barf To barf is to vomit or throw up. The contents of a person’s stomach come up through the esophagus and out of a person’s mouth. This is something that almost everyone does, but it’s not pleasant to talk about. The word “barf” is used literally when a person really gets sick: A student barfed during class […]
barely The word “barely” is an adverb similar to “not much.” (This is a popular adverb.) She can barely speak English. (She can’t speak much English.) In this sentence, “barely” modifies the verb “speak” and the modal verb “can.” The opposite of the sentence above would be “She can speak English well.” Here are some
bare The word “bare” is an adjective that means empty or uncovered. Don’t go out into the cold with a bare head. Make sure you wear a hat that covers your ears. Victoria likes to walk around the house in her bare feet. (no shoes or socks) The cupboards are bare. We need to go grocery shopping. (cupboards = cabinets
bankrupt When a person is unable to repay his or her debts, a common method for dealing with this problem is to go bankrupt or declare bankruptcy. Companies and corporations can also go bankrupt. This is a legal matter that involves lawyers, a judge, and the creditors to whom money will eventually be paid. It’s bad to go
lump A lump is a small, raised area that indicates an injury or a problem. It’s similar to the word “bump.” John has a small lump on top of his head after falling off of his bike. Martha felt a lump near her breast, so she made an appointment to see a doctor. The yogurt
lousy The word “lousy” is an adjective that you can use to describe something that is really bad: We’ve had lousy weather lately. Lousy sales caused the store to close. Marina divorced her husband because he was a lousy person, and he wasn’t interested in satisfying her needs in the relationship. Customer service at this
loot When large, uncontrollable groups of people steal from stores and businesses, the word “loot” is used to describe the activity. Rioters looted. The looted local stores and businesses. They stores were looted. (This sentence is in the passive voice.) There was widespread looting last night. (The word “looting” is a gerund in this sentence.) Several looters
dairy The word “dairy” is an adjective used to describe any product made with milk: You can find milk in the dairy section of any grocery store. The dairy industry is very big in Wisconsin and Minnesota because there are so many cows in those two states. Dairy products include milk, cheese, butter, cream, ice
dabble To dabble in something is to explore an interest or try to do something as an amateur. This word is often used when describing a person who has the luxury of extra time to experiment and do new things. Jerry is dabbling in abstract art. He dabbled in theater during college. Sandra has dabbled in real
nudge To nudge something is to move it a little bit. You can also nudge a person. The cat nudged the plate and it fell to the floor. Give the machine a nudge and it’ll start working again. You’ve got to give it a nudge. (This expression is often used with machines when they don’t work.) The line
