Make Your Point > Archived Issues > VIE

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explore the archives: "Vie" is an old word first applied to card games: to vie was to stake a certain sum on your hand of cards. So, speaking of card games, could you recall a verb that starts with K that means to give unwanted advice or comments, especially while you're watching other people play a game? How about an adjective that starts with A and means honest, as if you're playing a card game and keeping your hands where everyone can see them? make your point with... "VIE" To vie is to carry on a rivalry with your competitors. To vie can also simply mean to compete, especially to compete for a prize or title that would prove that you're the best. Pronunciation: VY. (Rhymes with DIE, LIE, PIE, and TIE; don't say VEE.) Part of speech: Intransitive verb. (Like "sleep," "skydive," and "succeed," all intransitive verbs show complete action on their own and do not do action to an object. You sleep, you skydive, you succeed, and that’s it. You don’t "sleep a bed," "skydive a plane," or "succeed a plan". Likewise, something or someone vies.) Other forms: Vied, vying. Like with died and dying, lied and lying, and tied and tying, be sure you spell the other forms of "vie" as vied and vying. How to use it: Talk about one or more people or groups who are vying, often vying with each other and/or vying for some prize: lottery enthusiasts vying for the jackpot, several applicants vying for one job opening, kids on YouTube vying for fame, sports teams vying for the championship, two boys vying for one girl's affections or attention, one senior vying with three others for the title of valedictorian, two main candidates vying with each other for power, etc. You can also talk about vying to do something: vying to be Florida's number one theme park, vying to sing in front of the judges and the television audience, vying to take over as company president. Not all dictionaries are okay with this "vying to do" construction, but that's what people are saying now, so follow suit if you want to. To be figurative, instead of talking about people who vie, talk about objects or abstract things that vie: a jumble of tasks all vying for my focus, a face that vies with the beauty of a sunrise. I want to point out that although vying often involves striving for something, working or struggling for it, or desiring it, "vie" doesn't exactly mean "strive for," "work for," "struggle for," or "desire." (But I hear it misused this way a lot.) So please keep in mind that where there's vying, there are rivals or competitors. Vying isn't something you do alone. You could say "He's vying for the presidency" because he has a competitor, even if you didn't mention her. But you wouldn't say "He's vying to drop ten pounds," because no one else is involved. examples: Target's Cartwheel app is so sneaky--it's basically a tool to help Target brand products vie for a spot in your cart. You scan whatever item you're about to buy, hoping for a discount, and the app says no but helpfully offers you a discounted Target brand equivalent. Why do all toddlers vie with the telephone for their mom's attention? study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "vie" means when you can explain it without saying "compete" or "engage in rivalry." try it out: Think of a contest or competition you once entered, and fill in the blanks: "Along with (a certain number of other people), I was vying for (a particular prize)." Example: "Along with a conference room full of other high school kids from across the state, I once vied for the FBLA's top prize in Business Communication Skills--which was probably the only way to get a literal trophy for loving grammar." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Language Techniques: When language sounds beautiful or memorable, often there’s some particular technique responsible for that effect. Each day this month, I’ll give you a specific stylistic technique or quality, and I’d like you to recreate (as closely as you can) the quote that I’ve botched by removing it. We’ll work our way from the easiest to the hardest techniques. Enjoy! From yesterday: In a periodic sentence, the main point comes at the very end, and the rest of the sentence is a bunch of extra information that leads up to that main point. Used well, periodic sentences build suspense and interest. For example, Edward Gibbon wrote, "Unprovided with original learning, uninformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved -- to write a book." Cicero didn't say, "You'll always remain a child if you remain ignorant of what occurred before you were born." How did he express this thought instead? Answer: "To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child." Try this one today: A simile, as you probably remember from English class, is a comparison between things that uses the word "like" or "as." These can add color and concreteness to an idea, making it memorable. For an example, let's go back to Cicero, who said: "A room without books is like a body without a soul." Similes don't have to be so serious--here's one from Lemony Snicket: "Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant filled with odd little waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like." Forrest Gump's mom didn't say, "In life, you never know what you're gonna get." What did she say instead? review today's word: 1. The closest opposite of VIE is A. COOPERATE B. WITHHOLD C. DEVISE 2.  I've heard that in some real estate markets, _____ vie for _____.  A. sellers .. pricy renovations before listing B. multiple families .. the same property C. agents .. their own preferred lenders Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. B