English Phrase of the Day

[kookyshwaty]

youngyew thanks a lot. unbeknownst to me, earlier, i have learnt a new word just by popping over to reCom.

[youngyew]

Unconscionable:

Not guided by conscience, excessive, not reasonable etc.

(For some reasons this is the preferred word to describe the fuel price hike all over the places )

Sentence:
Most people say that the sudden decision to increase the fuel price by 40% is unconscionable.

[vseehua]

by hook or by crook
Meaning: by any means
By hook or by crook, I need to get enough money to buy that damned iPhone 2.0!

[guilty3173]

1-800 cars
Meaning:
A car outfitted with superficial and expensive modifications that make it look like a fast car but which do not improve its performance.

citjo
Meaning:
A blend of the word "citizenship" and "journalist" indicating a non-journalist who contributes amateur video or other reportage to the established news media.

oopsie baby
Meaning:
A baby resulting from an unplanned conception.

Sources: The Star (11 June 2008-Star Two-Issue-T13) Editor: Kee Thuan Chye

[youngyew]

Hi guilty3173, thanks for adding to this list! As always, it'd be great if you can link to the original source when you quote the source. I have just found it here: The Star - Brand New Words.

Note that these words are brand new internet-age neologisms, and when I looked them up, words like "citjo" are not yet recognised in oxford english dictionary (you would need subscription to access that dictionary), the authoritative source of english language. So while they might spice up an informal writing like recom.org posts, for formal writing it's best to avoid using them.

[Gabrielle90]

for example, the word 'kiasu'... it is found in the oxford dictionary but not in other dictionaries... so, is it usable in writing???

[youngyew]

It is, although in most cases you would still need to clarify your meaning when your intended audience is not from Singapore or Malaysia. It's just like any other obscure English words, when in doubt, explain.

[luke]

Recursion
-- if you don't know what it means, see "Recursion"

Mutual Recursion
-- if you don't know what it means, see "Indirect Recursion"

Indirect Recursion
-- if you don't know what it means, see "Mutual Recursion"



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Okay now for a more useful one ..

It dawned on me that ...
-- I began to realize/understand that ...

Example: It dawned on me that life is not always fair.

[tanyijing2007]

Wherefore = therefore

Unto (old use)
1. towards sb or st.
Example: The angel appeared unto him in a dream
2. until a particular time or event
Example: I swore loyalty towards ReCom unto death (too serious )

Bosom
1. woman's chest or breasts
2. the part of a piece of clothing that covers a woman's bosom
3. the ~ of st.: a situation in which you are with people who love and protect you
Example: ReCommers who are still living in the bosom of your family need to learn how to adapt yourself to live without your family's company.

Damsel (old use) = a young woman who is not married
Example: Any damsel in distress here in ReCom, need my help? Just notify me, I am glad to help

Minister (formal) to sb. or st.: to care for somebody who is sick or hold and make sure they have everything they need
Example: The administrators here in ReCom always spend much time ministering to the illogical needs of ReCommers.

Exalt
1. to make sb. rise to a higher rank or position, sometimes to one that they do not deserve
Example: In Malaysia, some people were exalted to a higher position in the government through family connections.
2. to praise somebody very much
Example: Youngyew / vseehua / luke is always exalted as a pillar of the Reborn community

Displease (formal): to make somebody feel upset, annoyed or not satisfied. Example: I make an apology to all the administrators here if I have something which have displeased you.

Goodly (old use): physically attractive, of good quality
Example: Is vseehua a goodly guy?

Confer (formal)
1. with sb. on sb. / st. discuss sth eith sb. especially in order to exchange opinions or get advice.
Example: PSD scholars are busy conferring among themselves in regard to the problems faced when doing the medical checkups before the date of registration.
2. To give somebody an award, a university degree or a particular honour or right.
Example: An honorary degree was conferred on tanyijing2007 by the most famous university in the world in 2012.

Slew = slay (old-fashioned)
1. to kill sb. or st. in a war or a fight.
2. (used in newspapers) to murder sb.
Example: two passengers were slain by hijackers.

Brethen (old fashioned)
1. used to talk to people in church or talk about the members of a male religious group.
Example: Let's pray, brethren.
2. people who are part of the same society as yourself.
Example: As a patriotic and nationalistic Malaysian, we should do all we can to help our less fortunate brethren.

Reign (v)
1. over, sb. / st. to rule as king, queen, emperor etc.
Example: King Penguin reigned from 2008 to 2012 over the whole Reborn Community.
2. to be the best or most important in a particular situation or area of skill
Example: In the field of classical music, he still reigns supreme.

(n)
1. the period during which an emperor rules
Example: During the reign of Penguins, ReCom experiences an enormous hike in the number of members.
2. the period during which sb. is in charge of an organisation or a team

Assuredly (formal): certainly, definitely
Example: Their attempts to impart ReCommers with penguins' thoughts will most assuredly fail.

Behold (old use): to look at sb or st.
Example: A penguin's face was a joy to behold.

Obeisance (formal, rare)
1. respect for sb or sth or the willingness to obey sb.
Example: I refuse To pay my obeisance to Penguin Empire.
2. the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body in order to show your respect for sb. or st.

Come to pass (old use): happen

Lo (old use or humorous)
used for calling attention to a surprising thing
Example: An extra skittle was added and, lo, tenpin bowling was born

Redeem
1. to make sb or st less bad
Example: the excellent technology of waste disposal wasn't enough to redeem a weak management of rubbish in our country.
Example: She seems to have no redeeming qualities.
2. ~ oneself, to do something to improve the opinion that people have of you Example: He has a chance to redeem himself after the mistakes.
3. to pay the full sum of money that you owe sb.
Example: ReCom's pioneers have used many years to redeem a loan of RM XXX,XXX for using the software by vBulletin .
5. to exchange something such as shares or vouchers for goods
6. (formal) to do what you have promised
Example:~ a pledge / promise

[youngyew]

Haha that's a long but pretty good list! Have you just typed from your vocabulary study sheet?

Anyway what do you mean by old fashioned? As far as I can tell brethren is still in popular use today. As for "lo", it's often used in the phrase "lo and behold" which basically means the same thing.