- 1100 Words You Need to Know
- Vocab Class:
- Coursebook: 1100 Words You Need to Know
- Session: Week 3, Day 4
- New Words: euphemism — mundane — incongruous — condolence — stipulate
Call Me By My Right Name
My cousin refers to himself as a ”sanitary engineer”a euphemism for garbage collector. There are any number of people who try to find more respectable or glamorous titles for the mundane jobs they hold. It may seem incongruous to call an undertaker a “condolence counselor,” or to refer to a taxi driver as a “transportation expediter,” but some prefer those titles.
As a matter of fact, our butcher has stipulated that from now on he wants to be known as a “meat coordinator.” He became irate* when I inadvertently* called him “Butch.”
Sample Sentences
In which blanks do the new words belong?
1. We repudiated* the contract because it did not __________ a cost of living bonus.
2. The word “expired” is a __________ for “died.”
3. When my neighbor’s dog was run over, we sent a __________ card.
4. The philosopher dealt with spiritual things, ignoring the __________ ones.
5. The play was so __________ that it seemed to be the work of several authors.
Definitions
Match the new words with their meanings.
6. euphemism ____ a. worldly
7. mundane ____ b. a less offensive term
8. incongruous ____ c. to specify a condition
9. condolence ____ d. inappropriate
10. stipulate ____ e. pity
Today’s Idiom
to go up in smoke: to come to no practical result (kindling smokes but it will not light a fire)
The mayor’s plans to get the gubernatorial nomination went up in smoke when he couldn’t end the costly strike.
