren’t

invented in
 ENGLAND. QUICKSAND can work SLOWLY, BOXING

RINGS 
are SQUARE, and a GUINEAPIG is neither from GUINEA nor it is

a
 PIG. And why is it that WRITERS WRITE,

but FINGERS don’t fing, GROCERS don’t GROCE and HAMMERS don’t 

HAM
? Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make AMENDS but not one AMEND?

If
 TEACHERS TAUGHT, why isn’t it that in the past PREACHERS

PRAUGHT
? If a VEGETARIAN eat VEGETABLES, what does

a
 HUMANITARIAN eat?

In what other language do people RECITE at a PLAY and PLAYat a RECITAL? We SHIP BY TRUCK but SEND CARGO BY SHIP . We have NOSES that RUN and FEEL that SMELL. We PARK in a DRIVEWAY and DRIVE in a PARKWAY. And how can a SLIM CHANCE and a FAT CHANCE be the same, while a WISE MAN and a WISE GUY are opposites?
You have to marvel at a unique lunacy of a language in which your house can BURN UP as it BURNS DOWN, in which you FILL IN a form by FILLING IT OUT, and in which an ALARM goes OFF by going ON. And, in closing, if FATHER is POP, how come MOTHER’S not MOP?
Here are just a few of the many crazy words that make up the English language.

Deliquescent

Adjective: Becoming liquid, or having a tendency to become liquid.

Flabbergast

Verb: Surprise someone greatly.

Flimflam

Noun: Nonsensical or insincere talk.

Floccinaucinihilipilification

Noun: The action or habit of estimating something as worthless.

Limerence

Noun: The state of being infatuated or obsessed with another person.

Loquacious

Adjective: Tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

Obdurate

Adjective: Stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action.

Omnishambles

Noun: A situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, characterized by a string of blunders and miscalculations.

Penumbra

Noun: The partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.

Persiflage

Noun: Light and slightly contemptuous mockery or banter.

Perspicacious

Adjective: Having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

Quincunx

Noun: An arrangement of five objects with four at the corners of a square or rectangle and the fifth at its centre, used for the five on a dice or playing card.

Tintinnabulation

Noun: A ringing or tinkling sound.

Triskaidekaphobia

Noun: Extreme superstition regarding the number thirteen.

Velleity

Noun: A wish or inclination not strong enough to lead to action.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The 50 Most Important Idioms for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.

  Due to the complexities of English, nobody, native or second language learner can honestly brag about having a proficient level of the language without a solid knowledge of Idioms.  Every day, in almost every conversation, native speakers will use idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, this means that when you, the second language learner uses an idiom in the correct context, that you have a more proficient level of English and therefore you sound more like a native speaker. Below is a list of 50 of the most important general idioms necessary for traveling the B2 to C2 language learning journey. With these idioms, you will be able to listen and speak more like a native speaker, therefore, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. Study tips for how to learn idioms. The 60 most important phrasal verbs for achieving a B2 to C2 level of English. It also he

The 60 Most Important Phrasal Verbs for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English.

  Due to the complexities of English, nobody can honestly brag about having a proficient level of the language without a solid knowledge of phrasal verbs and Idioms.  Every day, in almost every conversation, native speakers will use phrasal verbs idioms more than someone who is new to the language, simply because they are more familiar with them and know the context in which they should be used. Therefore, this means that when you, the second language learner uses a phrasal verb or idiom in the correct context, that you have a more proficient level of English and therefore you sound more like a native speaker. Below is a list of 60 of the most important general phrasal verbs necessary for traveling the B2 to C2 language learning journey. With these phrasal verbs, you will be able to listen and speak more like a native speaker, therefore, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively. The 50 Most Important Idioms for Achieving a B2 to C2 Level of English. Study tips for how to learn

The List of Essential Vocabulary to Help You to Pass Your B2 to C2 English Exams.

As an English teacher, I have been preparing students for international exams for more than 20 years, and no matter which exam you wish to take, be it the University of Cambridge, the University of Michigan, or any of the many other exams, there is no doubt that your knowledge of vocabulary plays a huge role in your level of success. A robust knowledge of vocabulary improves all areas of communication. For students who are planning to undertake an international exam, vocabulary helps you to understand what you are reading and listening to, it helps you to include the best words in your writing and to be able to confidently and fluently answer the questions in your speaking interview .  Expanding your knowledge of words provides you with unlimited access to new information and ultimate success with your exams. Whilst it is true that there is no single list of vocabulary that is guaranteed to perfectly prepare you for every exam, the list below is one of the lists that I always use for m