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You might think we're just talking about plastic surgery with "nip and tuck," but this little phrase has some surprisingly useful other meanings! Likewise, you might think that "M_______ent" is just the name of a Disney villain, but it's also a great description of anyone or anything evil.
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"NIP AND TUCK"
First, a nip and tuck is a bit of plastic surgery. Figuratively, a nip and tuck is any little change (or series of changes) to make something better, done in a way that reminds you of plastic surgery.
Second, something nip and tuck, or something done nip and tuck, involves competitors that are so evenly matched that the competition is a really, really close one.
Pronunciation:
Like you'd expect, "NIP and TUCK."
Part of speech:
Both an adjective (a nip and tuck thing, or something nip and tuck)
and an adverb (to win nip and tuck)
as well as a noun (a nip and tuck)
and occasionally a verb (please nip and tuck this).
Other forms:
none
How to use it:
For the first meaning, we'll focus on the figurative use: talk about a nip and tuck when you mean a process of small adjustments: "This resume just needs a nip and tuck." You can treat this phrase like a verb if you like: "People don't nip and tuck their resumes as much as they should."
For the second meaning, talk about a nip and tuck struggle, a nip and tuck competition, a nip and tuck race, etc. You can also say that one thing or person is nip and tuck with another. And often we put this adjective into the predicate position: "It was nip and tuck until...", "The race is nip and tuck because...", "It's nip and tuck between A and B."
examples:
She claimed that her paper just needed a nip and tuck, but it called for a total redo.
When it was time to finally decide on a college, it was nip and tuck between the affordable state school and the costly private one that he ultimately attended.
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "nip and tuck" means when you can explain it without saying "little corrections" or "neck and neck."
try it out:
Think of a really close game or competition you watched or participated in, one in which it was really hard to tell who would win, and fill in the blanks: "In a nip and tuck struggle, _____ (overcame/beat) _____ by _____."
Example: "In a nip and tuck struggle, Heidi beat me by squirreling away the last 'S' tile for her final play."
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.
When it comes to word roots, everybody knows what some of them mean, like “ambi/amphi” (“both”) and “circum” (“around”) and “hetero” (“different”). This knowledge helps you explain why words like “automobile” and “autobiography” look similar—in this case, it’s because they both involve the concept of “self.” But what about some of the less obvious roots? Could you explain, for example, why “contain” looks so much like “sustain” by defining “tain”? This month, we're exploring the meanings underlying common words you know. You can usually figure these out by looking for an extremely basic concept common to all the words in each group. We’ll start with easier, more obvious roots and move on to trickier ones as the month goes on!
Yesterday's question: In depose, expose, impose, oppose and opposite, pose, position, positive, postpone, and suppose, what does “pos” mean?
Answer: To put.
Try this one today: In antecedent, concede, exceed, necessary, proceed, and recede, what does “ced/ceed” mean?
review today's word:
1. One opposite of NIP AND TUCK is
A. FIDGET
B. OVERHAUL
C. BANKRUPT
2. The final score of this nip and tuck game was _____.
A. 3 to 0
B. 5 to 4
C. 33 to 2
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. B
You might think we're just talking about plastic surgery with "nip and tuck," but this little phrase has some surprisingly useful other meanings! Likewise, you might think that "M_______ent" is just the name of a Disney villain, but it's also a great description of anyone or anything evil.
"NIP AND TUCK" First, a nip and tuck is a bit of plastic surgery. Figuratively, a nip and tuck is any little change (or series of changes) to make something better, done in a way that reminds you of plastic surgery. Pronunciation: Part of speech: How to use it:
She claimed that her paper just needed a nip and tuck, but it called for a total redo.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "nip and tuck" means when you can explain it without saying "little corrections" or "neck and neck."
Think of a really close game or competition you watched or participated in, one in which it was really hard to tell who would win, and fill in the blanks: "In a nip and tuck struggle, _____ (overcame/beat) _____ by _____."
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.
1. One opposite of NIP AND TUCK is
To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
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