Showing posts with label brunt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brunt. Show all posts

Thursday, January 22, 2015

burnt, brunt

Burnt or burnt describes something or someone damaged or altered by fire, heat, or the sun--
There's nothing left to mark the spot but a burnt post.
You left the cake in the oven, and now it's burnt.
He forgot his sunscreen; he's burnt all over.
Burnt may describe a pigment or color, one traditionally made darker by burning--
Should we paint the room in burnt umber, or a lighter brown?

Brunt or brunt means the main impact of a blow or attack--
She was the only one in the office, so she bore the brunt of the criticism.
The fence bore the brunt of the collision; the house wasn't damaged much.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Breakfast bore the brunt of his anger; after he complained about the burnt toast, he forgot about the rest."