Monday, February 23, 2009

Lovely

Is there no more lovely word than lovely? Say it out loud. Come on.

Or, better yet, use it in a sentence to someone. “You look lovely today,” Be sure to say it lovelily.

And yes, “lovelily” does exist as an adverb.

Panache

It is very difficult to utter this word without throwing a little panache into it. It possesses a built-in “ta-da!” quality. Try it.

No, not in your head.

Out loud.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Effervescence

This words absolutely fizzes with its own meaning. As does the word fizz. As does the word froth. Take the time to say all three out loud. You'll feel fizzy.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Lollygag

This is a word with no bones, an invertebrate word. When said a loud the utterer is prone to collapse, mentally and physically. It barely even qualifies as a verb.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Absquatulate

It means to leave in a hurry. It sounds like someone pulling their foot out of a pool of muck.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Twig

A most anomatopoeic little word. It snaps lightly in the mouth. Try it. There is no better word for twig than twig.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Cock

Penis is the worst word for penis there can be. There’s no power or grandeur, just a weak little word. And the alternatives don’t share the masculine oomph of cock -- weenie, one-eyed trouser snake, shaft, johnson or pole. For some reason my mother called mine a “toppee.” No idea why.

A close friend of mine went on a date with an attractive young womang he hardly knew. While driving to the restaurant she asked him what part of the human body he found the most alluring. He took the conservative approached and muttered something about a woman’s eyes or neck. He then asked her. She turned to him and said, “I like…the cock.” He nearly drove off the road.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Spatula

A very Yiddish-sounding non-Yiddish word. Try it. Pretend you're Jewish for the time it takes to say "spatula" and you'll see.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Enervate

This is a strange one. Out loud this word sounds decisive, energetic and surgical. Of course, it means just the opposite. Shouldn’t a word that means lacking energy sound more like “foofaw” or "plahpoo"?

Monday, February 2, 2009

Wobbly

It’s hard to keep your balance when you utter the word, “wobbly.” Please don't attempt while roofing or walking upon girders.