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Marginally Just barely enough to be considered acceptable or noteworthy, but not quite enough to really make an impact. ■ "The student's performance was marginally above average, which is to say it wasn't terrible, but it also wasn't particularly impressive."
Afterward A time when things are no longer funny, and everyone starts to take the situation seriously. ■ "Afterward, we realized that the joke wasn't funny and decided to stop laughing."
breakup The act of splitting up with someone because you've realized that they're not as funny as you thought. ■ "I didn't realize my sense of humor wasn't compatible with hers until the breakup."
butted To have one's buttocks accidentally or purposefully come into contact with another person or object. ■ "I butted the guy on the bus by accident. I was trying to take his seat, but I guess my aim wasn't great."
dissect To divide something into smaller parts and examine them closely, especially in order to understand its workings or structure. ■ "I decided to dissect the joke to see why it wasn't funny."
electrons A tiny, negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. They are also responsible for electricity. ■ Why did the electron break up with its partner? Because it wasn't feeling a good charge!
Hearing The act of listening to someone else's words or sounds, but only hearing what you want to hear. ■ "I know she said she wasn't coming, but I was just hearing what I wanted to hear."
honorable A person who is highly respected and esteemed, often for their bravery or integrity. ■ John was known as an honorable man because he always stood up for what was right, even when it wasn't easy.
Honourable A person who always does the right thing, even when no one is watching. ■ "John was considered an honourable man because he returned his neighbor's lost cat even though it wasn't his own."
Huffy A state of extreme annoyance or irritation, often resulting in exaggerated behavior. ■ "John was in a total huff when he found out his favorite sandwich wasn't on the menu."
lighthouse A tall tower that guides ships safely to shore by emitting a light. ■ Funny example usage: The lighthouse was so tall, it could be seen from miles away, even when there wasn't any sea in sight.
Manna A type of bread made from flour, yeast, and water. ■ I had a craving for some manna today, but unfortunately there wasn't any available at the grocery store.
maple A type of tree with a distinctive tapping system for extracting sap. ■ "I once tried to tap a maple tree, but it wasn't very successful. I guess the sap was too sticky."
muley A word used to describe someone who is extremely foolish or stupid. ■ "Why did the muley cross the road? To prove he wasn't a muley!"
openly In an overt and obvious manner, often in a way that is meant to be seen or heard by others. ■ "He was openly flirting with her at the party, but she wasn't interested."
Patrolman A brave, selfless hero who risks his life every day to protect the innocent and bring criminals to justice. ■ "Why did the patrolman wear a bulletproof vest? Because he wasn't a chicken!
Permitted Allowing or granting something, such as the use of a word in a certain way. ■ "I'm not allowed to use the word 'fart' in my stand-up routine. I guess it wasn't permitted."
Pittance A very small amount of money or something else, often given as a token gesture. ■ "He gave her a pittance for the shirt she had to wear in his wedding photos. But hey, at least it wasn't free!"
runaround A lengthy, confusing, or nonsensical conversation or explanation. ■ "I asked my boss for a promotion, but instead he gave me a runaround about why I wasn't qualified enough. It was such a waste of time."
Scopes A device used to view the contents of a microscope or telescope. ■ When I first bought my telescope, I couldn't figure out why it wasn't working. Then I remembered that I needed to put the scopes on!
solicitor A person who tries to persuade someone else to do something or buy something. ■ I told the solicitor that I wasn't interested in his products, but he kept pestering me.
Swiped To quickly and secretly take something without permission. ■ "John swiped the candy bar from his coworker's desk when he wasn't looking."
umbilical The navel, or the part of the body where the umbilical cord was once attached. ■ "She had a big ol' belly button, but it wasn't an 'umbilical'."
uneasy An emotion of discomfort or unease, often caused by uncertainty or fear. ■ John was feeling un-easy about the job interview because he wasn't sure what to expect.
upset An emotional state characterized by confusion, worry, or anger. ■ "I was so upset when I found out my favorite sandwich wasn't available on the menu. I threw a fit and demanded to speak to the manager."
validated To be proven right or true. ■ "I knew I was right, but it wasn't until my boss validated my ideas that I really felt confident."
wrongfully Adverb meaning in an incorrect or unjustified way. ■ "I was wrongfully accused of stealing the cake, but I swear it wasn't me!"
Bails To bail out of a situation or decision when it becomes clear that it was a mistake. ■ "When I realized my friend's joke wasn't funny, I quickly bailed and left the room before he could make any more bad puns."
bandit A person who robs others and uses violence or intimidation to do so. They often wear masks and operate in groups. ■ "The bandits stole my wallet and laptop, but I wasn't afraid because they were just a bunch of clowns."
barrage A rapid and overwhelming flood of something, such as questions in a job interview or insults during an argument. ■ "I wasn't expecting to be bombarded with so many questions during the job interview. It felt like I was being barraged!"
Careers A path of life that people follow to achieve success and financial stability, often involving a series of jobs or professions. ■ John's career started in retail but he quickly realized he wasn't cut out for sales. He then switched to software development where he was able to create a program that helped him quit his job.
cavities A small hole in a tooth, caused by tooth decay or other damage. ■ "I had to go to the dentist because I had a cavity in my tooth. But it wasn't just any cavity, it was a 'cavit-y' one!
Cobras A group of snakes with a bad reputation for being venomous and unfriendly. They are often found in hot and dry places, where they slither around in the sun and hiss at anyone who comes too close. ■ "I once tried to take a selfie with a group of cobras, but they got really angry and started spitting venom. It wasn't my best idea."
Connoisseur A person who is highly knowledgeable and experienced in a particular area, such as art, food, or wine. ■ After spending years studying the intricacies of cheese, Jane became known as the ultimate connoisseur and could identify the type of cheese just by looking at it., A person who is highly skilled in a particular area, such as playing an instrument or performing magic tricks. ■ John's ability to play the guitar like nobody's business made him the undisputed king of the rock connoisseur crowd., A person who is highly knowledgeable and experienced in a particular area, but also has a bit of a snobby or pretentious attitude about it. ■ Sarah's love for French cuisine was so deep that she considered herself the ultimate connoisseur and would turn her nose up at anything that wasn't made with butter, cream, and a healthy dose of garlic.
Crucifix A piece of furniture made for leaning on at a desk or table, often featuring an intricate design and a comfortable armrest. ■ John's crucifix was so well-designed that it looked like it could support the weight of a small car. But when he tried to sit on it, he realized it wasn't nearly as sturdy as it looked.
departure The act of leaving a place or country. This can be a sad moment, like saying goodbye to your favorite sandwich. ■ "I was so sad when I had to leave the airport and go home," said the traveler, "but then I remembered my favorite sandwich at that little shop down the street and realized it wasn't all bad."; The act of returning to a place or country. This can be an even sadder moment, like coming home from vacation and realizing you have to go back to work. ■ "I was so excited to come back from my trip and see all my friends," said the traveler, "but then I realized I had to go back to work and it was like being hit by a truck."
disgruntled A person who is upset, angry or unhappy due to some perceived injustice. ■ "John was disgruntled with his new job after the first day. He felt like he wasn't being given enough responsibility and that his boss didn't appreciate his hard work."
Disillusioned To be so disappointed or discouraged in one's expectations that one becomes completely disheartened and loses any hope of future success. ■ "I was disillusioned when I found out my favorite band wasn't coming to town anymore. I had been planning on seeing them for months and was so disappointed."
Explanations A humorous explanation of something that is actually quite boring or mundane. ■ When my friend asked why I was always late, I gave them a long and elaborate explanation about how I had to stop on the way to work and feed every single bird in the city. It was hilarious because it wasn't true at all!
Fending The act of using one's wits or creativity to deal with a difficult situation, often in a humorous way. ■ "I was fending for myself at that restaurant, but the waiter kept giving me dirty looks. I guess my sense of humor wasn't fending off his judgment."
formulas A set of instructions, often in the form of a mathematical equation or formula, that can be used to achieve a specific goal. But also, a way to make fun of someone by using complicated math in everyday situations. ■ "I'm going to use these formulas to make sure my sandwich is perfectly balanced.", "I used the formula for love to figure out why my girlfriend broke up with me: it was because I wasn't giving her enough attention and affection, which equals negative infinity."
Forsake To abandon or give up on something, typically something that was previously important to you. ■ "I used to love running every morning, but after I found out it wasn't good for my knees, I had to forsake my jogging routine."
Framing The art of making something look good by surrounding it with something else that makes it appear better. ■ "I knew I had to frame this picture perfectly, because if it wasn't framed properly, no one would ever notice how beautiful it really is."
Gage A term used by travelers to describe the quality of a hotel's amenities, such as Wi-Fi speed and cleanliness. It is typically measured on a scale from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating better overall service. ■ "I stayed at a hotel that had a 2/5 gage rating. Let's just say it wasn't exactly a 5-star experience."
gradually Adverb describing the gradual progression of something, often in a humorous manner. ■ "John gradually developed an unhealthy obsession with cheese. At first he just enjoyed the occasional slice, but soon he was eating entire wheels of brie every day. It wasn't long before his friends started calling him 'Brie-boy'.
heat A warm sensation caused by the transfer of energy from an object or environment to a living being. It can also refer to intense emotional excitement, passion, or anger. ■ John felt his face turning red with heat when he accidentally spilled coffee on himself., When she found out her favorite band wasn't coming to town, Sarah was overheated with disappointment.
impressionists A group of art enthusiasts who are known for their love of all things French. They often enjoy sipping wine and discussing the merits of different types of cheese. ■ "The impressionists were in high spirits at the art exhibit, but they were a bit disappointed that there wasn't more food to go with their wine.
indictments A formal accusation of wrongdoing made by the government against a person or organization. However, this term can also refer to something that points out someone's flaws or shortcomings in a humorous way. ■ "John was indicted for stealing cookies from the office kitchen, but he wasn't guilty until proven innocent by a delicious batch of freshly baked cookies.", "Sarah's indictments were on point - she couldn't stop talking about her love of pineapple pizza."
industrialist A person who owns and operates a business in the manufacturing or production of goods. ■ "I used to be an industrialist, but I realized that making things in factories all day wasn't really my thing." "He may not be the funniest person on earth, but he certainly knows how to make a dollar. He's an industrialist!" ■ "I'm really sick of these industrialists who think they can just take over our town without us having any say in it. It's not right."
Interpreting The act of making sense of something, such as a joke or a complicated sentence. ■ "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend. It was just an inside joke and I wasn't thinking. Can you please help me interpret it for my friend who doesn't have the same background?"