Advanced English Skills

Wordsmith.org: Today's Word hapchance noun: 1. Luck or fortune. 2. An occurrence, especially a lucky one. verb intr.: To happen. ➖ @EngSkills ➖

Word of the Day Word of the Day: intelligentsia This word has appeared in 14 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? ➖ @EngSkills ➖

Idiom of the Day amateur hour A result, activity, task, or situation characterized by unprofessional, talentless, or careless performance(s). The term likely originates from or refers to The Original Amateur Hour, a radio and television talent program in the US that ran from the 1930s through the 1…

lackadaisical

Wordsmith.org: Today's Word circumambient adjective: Surrounding. ➖ @EngSkills ➖

Idiom of the Day a week is a long time in politics Due to the fast-changing pace of the political landscape, the fortunes of a politician or political group can change drastically just in the course of a single week. The phrase is attributed to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson, c. 1964. Watch t…

zeugma

Idiom of the Day clout list A secret list of people who, through advantageous connections and relationships with people of affluence, authority, or political influence, are given preferential consideration during an admissions or appointments process. Watch the video ➖ @EngSkills ➖

circumscribe

Word of the Day Word of the Day: regurgitate This word has appeared in 48 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? ➖ @EngSkills ➖

Idiom of the Day cloud the issue To obfuscate or distract from the topic at hand by introducing irrelevant and/or misleading information. Watch the video ➖ @EngSkills ➖

vacuous

Wordsmith.org: Today's Word mordant adjective: Biting, caustic, or sarcastic. noun: 1. A substance used to fix a dye in or on a material. 2. A corrosive substance used in etching. verb tr.: To treat with a mordant. ➖ @EngSkills ➖

Word of the Day Word of the Day: isthmus This word has appeared in 14 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence? ➖ @EngSkills ➖

Idiom of the Day bucket list A list of accomplishments or tasks one hopes to do or achieve before one dies. "Bucket" here is taken from the phrase "kick the bucket," meaning to die. Watch the video ➖ @EngSkills ➖

salvo

Wordsmith.org: Today's Word corbel noun: An architectural support projecting from a wall to bear weight. verb tr.: 1. To arrange (bricks, stones, etc.) in stepped courses to form a corbel. 2. To support by means of a corbel or corbels. ➖ @EngSkills ➖