Compound nouns

so so (United Kingdom)
108 words 74 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. derring-do
    brave and heroic action
  2. heliotropism
    an orienting response to the sun
  3. hamstring
    one of the tendons at the back of the knee
  4. backstop
    a structure to prevent a ball from traveling out of a field
  5. baseline
    a standard by which things are measured or compared
  6. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  7. esprit de corps
    the feeling that makes group members want to succeed
  8. showstopper
    an act so striking or impressive that the show must be delayed until the audience quiets down
  9. derring-do
    brave and heroic action
  10. cum laude
    with honors; with academic distinction
  11. de jure
    by right; according to law
  12. ad infinitum
    without or seemingly without limit
  13. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  14. de rigueur
    required by etiquette, custom, or fashion
  15. eau de toilette
    a perfumed liquid lighter than cologne
  16. emoticon
    a facial expression represented by a sequence of characters
  17. cum laude
    with honors; with academic distinction
  18. frontispiece
    an illustration facing the title page of a book
  19. desideratum
    something sought after as a necessity
  20. terra cotta
    clay fired for pottery and building material, or the finished object
  21. terra cotta
    clay fired for pottery and building material, or the finished object
  22. whistlestop
    tour the country in order to solicit votes for an election
  23. noblesse oblige
    the duty of the privileged to be honorable and generous
  24. hoi polloi
    the common people generally
  25. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  26. short shrift
    brief and inattentive attention or treatment
  27. a la carte
    having many choices with a separate price for each item
  28. screwup
    the complete mismanagement or mishandling of a situation
  29. esprit de corps
    the feeling that makes group members want to succeed
  30. derring-do
    brave and heroic action
  31. potboiler
    a literary composition of poor quality that was written quickly to make money (to boil the pot)
  32. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  33. pied-a-terre
    lodging for occasional or secondary use
  34. qui vive
    condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation
  35. dramatic irony
    when the audience understands something the characters don't
  36. meliorism
    the belief that the world can be made better by human effort
  37. nouvelle cuisine
    a school of French cooking that uses light sauces and tries to bring out the natural flavors of foods instead of making heavy use of butter and cream
  38. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  39. high jinks
    noisy and mischievous merrymaking
  40. a la carte
    having many choices with a separate price for each item
  41. gangplank
    a temporary bridge for getting on and off a vessel at dockside
  42. lettre de cachet
    a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal
  43. joie de vivre
    a keen or exuberant enjoyment of life
  44. pro forma
    in a set manner without serious attention
  45. flimflam
    (offensive) a swindle that cheats someone out of money
  46. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  47. causeway
    a road that is raised above water, marshland, or sand
  48. outstation
    a station in a remote or sparsely populated location
  49. sotto voce
    in an undertone
  50. cum laude
    with honors; with academic distinction
  51. caveat emptor
    the principle that the buyer takes on the risk of a purchase
  52. ambuscade
    the act of hiding and waiting to make a surprise attack
  53. dramatic irony
    when the audience understands something the characters don't
  54. cul de sac
    a street with only one way in or out
  55. pet peeve
    an annoyance about which someone frequently complains
  56. biohazard
    danger to humans or the environment from an infectious agent
  57. bon vivant
    a sociable person who enjoys fine food and luxury
  58. backwater
    a body of water that was created by a flood or tide
  59. lay-by
    designated paved area beside a main road where cars can stop temporarily
  60. deus ex machina
    an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve a difficulty
  61. magna cum laude
    with high honor
  62. pet peeve
    an annoyance about which someone frequently complains
  63. deus ex machina
    an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve a difficulty
  64. sally forth
    set out in a sudden or energetic manner
  65. hoi polloi
    the common people generally
  66. prix fixe
    complete but with limited choices and at a fixed price
  67. gobbledygook
    incomprehensible and wordy jargon
  68. bon vivant
    a sociable person who enjoys fine food and luxury
  69. bon mot
    a witty or clever remark
  70. lingua franca
    a common language used by speakers of different languages
  71. deus ex machina
    an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve a difficulty
  72. pet peeve
    an annoyance about which someone frequently complains
  73. hoi polloi
    the common people generally
  74. beau geste
    a gracious (but usually meaningless) gesture
  75. pas de deux
    a dance for two people
  76. hoi polloi
    the common people generally
  77. deus ex machina
    an agent who appears unexpectedly to solve a difficulty
  78. charge d'affaires
    the official temporarily in charge of a diplomatic mission in the absence of the ambassador
  79. last straw
    an annoyance that stretches your patience beyond its limit
  80. esprit de corps
    the feeling that makes group members want to succeed
  81. prix fixe
    complete but with limited choices and at a fixed price
  82. magnum opus
    a creator's greatest work of art or literature
  83. cum laude
    with honors; with academic distinction
  84. mortmain
    real property held inalienably
  85. timberline
    boundary marking the upper limit of tree growth
  86. fleur-de-lis
    plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
  87. pas de deux
    a dance for two people
  88. pas de deux
    a dance for two people
  89. knock-kneed
    having the knees abnormally close together and the ankles wide apart
  90. double entendre
    a word or phrase with two meanings, one of which is indecent
  91. eau de toilette
    a perfumed liquid lighter than cologne
  92. esprit de corps
    the feeling that makes group members want to succeed
  93. hobgoblin
    (folklore) a small, ugly creature that causes trouble
  94. slam dunk
    a forceful dunk
  95. gunnysack
    a bag made of burlap
  96. double entendre
    a word or phrase with two meanings, one of which is indecent
  97. stagecraft
    skill or artistry in the creation or production of plays
  98. stagecraft
    skill or artistry in the creation or production of plays
  99. magna cum laude
    with high honor
  100. camera obscura
    a darkened enclosure in which images of outside objects are projected through a small aperture or lens onto a facing surface
  101. qui vive
    condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation
  102. qui vive
    condition of heightened watchfulness or preparation
  103. per diem
    a daily allowance for living expenses
  104. straw poll
    an unofficial vote taken to determine opinion on some issue
  105. docudrama
    a TV program or film based on real events
  106. nouveau-riche
    characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position
  107. magnum opus
    a creator's greatest work of art or literature
  108. dumbwaiter
    a small elevator used to convey food (or other goods) from one floor of a building to another
Created on Tue Jun 26 10:49:30 EDT 2018 (updated Sun Jan 23 06:53:29 EST 2022)

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