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Showing posts from August, 2025

down the tubes

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/daʊn ðə tjuːbz/ [ DOWN thə TJOOBZ ] 🔊 Hear it Definition Meaning : Down the tubes describes a situation or effort that has failed completely or is irretrievably lost, often due to mismanagement or unforeseen setbacks.. La signification : Down the tubes signifie échouer complètement ou perdre quelque chose de manière irréversible, souvent dans un contexte de mauvaise gestion ou de revers imprévus. Example : The company's expansion plans went down the tubes after the financial report revealed significant losses. Grammar : Idiom. Used as an adverbial phrase to describe the complete failure of an endeavour or situation (e.g., “went down the tubes”). Quote : “The only reason so many of them are going down the tubes is because they have ignored that advice for too long.” [ @BlogMaverick ] N.B. : The phrase likely origina...

What does 'utterly' mean?

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/ˈʌt.ər.li/ [ UT-ər-lee ] 🔊 Hear it Definition Meaning : Utterly describes doing something completely, totally, or to an extreme degree. La signification : Utterly signifie complètement ou totalement, souvent dans un contexte d'intensité ou d'absolu. Example : The ER team was utterly exhausted after a grueling night shift. Grammar : Adverb. Often used to emphasize the extent of an action or state (e.g., “utterly exhausted”). Quote : “It is easy these days to fall into despair and helpless outrage , to feel utterly powerless.” [ @DailyMaverick ] N.B. : Derived from “utter,” meaning to express or complete fully. In the ER, it underscores the extreme nature of situations, like total exhaustion or complete certainty. Word Analysis Français »» Complètement »» Totale...

What does 'to the hilt' mean?

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/tə ðə hɪlt/ [ tuh-thuh-HILT ] 🔊 Hear it Definition Meaning : To the hilt describes doing something completely, fully, or to the maximum extent possible. La signification : To the hilt signifie entièrement ou au maximum , souvent dans un contexte d'effort ou d'engagement. Example : She defended her position to the hilt during the meeting. Grammar : Adverbial phrase. Often used after verbs to emphasize full commitment (e.g., “defended to the hilt”). Quote : “He backed his argument to the hilt with undeniable evidence.” [ Source ] N.B. : Originally from sword fighting, referring to plunging a sword up to its hilt (handle). Now used to describe complete or unreserved effort in any context. Word Analysis Français »» Complètement »» Totalement »» À fond Ⓐ Il a s...

Word of the Day Quiz [Week 30]

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Instructions: This is a multiple choice exercise in game form. You can choose to have extra points, or choose 50-50 if you're not sure, etc. If you wanna refresh your mind, visit the blog and launch a search... 🔍 ! You have 6 lives. Boost your vocabulary with Ret's Word of the Day and Ret's ESL Jokes ! Fun, easy tools to help you learn more—one word (or laugh) at a time. Don't hesitate to visit this page with its wealth of useful sites. If you need advice, or would like lessons,

What does 'fend off' mean?

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/ˈfɛnd ɒf/ [ FEND-off ] 🔊 Hear it Definition Meaning : To fend off means to defend against or repel something unwanted, such as objections, competition, or challenges. La signification : Fend off signifie repousser ou se défendre contre quelque chose d'indésirable, comme des objections ou des concurrents. Example : The sales team had to fend off concerns about pricing during the client meeting. Grammar : Phrasal verb. Commonly used with objects like objections, questions, or competitors. Quote : “How to fend off dehydration during heat wave.” [ @WbcDotCom.com ] N.B. : The term is figurative, implying active resistance or deflection, often in a professional or competitive context. Word Analysis Français »» Repousser »» Parer »» Contrer Ⓐ L'équipe a dû fend off les objections du client sur la qualité du produit...