/ˈɑː.gəʊ/ (noun)

Argot definition

a particular style of language, speech, words or expressions used by a small group of people, which is not vividly understood by other people, jargon, lingo, parlance, dialect, vernacular, slang, cant, patois, idiomatic expression

Example

Argot is a specialized vocabulary or set of idioms used by a particular social class or group, especially one that functions outside the law. Also called cant and cryptolect.

French novelist Victor Hugo observed that “argot is subject to perpetual transformation—a secret and rapid work which ever goes on. It makes more progress in ten years than the regular language in ten centuries” (Les Misérables, 1862).

ESL specialist Sara Fuchs notes that argot is “both cryptic and playful in nature and it is . . . particularly rich in vocabulary referring to drugs, crime, sexuality, money, the police, and other authority figures” (“Verlan, l’envers,” 2015).

Source of example: https://www.thoughtco.com/

Parts of speech

Adjective: argotic

/niˈɒl.ə.dʒɪ.zəm/ (noun)

Definition

a new word or expression that is recently coined or invented, new meaning, coinage, new term or phrase

Example

A neologism is a relatively recent or isolated term, word, or phrase that may be in the process of entering common use, but that has not yet been fully accepted into mainstream language. Neologisms are often driven by changes in culture and technology. In the process of language formation, neologisms are more mature than protologisms. A word whose development stage is between that of the protologism (freshly coined) and neologism (new word) is a prelogism.

Popular examples of neologisms can be found in science, fiction (notably science fiction), films and television, branding, literature, jargon, cant, linguistic and popular culture.

Examples include laser (1960) from Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, and robot (1941) from Czech writer Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots).

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Parts of speech

Noun: neologist

Adjective: neologistic

Verb: neologize

/ˈdʒɑː.gən/ (noun)

Definition

special words or phrases used by particular groups of people, terminology, patter, dialect, specialized language, argot, lingo, cant, slang, idiom – nonsensical or unintelligible language, guff, mumbo jumbo, nonsense

Example

Jargon is the specialized terminology associated with a particular field or area of activity. Jargon is normally employed in a particular communicative context and may not be well understood outside that context. The context is usually a particular occupation (that is, a certain trade, profession, vernacular or academic field), but any ingroup can have jargon. The main trait that distinguishes jargon from the rest of a language is special vocabulary—including some words specific to it and often different senses or meanings of words, that outgroups would tend to take in another sense—therefore misunderstanding that communication attempt. Jargon is sometimes understood as a form of technical slang and then distinguished from the official terminology used in a particular field of activity.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

Parts of speech

Adjective: jargonistic

Throw Cold Water 1100 Words You Need Week 46 Day 4

to spoil something, cause people to lose interest in something, discourage a plan or idea, pour cold water, be negative about someone’s ideas or plans, act such a wet blanket, question or criticize someone’s opinions or plans, dissuade, inhibit, dispirit, dishearten

Johanna Bonhill-Smith, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The introduction of quarantine tracking tags may prove just another barrier for travellers and further discourage and throw cold water on future travel plans. Numerous destinations across Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand rely on inbound travel from Singaporeans for a combination of both leisure and business travel, but the large fines and potential imprisonment if quarantine rules are broken may urge travelers to opt for a local break this year.

Source: https://www.globaldata.com/

Antonyms: support, back up, uphold, encourage, cheer

Rub Someone the Wrong Way 1100 Words You Need Week 46 Day 2

to anger or irritate someone, annoy, get on someone’s nerves, infuriate, bother, rub up the wrong way, vex, peeve, enrage, madden, exasperate, aggravate

Does your spouse have any of these risk factors? In other words, his/her being annoyed and irritated may very well reflect what’s going on with him/her, not you. Unfortunately, many spouses dump their stress and unhappiness onto each other, which is why you feel like you’re bearing the brunt of his/her discontent. Don’t try to worsen the situation and rub your spouse the wrong way by being so self-defensive.

Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Antonym: soothe, pacify, mollify

Straight from the Shoulder 1100 Words You Need Week 46 Day 1

frank and direct, outspoken, in a direct and open way, candid, honestly, forthrightly, freely, openly, bluntly – (of a blow) swift and well-delivered

The instructor told him straight from the shoulder that the victim would die. He researched the subject thoroughly and found that there was absolutely no other solution to choking besides the Heimlich maneuver.

Source: https://news.ycombinator.com/

Antonym: insincerely

Cat’s Paw 1100 Words You Need Week 45 Day 3

a person who is used by another as a tool or dupe to carry out an unpleasant or dangerous task, pawn, puppet, stooge, minion, lapdog

A dupe, a sucker who does another person’s dirty work. The term comes from an ancient tale about a monkey who wanted to get some roasted chestnuts out of the fire and, not wanting to burn his own fingers, got his friend the cat to use his paws for this purpose. There are numerous versions of the story in various languages; often it is a dog that is made the dupe, but in English it is the cat’s paw that has stuck over the years. Also see pull the chestnuts.

Source: https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/

The Die Is Cast 1100 Words You Need Week 45 Day 2

an unchangeable decision has been made, a certain decision has already been made and therefore a situation cannot be changed

Sometimes, we might encounter situations and circumstances that we are unable to change because the die is cast. What should we deal with such situations?

If you cannot change a situation, accept it, and learn to live with it. Sure, this requires a certain degree of self-discipline and inner strength.

You might rail, complain, resent the situation and the people involved and be unhappy. This would not help change the situation, and you will be creating suffering and unhappiness for you.

Source: https://www.successconsciousness.com/

Antonym: change one’s mind, alter

Flog a Dead Horse 1100 Words You Need to Know Week 45 Day 1

to waste time and effort on something that does not have any chance of success, continue making an issue of something that is over, waste energy and time on an unalterable situation or lost cause, make an attempt to do something abortively, try to accomplish something which is impossible and unchangeable

Assessing the aftermath of Apple’s abortive effort to build its Irish datacentre, which was flogging a dead horse
The site Apple had earmarked as a prime location for one of its first non-US datacentres is up for sale, but what will become of the site and the community that supported the tech giant through its four-year battle to get the server farm built?

Source: https://www.computerweekly.com/

Antonym: succeed, accomplish, thrive

Under a Cloud 1100 Words You Need Week 44 Day 4

under suspicion or discredited, in temporary disgrace or trouble, in trouble, out of favor, disgraced, in bad odor, in the doghouse, untrustworthy, unreliable

President Trump on Monday made a fresh call to end the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, citing the release over the weekend of a previously classified application to wiretap former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, who was under a cloud or under suspicion by the FBI of being a Russian agent.

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/

Antonym: popular, trustworthy