Heartland English School – Word of the Day

Theme: ways to say

Word: blurt (verb) [blurt/blurted/blurted]

Meaning: to say something suddenly, and without careful consideration (often combined with preposition out]

Example: He blurted out the answer before she even finished asking the question.

Example: While the police were interviewing the suspect he blurted out an admission of guilt.

Theme: ways to say

Word: yell (verb)

Meaning: to speak / shout very loudly (as a warning, to get attention or to communicate with someone far away)

Example: He yelled to his friend across the street.

Example: She yelled at the children for making a mess.

Theme: ways to say

Word: whisper (verb/noun)

Meaning: to speak softly, using only one’s breath and not one’s voice (the noun form refers to the sound made when doing so)

Example (verb): She whispered the secret password in his ear.

Example (noun): They spoke in whispers because they didn’t want their coworkers to hear their private conversation.

Theme: quick movements

Word: dunk (reg. verb)

Meaning: to put a biscuit, piece of bread, etc. into a liquid such as tea, coffee, or soup for a short time before eating it

Example:  She sat reading a magazine, dunking cookies in her coffee.

Example: She dunked a biscuit in her tea.

Example: I like to dunk my doughnut in my coffee.

Example: Do you dunk your Oreo cookies?

Theme: quick movements

Word: scoop (reg. verb/ noun)

Meaning: to move or lift somebody/something with a quick continuous movement

Example:  Scoop out the melon flesh.

Example: He quickly scooped the money up from the desk.

Example: She scooped the child up in her arms.

Example: He quickly scooped his clothes from the chair.

Theme: quick movements

Word: grab (reg. verb; transitive or intransitive)

Meaning: to take or hold somebody/something with your hand suddenly, firmly or roughly

Example:  She grabbed the child’s hand and ran.

Example: He grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go.

Example: He grabbed her around the throat and squeezed.

Example: Don’t grab—there’s plenty for everyone.

Theme: quick movements

Word: tap (reg. verb/noun)

Meaning 1: to hit somebody/something quickly and lightly

Example:  Ralph tapped me on the shoulder.

Example: Tap the icon to open the app.

Meaning 2: if you tap your fingers, feet, etc. or they tap, you hit them gently against a table, the floor, etc., for example to the rhythm of music

Example: He kept tapping his fingers on the table.

Example: The music got everyone’s feet tapping.

Theme: quick movements

Word: dip (reg. verb/noun)

Meaning: to put something quickly into a liquid and take it out again

Example:  He dipped the brush into the paint.

Example: Dip your hand in to see how hot the water is.

Example: The fruit had been dipped in chocolate.

Example: Quickly dip the tomatoes in boiling water.

Theme: Work

Word:  workshop

Pronunciation:  /wεrk- ʃαp/

Meaning:  a class where you learn to do something

Examples:

• This Saturday, the library has a digital photography workshop.
• I need to go to a workshop on Microsoft Excel because I don’t know how to use it well.

Theme: Work

Word:  in the works

Pronunciation:  /In ð∂ wεrks/

Meaning:  something has been planned or started

Examples:

• An increase to Winnipeg taxes is in the works.
• Some big renovations are in the works at Assiniboine Park.