Tuesday, February 28, 2017

phrase, frays

Phrase or phrase means

Frays or frays ( rhymes with phrase ) means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Monday, February 27, 2017

invoke, evoke

Invoke or invoke means

Evoke or evoke means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Friday, February 24, 2017

a basement, abasement

A basement or a basement ( two words ) means

Abasement or abasement ( one word ) means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Thursday, February 23, 2017

in direct, indirect

In direct or in direct ( two words ) means

Indirect or indirect ( one word ) means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

subtler, sutler

Subtler or subtler means

Sutler or sutler ( rhymes with subtler ) means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

rudder, rutter

Rudder or rudder means

Rutter or rutter means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Monday, February 20, 2017

rum, rhumb

Rum or rum means

Rhumb or rhumb ( rhymes with rum ) means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Friday, February 17, 2017

as your, azure

As your or as your means


Azure or azure means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Thursday, February 16, 2017

legendary, legendry

Legendary or legendary means

Legendry or legendry means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

cane, Cain

Cane or cane means

Cain or cain means

Now that you know that, you can say --


Tuesday, February 14, 2017

emollient, emolument

Emollient or emollient means

Emolument or emolument means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Monday, February 13, 2017

spring, sprig

Spring or spring means

Spring also means to
Spring

Sprig or sprig means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Friday, February 10, 2017

in debt, indebted

In debt or in debt ( two words ) means

Indebted or indebted ( one word ) means

Now that you know that, you can say --

Thursday, February 9, 2017

snugly, snuggly

Snugly or snugly describes something that fits closely, or that may be almost too tight --

Snuggly or snuggly describes something

Now that you know that, you can say --

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

collision, collusion

Collision or collision means a violent clash or impact, literally or figuratively --
The collision ruined the car, but the driver was unharmed.
There's a great collision of egos when those two meet.

Collusion or collusion means a conspiracy or secret agreement --
We suspect that they are acting in collusion, although they seem to be enemies.
They were in collusion; they had agreed to share an out-of-court settlement."

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He was in collusion with the insurance agent, to collect money for a collision that didn't happen."

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

script, scrip

Script or script means the text of a play or movie, or, less commonly,  of some other document --
He has sent over the script of a new play; it looks interesting.
Study the script and learn your lines; we'll begin rehearsals next week.

Script may also mean handwriting, or a system of handwriting --
I can't make out this old-fashioned script.
He studies medieval script; he may be able to decipher this.

Scrip or scrip means, most commonly, a certificate with a specified value, to be used to buy things in a company store --
This scrip can only be spent at the company store.
We're out of cash; we'll have to issue scrip to pay the troops.

Scrip may also mean a receipt or some other small piece of paper, such as an IOU --
Make sure he has a scrip for the goods before you issue them.
We don't keep cash here, but we'll give you a scrip to take to the office.

Scrip may also mean a doctor's prescription for medicine --
You need a scrip from a doctor for that medication.
The doctor will give you a scrip to take to the pharmacy.

Scrip may also mean a certificate for a fraction of a share of stock, or a fraction of a dollar --
I wonder if this old scrip is still worth anything.
The government once issued scrip instead of minting coins.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"Make sure that he signs this scrip when you deliver the script."

analogy, analog

Analogy or analogy means a comparison of two things, based on similarity, used as a description or an explanation --
Young readers may not understand the analogy of texting styles to handwriting.
Rock stars as aristocrats is a common analogy.

Analog or analog ( also spelled analogue ) describes a varying physical signal, used to transmit varying types of information --
The modem converts the analog signal into a digital format that the computer can use.
An analog device can, theoretically, transmit infinitely variable signals.

Analog may also mean something having a similarity or correspondence to another thing--
To him, the chess board is an analog of the political world.
I'm uncomfortable with the view of a child as an analog of the parent--"a mini-me".

Now that you know that, you can say --
"The analogy of the brain and the computer is apt for some mental functions, such as memory, but for others the brain is more like an analog device."

Friday, February 3, 2017

cloak, cloaca

Cloak or cloak means a cape or a loose coat --
He wrapped his cloak about him, and went out into the storm.
"And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."
It's a good old-fashioned cloak and dagger story.
He hides behind a cloak of indifference, even apathy.

Cloak may also mean to cover, as with a cape or coat, literally or figuratively --
They used leaves to cloak their nakedness.
He uses hostility to cloak his shame.

Cloaca or cloaca means an ancient sewer or some other waste receptacle, such as a privy --
Some parts of the Cloaca Maxima, built by the Romans, are still intact.
The cloaca drained waste into the river.

Cloaca also means a body cavity in birds, reptiles, and some other creatures, used for waste and to give birth or to lay eggs --
If there are eggs in the cloaca, the frog is a female.
Both male and female reptiles have a cloaca.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"Low branches and tall grass sometimes cloak the entrance to the ancient cloaca."

Thursday, February 2, 2017

coke, coak

Coke or coke is an industrial product made by smelting coal--
Industrial coke is used in the manufacture of steel.
Iron and coke are used to make steel.

Coke may also be a verb ( action word ) meaning to smelt coal--
The smoke is from the furnace they use to coke coal.

Coke or coke may be a slang term for cocaine--
He was arrested for dealing coke, and he may be imprisoned or put on probation, if convicted.
He is in rehab, trying to get over his coke habit.

Coke or Coca-Cola ( always capitalized ) means the famous American soft drink, which originally contained cocaine--
"Have a Coke and a smile."
Would you like an ice-cold Coca-Cola?

Coak or coak, in carpentry, means a tenon that fits into a groove or recess, held together with dowels, or a pin or dowel holding two overlapping pieces of wood together, to keep them from sliding apart --
Cut the coak carefully, or the joint won't hold.
Use a coak here, to keep the pices together.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"He's been working hard on that coak; I bet he'd like a Coke."

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

crash, crass

Crash or crash means to come into contact violently or destructively --
You're driving too fast; you'll crash into the wall!
Don't crash into the mailbox on your way out.

Crash or crash also means a collision, a violent or destructive  meeting --
The police were already at the crash site.
He swerved just in time to avoid a crash.

Crash or crash also means to show up at a party or event uninvited --
Should we crash the party? We know some of the kids.

Crass or crass means crude, unrefined, or insensitive --
He thinks any mention of money is crass.
She can't resist making some crass remark about what the other women are wearing.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"We thought it was crass, but he just had to hear every detail of the crash."