Mots for your money
Thanks for your daytime TV help. As always when I ask for advice of this kind, it brought to mind some bits of material I’d even forgotten. I shall put (some of) your advice into action tomorrow morning – in the middle of the night, proper time – and report back to you on my exploits. I think I’m going to describe myself as having exploits more often, because it’s a great word and makes your life sound a lot more exciting. EXPLOITS! If you’re paranoid that you are not coming off interestingly enough at dinner parties, try muttering ‘I had one or two exploits today’ in response to the question ‘so what have you been up to?’ Or: ‘oh, you know. The usual exploits’. It’s meant to mean a fine, noteworthy deed, but no-one’s confident enough about that to challenge you.
Which made me think – what other words ought to be used more often? They don’t have to be rare words which you’re unearthing for the delectation of the public: just anything you think ought to get more of an airing. Quite often I use this blog (not to mention other opportunities) to complain about all sorts of iniquities, normally very minor things, so now and again it’s nice to give credit where it’s due and say, look, whatever else, there are some bloody nice words out there.
We’ve done something similar to this before, but not for some time I think. If at all. It’s both impressive and slightly alarming that I have now been writing the blog long enough that I occasionally ask myself ‘has there already been one like this?’ Anyway, words are our most precious possessions along with things like footballs and Mad Men and trousers, so we can almost not celebrate them often enough. From your suggestions we will build a little list of favoured words and then I plan to set a challenge to see who can use the most of them in a single day.
That’s right! It’s INTERACTIVE FUN! Again.
Posted by DeborahF on April 17, 2011
I’ve thought of another one – even my Mum agrees this should be used more often – pootle. It means to dawdle or potter around. We should all pootle more often
Posted by Sam on April 15, 2011
I also like the word solicitude – nice to say and nice to be on the receiving end of someone’s. Also reminds me of Jane Austin prose
Posted by Briony on April 15, 2011
Whoops – that should say bunkum (the other doesnt’ sound so nice). Typing in a hurry as usual…
Posted by Briony on April 15, 2011
I like Piffle, bumkum, eyewash
Difficult to get them into everyday conversation without sounding like one’s stepped out of a PG Wodehouse novel but I’m working on it
Posted by Carl on April 15, 2011
Midwifery – my favourite ever word.
Posted by Aislinn on April 14, 2011
Also (sorry, I was trying not to post too many words, and I’ve failed at that) I enjoy ‘cohesive’ and ‘osmosis’, but not in literal senses. Like, saying you’ve learnt something through osmosis, or saying that an idea is very cohesive. YES. I’ll go now.
Posted by Ingrid on April 14, 2011
Bedraggled. Thats a very good word…
Posted by lisan66 on April 14, 2011
I cant really think of a word to use more often…but can I ask where the title of the blog came from?
Posted by Amy on April 14, 2011
Sycophantic. Surreptitious. Soporiphic. I think perhaps I’m going through my ‘S-word’ phase. Although cantankerous and grapple are good too, And I think we need to bring the true sense of the word ‘queer’ back into fashion; “Oh, how queer!” is such a great response.
My friend and I were also discussing our least favourite words the other day. Moist, larvae and squeamish were up there. Anyone else?
Posted by Aislinn on April 14, 2011
I like words that sound slightly old-fashioned and quaint and jolly.
Kerfuffle. Peculiar. Tip-top. Remarkable/remarkably.
Posted by Georgie on April 14, 2011
Missed the Circle this morning.. but found your bit on the channel ten website. Was very lovely. Can be found at the link below for those interested! x
http://ten.com.au/the-circle-video.htm
Posted by hornseygirl on April 14, 2011
I shall plump for louche and scamp, but there are so many…
Posted by Catherine aka Cathy on April 14, 2011
@LottieMusical Sentient always reminds me of Data ST:SNG and I like the sound of it.
Which leads to:
Euphonious
eu·pho·ni·ous/yo͞oˈfōnēəs/
Adjective: (of sound, esp. speech) Pleasing to the ear.
Posted by MusicalLottie on April 14, 2011
I was going to say ‘obstreperous’.
@Cathy ‘sentient’ is part of regular vocabulary for sci-fi fans
‘Discombobulate’, ‘whither’, ‘whithersoever’, ‘aforementioned’, ‘thrice’, ‘extricate’, ‘nincompoop’, ‘scoundrel’, ‘erstwhile’, ‘predilection’, ‘penchant’.
Posted by Beth on April 14, 2011
I’m having a bit of a love affair with things being “ghastly” at the moment. But maybe it’s just the Aussie trying a bit too hard to sound British?
I also like “obstreperous” and try to use it as much as possible. And it’s not a single word, but I do love the descriptive prhase “jolly-hockey-sticks”.
And to counter the negative associations of “ghastly” and “obstreperous”, I also like “smashing” and “super”. In short, anything that you’d find in your standard Enid Blyton book tends to be in favour with me.
Posted by Kimbo on April 14, 2011
Please excuse my spelling….
Posted by Kimbo on April 14, 2011
Shellacking or Shellacked when describing a crushing deafeat.
For example: “South Africa A really gave Australia a real shellacking in the ashes down under recently!”
Loved the show on Tuesday night! Still suprised there was no Kangaroo. Never saw that coming…
Posted by Margaretl on April 14, 2011
How about the words your grandad might have used such as whippersnapper, ignoramus or skulduggery or granny words such as dilly dally, doolally or lackadaisical. Then there’s “gracious me” or “flipping heck” instead of you know what.
My favourites, purely for the sounds of the words, are mellifluous, minutiae and lugubrious but as they are tricky to drop in to conversation, I think I’ll say scrumptious.
Posted by LollyPolly on April 13, 2011
I also agree that Scallywag isn’t used nearly as much as it ought to be.
Posted by LollyPolly on April 13, 2011
Just to lower the tone, my expletive of choice at the moment seems to be “Arsicles!”
I’m unsure how or when this started but I quite like it.
Posted by Al Kennedy on April 13, 2011
Scuttlebutt’s a good one.
Posted by Sophie on April 13, 2011
Words that spring to mind are firmament and despondent. Also grand being used to describe a mood.
Posted by Lukey on April 13, 2011
For me it has to be “alas”. Others I like are “spectacular”, and “fantabulous” (a mix of fantastic and fabulous)
Posted by Josh (the magnificent one) on April 13, 2011
Trinket’s always nice.
I think there should be several words freed from the constraints of idiom. Such as… I can’t think of one at the moment, but… I had one, just a minute ago. Honest.
Obstinate, too.
Diminutive.
Posted by Rhian on April 13, 2011
Skulduggery.
Posted by Corey on April 13, 2011
I love the word Winnebago, and I also love it when a Northerner says ”Cappuccino”…….somehow doesn’t quite sound right
Posted by Josie on April 13, 2011
I think that “lout”, “scallywag” and “ruffians” should come back to describe those ne’er-do-wells.
This is also slightly irrelevant but I read A Clockwork Orange and spoke in nadsat for about a week. Turns out the youths of today don’t understand the phrase, “Viddy well, O my brothers.” Pah. Those louts don’t know what they’re missing.
Posted by LisaD on April 13, 2011
One of my favorites is “gruntled” as in the positive of “disgruntled.” Of course it’s actually a word–meaning in a generally cheerful, upbeat mood–but people don’t use it because it sounds like the opposite of it’s meaning. a friend of mine had it come up on the word-of-the-day section of her home page and we’ve been using it ever since.
“How are you today?”
“Gruntled, thanks. Yourself?”
Posted by Simone on April 13, 2011
I’m trying to use “gnarly” more. Good word, that.
Posted by DeborahF on April 13, 2011
I’m with DiB (Sue) there’s not enough use of kerfuffle – I love a good kerfuffle. I also love Lydia’s suggestion of obsequious. My personal favourite would have to be mizzle – it’s a word my Grandad used to describe that sort of rain you get in the hills that is a mixture of mist and drizzle – it’s a perfect description – though using it more often would mean having more bad weather and I don’t want that at all.
Posted by mark john on April 13, 2011
The mis-use of the word incongruous – so it substitutes merely rubbish or bad or awful.
”He was such an incongruous driving instructor he told me to drive one handed in foggy conditions
Posted by mark john on April 13, 2011
The mis-use of the word incongruous – so it substitutes merely rubbish or bad or awful.
”He was such an incongruous driving instructor he told me to drive with one handed in foggy conditions.”
Posted by Matt kibble on April 13, 2011
Gumption ! See you in Barrow
Posted by A. Bar on April 13, 2011
Favourite words of my kids this 1/2 term were tranquil and feral, but not necessarily in the same sentence!
Posted by Kathryn on April 13, 2011
I do tend to use pretentious language all the time. The hazards of studying literature.
I like quibble, perspicacious and ignominious. And I second banjaxed and loquacious.
Posted by Megan on April 13, 2011
Oh, I forgot another expression that I like using. ‘Gentleman caller’ for boyfriend-type person. Most of my friends are in their late 20s/early 30s, so ‘boyfriend’ sounds funny and ‘lover’ is just…kinda weird.
Posted by lora on April 13, 2011
I’m quite fond of the word sycophant but I rarely have the opportunity to use it. Come to think of it ‘fond’ is a good word too.
Posted by Sam on April 13, 2011
I like the word tumble – not because of the meaning but just the sound of saying it…tumble *sigh*
Other words that I think should be used more often are:
- juxtapose; not least of all because every time I hear it I think of the wonderful song by Super Furry Animals
- nobber; because it’s such a playground, PG-rated type of insult and it makes me giggle
- schadenfreude; maybe not the easiest word to slip into a sentence, but I really like the sentiment behind it – recent example of me experiencing it was watching the youtube clip of lady gaga falling off her piano. It might be a German word, but it’s a bit of a British sentiment I think.
Posted by Megan on April 13, 2011
There are lot of British words that I wish I could more often in conversation without sounding like a pretentious git (there’s one of ‘em) or confusing people. ‘Feckless’ and ‘gormless’ would be especially useful these days (possibly to describe myself as publication deadlines are eating my brain cells).
I say ‘delightful’ quite a lot and I wish more people did.
Posted by Beth (Bloomability) on April 13, 2011
I’ll contribute abundant, paradoxical, nonsensical and happenstance.
Also, can we include words from other languages? If so honigkuchenpferd (Cheshire cat in German) is a good one. It translates as honeycakehorse ^_^
Posted by DiB (Sue) on April 13, 2011
Sorry, I read the post hours ago, then came back and posted a comment without fully remembering what it was you wanted… little used words that should be used more often. I’ve culled my list to:
Moot, avuncular, discourse, kerfuffle, bouffant, and plethora.
And add: Rambunctious, and scallywag,
Posted by Tibbs on April 13, 2011
My first thought was my favourite two-word combination, ‘mizen sprit’, but then I thought, “Maybe that’s a bit too esoteric, you’d be hard pressed to use it in any normal conversation”. And then I thought, “Well that’ll just make it a bit more challenging, oh and ‘esoteric’ is a pretty good word too”. So I’m going to put forward both ‘mizen sprit’ and ‘esoteric’ for consideration. And for something a bit more commonplace, but which I feel has still fallen out of use: delightful. Because just saying it makes me happier.
Posted by DiB (Sue) on April 13, 2011
Moot, rhetorical, avuncular, discourse, kerfuffle, bouffant, fluffy, charisma, khol, Fijian, weird, onomatopoeia, phobia, spam, plethora.
That’s just a few off the top of my head, I like lots of wonderful words for many different reasons,
Posted by Laura on April 13, 2011
Hapless is my favourite word, in particular when it is associated with sporting prowess or lack thereof.
Posted by Rachael on April 13, 2011
magnificent.
Posted by Catherine aka Cathy on April 13, 2011
sentient
Posted by cymruangel on April 13, 2011
Just started reading book, and keen to use the word “feckless” more often as a result!
Posted by Misha on April 13, 2011
I’ve currently got a bit of a thing for Prandial, as in post-prandial, pre-prandial etc.
Also Antimacassar, banjaxed, fantastic, splendid, endeavour, bohemian and fleeting.
No-one says fleeting any more.
Other words i’ve been thinking about recently are turtle and palamino just because i’ve not had call to use them. Yes, I really do have far too much time on my hands at present.
There’s another one. Prescient.
Posted by ediecott on April 13, 2011
Charming. There should be more use of the word and more experience of the effect.
Posted by Lydia on April 13, 2011
The only thing I can think of is obsequious, because sometimes there just aren’t enough Qs in life.
I would like the think I am not going to be the only one who had to look up loquacious.
Posted by amycool on April 13, 2011
Splendid comes to mind. Probably already used quite a lot in non-youth sectors of society but still, what a splendid word.
And loquacious, because that’s me.
Posted by ChrisP on April 13, 2011
Travesty is my current favorite.
‘Endeavours’ is another good way of explaining a fairly dull day.
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonion on April 13, 2011
Brilliant idea … I’m devastated (one for the dramatic affect category???) that yesterday I used a word a friend and I agreed we both love hearing BUT now I can’t remember what it was … Aha, now I HAVE remembered … it was APLOMB!!!
Now I must get back to solving the problem of how I’ve got myself locked INSIDE my house … trust me to be different!!! And don’t ask …
Would like to converse with you ie exchange emails perhaps??? re your DVD recording for which I have a ticket … hooray!!!