A.Word.A.Day--saber-rattling

Wordsmith.org

The magic of words

delanceyplace . com: thinker's daily quote
A carefully selected non-fiction book excerpt free to your email each day.

delanceyplace . com

today's sponsor

Feb 6, 2020

This week’s theme
Well-traveled words

This week’s words
Moloch
bezoar
cavalcade
saber-rattling

“Words are the small change of thought.” ~Jules Renard
Send some to friends & family

---

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

saber-rattling or sabre-rattling

PRONUNCIATION:

(SAY-buhr-rat-ling)

MEANING:

noun: Threatening words or action, for example, in the form of a flamboyant display of military power.

ETYMOLOGY:

From saber/sabre (a heavy cavalry sword with a curved blade), from French sabre, from German dialect Sabel (now Säbel), from Hungarian szablyy + rattle (to make a quick succession of sharp noises), probably ultimately of imitative origin. Earliest documented use: 1922.

USAGE:

“Word just came down that something is heating up between Egypt and Israel. Probably only a bunch of saber-rattling, but it could turn serious.”
Kim Barnes; In the Kingdom of Men; Knopf; 2012.

See more usage examples of saber-rattling in Vocabulary.com’s dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

There's a schizoid quality to our relationship with animals, in which sentiment and brutality exist side by side. Half the dogs in America will receive Christmas presents this year, yet few of us pause to consider the miserable life of the pig -- an animal easily as intelligent as a dog -- that becomes the Christmas ham. -Michael Pollan, professor and writer (b. 6 Feb 1955)

What are your thoughts? Click here to share.
Or email us at words@wordsmith.org

Unsubscribe | Subscribe | Update address | Gift subscription | Contact us

© 1994-2020 Wordsmith.org