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Showing posts from May, 2025

overpower

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Ret's Word of the Day /ˌəʊvəˈpaʊə/ [ OH-vuh-pow-uh ] 🔊 Hear it on YouGlish Definition The meaning : Overpower means to defeat or gain control over someone or something by using greater strength, force, or influence. La signification : Overpower signifie 'soumettre par la force des armes, ou accabler par un stress émotionnel ou mental incapacitant.' Here's an example of use: "The guards were overpowered by the escaping prisoners." It can also be used in a figurative sense, as in “The smell of bleach overpowered the entire room.” Word Analysis French equivalents »» Maitriser »» Vaincre »» Submerger »» Accabler »» Dominer »» Ⓐ Le parfum trop fort a rapidement surch...

whatchamacallit

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Ret's Word of the Day /ˈwɒtʃəməˌkɔːlɪt/ [ WOTCH-uh-muh-call-it ] 🔊 Hear it on YouGlish Definition The meaning : Whatchamacallit is an informal word used when you can't remember the name of something, or when the name is irrelevant or unknown. La signification : Whatchamacallit est un mot familier employé quand on ne se souvient pas du nom d’un objet ou quand ce nom importe peu ou est inconnu. Here's an example of use: "Can you pass me the… whatchamacallit… the thing you use to open bottles?" It’s often used in casual speech when the speaker is momentarily unsure of the correct word or doesn’t want to bother naming it. Word Analysis French equivalents »» Truc »» Machin »» Bidule »» Chose »» Machin-ch...

couldn't give a toss

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Ret's Word of the Day /ˌkʊd(ə)nt ˈɡɪv ə tɒs/ [ KUD-nt giv uh TOSS ] 🔊 Hear it on YouGlish Definition The meaning : Couldn't give a toss is a British informal expression meaning someone doesn't care at all about something; they are completely indifferent. La signification : Couldn't give a toss est une expression familière britannique qui signifie que quelqu’un se fiche complètement de quelque chose. Here's an example of use: "He couldn't give a toss about what people think of him." This phrase is often used to express strong disinterest or defiance, especially in casual or confrontational conversations. Word Analysis French equivalents »» S'en ficher royalement »» N'en avoir rien à faire »» S'en foutre compl...

word salad

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Ret's Word of the Day /ˈwɜːd ˌsæl.əd/ [ wurd-SAL-uhd ] 🔊 Hear it on YouGlish Definition The meaning : Word salad refers to a jumble of words and phrases that appear meaningless or incoherent when put together, often due to a mental health condition or used metaphorically to describe overly complex or nonsensical speech. La signification : Word salad désigne un discours confus et dépourvu de sens logique, dans lequel les mots sont assemblés de manière incohérente, parfois à cause d’un trouble mental ou, de manière figurée, pour critiquer un langage inutilement complexe ou abscons. Here's an example of use: "His explanation sounded like word salad—lots of big words but no real meaning." The phrase is often used in psycho...

greedflation

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Ret's Word of the Day /ˌɡriːdˈfleɪ.ʃən/ [ greed-FLAY-shuhn ] 🔊 Hear it on YouGlish Definition The meaning : Greedflation refers to a situation where companies increase prices more than necessary during times of economic stress, such as inflation or supply shortages, in order to boost their profits. La signification : Greedflation désigne un phénomène où des entreprises augmentent exagérément leurs prix pendant des périodes de crise économique, comme l'inflation ou les pénuries, dans le but d’augmenter leurs profits. Here's an example of use: "Critics accuse big supermarkets of driving up food prices through greedflation." This term is a blend of “greed” and “inflation” and is commonly used in political, economic...