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November 13 & 14, 2004 subdued (sub DU) The adjective subdued means to be quiet or to be lacking in strength, brightness or intensity. Germany marked a subdued 15th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Tuesday, weighed down by high unemployment in the formerly communist east and a sense that in people's hearts the nation has not yet fully reunited. The light was very subdued and it was hard to see what was happening in the room. Prices remained generally subdued, but many districts reported pockets of higher prices for some specific sectors or products. Golf fans are more subdued in Asia than there are in the United States. November 12, 2003 outburst (OUT burst) he noun outburst refers to a sudden, strong expression of emotion - anything from anger to delight. On Monday Mrs Arafat made an emotional outburst on Al-Jazeera television urging the Palestinian delegation to stay away. The presidential outburst was unusual for a man who tried to avoid conflict with his advisors. Her appearance stirred an outburst of wild enthusiasm. Why, the asked, was there such a outburst of racial hatred at this time? November 11, 2003 qualm The noun qualm refers to a worry or doubt about what you are doing is right. It is almost always used in the plural (qualms). The former England coach admitted he had no qualms about his team's negative approach. She has no qualms about telling me when I am wrong. Several European governments expressed qualms about raising the level of risk to pilots and civilians. Her qualms were brushed aside by her husband. November 10, 2003 droves The noun droves refers to a large number of people or animals, often moving or doing something as a group. Local people turned up in droves at the complaints centre in Narathiwat claiming their family members had vanished after the Oct 25 riot outside the Tak Bai district police station. Another resident said he saw droves of militiamen near the centre of the town. With defeat almost certain, members were deserting the party in droves. Parents showed up in droves to pick up their children long before classes were dismissed. November 9, 2004 coexist (ko ig ZIST) The verb coexist means to exist together at the same time or at the same place, especially in a peaceful way. The noun form is coexistence. The letter noted there is now heightened tension between Buddhists and Muslims who previously coexisted harmoniously in the deep South. Maine's "working forest" is a place where loggers and tourists can coexist. How have such tensions exploded in what was previously a model of religious coexistence? UN officials recommended several specific steps to bring the two sides towards peaceful coexistence. November 8, 2004 bury the hatchet The idiomatic expression bury the hatchet means to become friendly again after a quarrel or disagreement. Mr Suchon called the incident an accident and suggested that both Senator Pratin and Senator Adul bury the hatchet. Business leaders and environment campaigners have buried the hatchet to unite in a call for action to tackle the risk of climate change. "It is time to stop being obsessed by Europe, time to bury the hatchet — in the ground, not between each other's shoulder blades," Mr Patton told the audience. The general workers union and an Indian food manufacturer look set to bury the hatchet over union recognition. Click here to see our words in the news for the previous week. Return to our home page |© The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2004 | Last modified: November 15, 2004