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Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BRISTLE

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pronounce BRISTLE:

BRISS ull

Hear it.
connect this word to others:

The word bristle helps you write a clear, compact, visual sentence. Like this: "He bristled." "She bristled, then left."

You can say the same for the other intransitive verbs below. See if you can recall them:

1. To o___e is to say what your opinion is.

2. To k__t_w is to kneel down or act like a servant.

3. To v____ate is to do absolutely nothing (or very little) with your mind or body.

(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) 

definition:

Bristles are short, stiff little hairs or spikes on animals and plants. (They're also the spiky little fibers on brooms, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, paintbrushes, etc.)

Literally speaking, when a person or animal bristles, their hairs all stand up straight because they're afraid, angry, or excited.

(Source)

Figuratively speaking, if someone bristles, they look mad, scared, or offended, as if their hairs are all standing up.

grammatical bits:

Part of speech:

Verb, the intransitive kind: "He bristles;" "She bristled at the insult."

Other forms: 

Bristled, bristling, bristly.

how to use it:

"Bristle" is a fun, clear, common word that helps you compare someone's reaction to that of a scared, ticked off, or otherwise unnerved animal.

Say that someone bristles, often at some offensive joke, comment, suggestion, or gesture.

Or, say that someone bristles with fear, with annoyance, with indignance, etc.

examples:

"Normally, Toby would bristle at being compared to Jimmy."
   — Bryan Bliss, We'll Fly Away, 2018

"Dumbledore's voice carried no hint of a threat; it sounded like a mere statement, but Fudge bristled as though Dumbledore were advancing upon him with a wand."  
   — J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000

has this page helped you understand "bristle"?

   

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.


study it:

Explain the meaning of "bristle" without saying "see red" or "get your dander up."

try it out:

Fill in the blanks: "When (something happens), (someone) bristles with (fear, anger, offense, annoyance, frustration, anxiety, or irritation)."

Example 1: "When a stranger addresses me as 'young lady,' I bristle in annoyance."

Example 2: "Lyra could feel Pantalaimon bristling with anxiety, though he made no sound."
   — Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass, 1995




before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game for January: "Is That a Real Word?"

In each issue, I’ll give you three, um, written phenomena. You decide if each is a real word—and most importantly—why or why not. If someone were to dispute your judgment, how would you defend it? For fun, try comparing your responses with a companion’s. And if you like, you can compare yours with mine, which I’ll list at the bottom of the issue.

Try these today:  Out of "Fahrvergnügen," "login," and "unpotatolike," which, if any, are real words?

review this word:

1. Near opposites of BRISTLE include

A. RIOT, ARISE, and REBEL.
B. BASK, PURR, and ROLLICK.
C. SHOVE, NUDGE, and JOSTLE.

2. In Magic: The Gathering, the aptly-named Bristling Hydra appears armed in _____, ready to vent some aggression.

A. slippery scales
B. whiplike spikes
C. fireproof fabric




Answers to the review questions:
1. B
2. B

Let's compare notes from the game: I say all three are real!

"Fahrvergnügen" seeped into popular culture from a Volkswagen ad. I bet you recognized it! It means "the joy of driving." You won't find it in an English dictionary, but you'll find it on American bumper stickers. I'd say that makes it real.

"Login:" I hate it! It's so ugly! I want to space it apart: log in! Especially when it's used as a verb. But it's a compound word that's all over the Internet and is likely here to stay.

As soon as you read the word "unpotatolike," you knew what it meant! I say that makes it a word.


a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.

From my blog:
On vocabulary...
      36 ways to study words.
      Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
      How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
On writing...
      How to improve any sentence.
      How to motivate our kids to write.
      How to stop procrastinating and start writing.
      How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count.

From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.

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