Heartland English School – Word of the Day

Theme: ‘in’ adjectives    

Word: insidious       /inˈsidēəs/

Meaning: harmful in a subtle way; treacherous

Example: Leaded gasoline had an insidious effect on peoples’ health. Iago betrayed Othello in an insidious manner.

Related Words: insidiously, insidiousness

Theme: ‘in’ adjectives    

Word: innate      /iˈnāt/

Meaning: natural; inborn

Example: Marie Kondo’s innate talent for organization has made her famous. My dog has an innate love of retrieving things.

Related Word: innately

Theme: ‘in’ adjectives    

Word: indolent      /ˈindələnt/

Meaning: lazy; unwilling to be active

Example: My indolent brother just stays in his room playing online games–he doesn’t want to get a job.

Related Words: indolently, indolence

Theme: ‘in’ adjectives    

Word: insatiable      /inˈsāSHəb(ə)l/

Meaning: always wanting more; impossible to satisfy

Example: His insatiable greed caused the downfall of his company. That child is insatiable when it comes to watermelon—he won’t stop eating it!

Related Words: insatiably, sate

Theme: Love!

Word: lovey-dovey (adjective – informal, disapproval)

Meaning: You can use lovey-dovey to describe, in a humorous or slightly disapproving way, lovers who show their affection for each other very openly.

Examples:
1. I don’t want to go out with Jenna and Brian. They’re so lovey-dovey every time, I just can’t stand it.

2. Children find it embarrassing when their parents are lovey-dovey in public.

Theme: Love!

Word: head over heels (in love) (idiom)

Meaning: to be completely in love

Examples:
1. Sam fell head over heels in love with Cale.

2. When was the last time you were head over heels with someone?

Theme: Love!

Word: be an item (informal phrase)

Meaning: If two people are an item, they are having a romantic relationship

Examples:
1. A: I saw Emma and Dave at the party together – are they an item? B: They are, yes!  

2. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck dated almost 20 years ago, broke up, and are now an item again.

Theme: Love!

Word: love at first sight (phrase)

Meaning: falling in love with somebody the first time you see them

Examples:
1. My wife and I met at a party ten years ago. It was love at first sight.

2. Do you believe in love at first sight? Discuss!

Theme: Love!

Word: fall in love with someone (idiom)

Meaning: to begin to feel romantic love for someone

Examples:
1. I think I’m falling in love with my best friend. What should I do?

2. A: Have you heard the song Can’t Help Falling in Love?

    B: Do you mean the one by Elvis Presley? There are some good modern covers!

Theme: Fall Words

Word: Fall on deaf ears (idiom)

Pronunciation: /fɑː.l ɑːn def ɪrs/

Meaning: to fail to be heard : to be ignored

Examples:

• His complaints fell on deaf ears.
• My advice always fall on deaf ears.