8. POPPYCOCK. =
Have you ever =
listened to somebody trying to talk about something that they know =
absolutely nothing about? Like, you know that what they’re saying =
is completely untrue, yet they insist on continuing to talk? Not =
laughing! Poppycock has nothing to do with poppies (a type of =
flower) or cocks (a male bird) but from the Dutch word pappekak, =
which is made from pap (soft) and kak (poop!). It’s =
been part of English since the 1800’s.
“Hey, I =
heard that if you keep your eyes open when you sneeze your eyes will fly =
out. What a load of poppycock!”
9. =
DISCOMBOBULATE Since 1850 (mainly in USA) =
if somebody’s talking lots of gibberish, =
gobbledygook, and poppycock, they may be trying to =
discombobulate (verb) another person, meaning to =
confuse.
“WhatR=
17;s the matter? You look a little =
discombobulated!”
10. FLUMMOX. =
This 1850’s adjective means to confuse =
them a lot. It was taken from dialects used in some parts of the =
UK.
“Her =
explanation seemed to flummox rather than enlighten the =
listener.”
11. =
CURMUDGEON. Another word used across England before Shakespeare, this =
one for someone =
who’s very bad-tempered and grumpy.
“I =
don’t like our English teacher … he is a real =
curmudgeon!”
12. =
LACKADAISICAL. Since 1700 this was used to describe someone who is =
lazy and has no enthusiasm or determination.
“My =
sister has no job and is doing nothing to find one. She is so =
lackadaisical.”
13. WOEBEGONE =
Break this adjective in =
two from the Middle English and you get woe (extreme sadness) and =
begone (an old-fashioned word that means surrounded by =
something).
“Why do you look so =
woebegone?”
14. LOLLYGAG. =
Nothing to do =
with lollies or gags, it actually means to be idle and lazy or to waste =
time. It’s most common in the USA. It’s not unusual to hear =
parents shout to their children to “stop =
lollygagging” – now you’ll know what they’re =
talking about! The word has been used since the 1800’s. Nobody =
really knows where it came from though.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] www.grif.net =
"Jesus Knows Me, This I =
Love!"