Make Your Point > Archived Issues > GLUT

Send Make Your Point issues straight to your inbox.

explore the archives: A lot of us see "glut" and recall that its noun form, "gluttony," is one of the seven deadly sins associated with Christianity, specifically the one about overeating or otherwise indulging in way too much. Could you recall some of our words for other cardinal sins? Pride: this 3-syllable noun starting with V means empty boasting. Greed: this 3-syllable adjective starting with R means extremely greedy, grabbing everything. Sloth: this 3-syllable verb starting with H means to become dull and motionless. make your point with... "GLUT" To glut something, or to glut yourself, is to fill yourself up with too much of whatever it is that you want. Pronunciation: GLUT Part of speech: Verb. It's usually transitive: you glut people or desires with things, or you glut yourself on things. Other forms: Glutted, glutting, gluttony, glutton(s) (people who glut themselves). You can also have a glut of something: too much of it. How to use it: "Glut" is one of those short, simple, easy words that's worth having a look at because of its power and usefulness. You can be literal and talk about glutting yourself on Oreos, for example, or people glutting themselves at the buffet. Figuratively, talk about glutting your eyes on some visual feast, glutting yourself with Netflix episodes, glutting your appetite for slick crime novels, glutting your rage, glutting your ambition, glutting your thirst for gossip, and so on. examples: The market is definitely glutted with books about weight loss. Seriously, we need fewer of these, not more. My little one would glut herself on gummy candies if I'd let her. Actually, I would, too. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "glut" means when you can explain it without saying "overfill" or "satiate." try it out: Think of something you will never get tired of, and fill in the blanks: "No matter how much _____, my appetite for _____ will never be glutted." Example: "No matter how much of it I read, my appetite for good poetry will never be glutted." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words:  We're playing with clichés this month, examining the origins of some colorful ones. I’ll give you a cliché (some of which you might also call a proverb and/or an idiom) and pose a multiple-choice question about its origin. (I used this nifty book as a reference!) Yesterday's question: A fun yet clichéd way to describe something that barely moves: it’s “as slow as molasses in January.” According to The Dictionary of Cliches, did this one originate in Nova Scotia, Montana, or New Hampshire? Answer: New Hampshire! It’s a phrase with a definite New England flavor. Try this one today: Here’s one I really like. If you’re actually very tough, but you remain calm and gentle on the outside, you’ve got an “iron hand in a velvet glove.” Who made that up: Shakespeare, Napoleon, or Martin Luther King? A Point Well Made: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: “How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.” review today's word: 1. The opposite of GLUT is A. RETAIN B. ABSTAIN C. ATTAIN 2.  The site offers a glut of information _____ of insights. A. and an equally sparse amount  B. and an even tinier number C. but a serious lack 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. B 2. C