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English tip #6
for those who value precision
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Word: Modicum
Meaning: A small amount of something — usually something valuable, desirable, or polite enough not to arrive in bulk.
It’s not a handful, not a pinch, but a respectable bit.
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Examples:
• “He showed a modicum of patience before sealing the time portal.”
→ Just enough patience to avoid catastrophe. Barely.
• “All I need is a modicum of peace to finish this equation.”
→ Peace, in teaspoon form.
• “She felt a modicum of regret about erasing the file, but not enough to restore it.”
→ Regret, but served in a very small saucer.
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Style Note:
Modicum often travels with seriousness — it’s more likely to appear in a measured sentence than in a text about pizza toppings.
However, you can say something like:
• “If this restaurant had a modicum of respect for their guests, they wouldn’t serve pizza with such a ridiculous scrap of cheese.”
for those who value precision
⸻
Word: Modicum
Meaning: A small amount of something — usually something valuable, desirable, or polite enough not to arrive in bulk.
It’s not a handful, not a pinch, but a respectable bit.
⸻
Examples:
• “He showed a modicum of patience before sealing the time portal.”
→ Just enough patience to avoid catastrophe. Barely.
• “All I need is a modicum of peace to finish this equation.”
→ Peace, in teaspoon form.
• “She felt a modicum of regret about erasing the file, but not enough to restore it.”
→ Regret, but served in a very small saucer.
⸻
Style Note:
Modicum often travels with seriousness — it’s more likely to appear in a measured sentence than in a text about pizza toppings.
However, you can say something like:
• “If this restaurant had a modicum of respect for their guests, they wouldn’t serve pizza with such a ridiculous scrap of cheese.”
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Forwarded from Этимология каждый день
Слово Хобби - впервые регистрируется в 1816 г. как сокращение от англ hobbyhorse,16 век - детская игрушка-лошадка для имитации езды на лошади.
Но уже с 1670-ых само 'hobbyhorse' упоминается и в значении "любимое занятие или увлечение"
само же hobbyhorse - от hobin + hourse = хобин + лошадь. Хобин, вероятно, образовалось от клички животного как уменьш от Роберта или Робина. Сравните с Доббин - популярное в то время имя для рабочей лошади на ферме (например, можно встретить в "Венецианском купце" Шекспира 1596 года) - уменьш от Dob - от Роберта или Робина
Также, по-видимому, игрушка hobbyhorse - разновидность более "продвинутой" Tourney Horse - это деревянный каркас на лямках, который надевали на плечи и к которому приделывались голова и хвост лошади, создавшие впечатление, что человек едет верхом. По этой ссылке ещё больше деталей :)
И напоследок фанатам Гарри Поттера.
Dobbie (от того же Dob) - так в Англии называли домашнего эльфа (а-ля домовой). В Сассексе даже с бОльшим уважением - Master Dobbs
Но уже с 1670-ых само 'hobbyhorse' упоминается и в значении "любимое занятие или увлечение"
само же hobbyhorse - от hobin + hourse = хобин + лошадь. Хобин, вероятно, образовалось от клички животного как уменьш от Роберта или Робина. Сравните с Доббин - популярное в то время имя для рабочей лошади на ферме (например, можно встретить в "Венецианском купце" Шекспира 1596 года) - уменьш от Dob - от Роберта или Робина
Также, по-видимому, игрушка hobbyhorse - разновидность более "продвинутой" Tourney Horse - это деревянный каркас на лямках, который надевали на плечи и к которому приделывались голова и хвост лошади, создавшие впечатление, что человек едет верхом. По этой ссылке ещё больше деталей :)
И напоследок фанатам Гарри Поттера.
Dobbie (от того же Dob) - так в Англии называли домашнего эльфа (а-ля домовой). В Сассексе даже с бОльшим уважением - Master Dobbs
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English tip #7
⸻
Examples :
• “The wizard had a plethora of enchanted spoons.”
→ More than practical and healthy.
• “There was a plethora of timelines branching from her single poor decision.”
→ Regret, multiplied exponentially.
• “He offered a plethora of excuses”
→ Quantity over quality.
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Tone Tips:
• Plethora is often used with a hint of sarcasm, admiration, or gentle alarm.
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Compare & Contrast:
• Modicum: A teaspoon of charm.
• Plethora: A tidal wave of unsolicited opinions.
⸻
Examples :
• “The wizard had a plethora of enchanted spoons.”
→ More than practical and healthy.
• “There was a plethora of timelines branching from her single poor decision.”
→ Regret, multiplied exponentially.
• “He offered a plethora of excuses”
→ Quantity over quality.
⸻
Tone Tips:
• Plethora is often used with a hint of sarcasm, admiration, or gentle alarm.
⸻
Compare & Contrast:
• Modicum: A teaspoon of charm.
• Plethora: A tidal wave of unsolicited opinions.
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BFD — Big Fucking Deal
Abbreviation used (often in speaking) to hide the F-word
1. used ironically as an interjection to indicate that a person or thing is considered unimportant or unimpressive. All I can say is BFD — him quitting the job is not exactly big news.
2. a person or thing of great importance or consequence; a big deal. It was the kind of BFD that impacted the whole industry.
Abbreviation used (often in speaking) to hide the F-word
1. used ironically as an interjection to indicate that a person or thing is considered unimportant or unimpressive. All I can say is BFD — him quitting the job is not exactly big news.
2. a person or thing of great importance or consequence; a big deal. It was the kind of BFD that impacted the whole industry.
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while I’m finally writing the dissertation itself (not the articles, descriptions of results and other bits and pieces) here are some nice research article names for remembering there is some fun in science🙃
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