Argot means the special vocabulary of a particular group, especially a closed or marginal one. To use argot in a sentence, name the group with an of-phrase: “The argot of the trading floor was full… Read More »Argot in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Hover over means to stay in one place just above something, or, on a screen, to rest a pointer on an item without clicking. To use hover over in a sentence, give the verb a… Read More »Hover Over in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples

Drop off is a phrasal verb with four everyday senses: to deliver someone or something, to fall asleep, to decline, and to become fewer. To use drop off in a sentence, decide which sense you… Read More »Drop Off in a Sentence: Meanings, Grammar & Examples

A canard is a false story or report that people repeat as though it were true. To use canard in a sentence, treat it as a countable noun for an untrue claim: “The editor dismissed… Read More »Canard in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples

Disaggregate means to split a whole into its separate parts, a verb used mostly with data, costs and populations. To use disaggregate in a sentence, name the whole and the dimension: “The report disaggregates spending… Read More »Disaggregate in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Rein in means to bring something under control, usually spending, behaviour or a group that has gone too far. To use rein in in a sentence, place the thing being curbed after the verb: “The… Read More »Rein In in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Epithet means a word or phrase that describes or names a person or thing. To use epithet in a sentence, give the phrase and the person it labels: “Critics gave the mayor the epithet ‘the… Read More »Epithet in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples

Faux means artificial or imitation, and it describes things made to look like something they are not. To use faux in a sentence, put it before the noun it describes: “She wore a faux fur… Read More »Faux in a Sentence: Meaning, Uses & Examples

Usury is the practice of lending money at an unreasonably high rate of interest, and in older use it meant charging any interest on a loan. To use usury in a sentence, name the lending… Read More »Usury in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Fill out is a phrasal verb meaning to complete a form by writing the information in its blank spaces, and it also describes a body becoming fuller or rounder. To use fill out in a… Read More »Fill Out in a Sentence: Meaning, Examples & Practice

Elide means to leave a sound, syllable or detail out, so the word covers both how speakers drop sounds and how writers quietly omit facts. To use elide in a sentence, give it a direct… Read More »Elide in a Sentence: Meaning and Examples

Speculative means based on guessing rather than firm knowledge, and in finance it describes a bet with a high risk of loss. To use speculative in a sentence, attach it to the claim, theory or… Read More »Speculative in a Sentence: Meaning & Examples

The choice behind youve vs you have is a choice of register rather than meaning: you’ve suits speech, dialogue and informal writing, while you have suits formal prose, emphasis and every question formed by inversion.… Read More »Youve vs You Have: Choosing the Right Form

The choice behind youll vs you will is a choice of register rather than correctness: you’ll suits everyday speech, dialogue and informal writing, while you will suits formal prose, emphasis and any position where the… Read More »Youll vs You Will: Choosing the Right Form

Hold off means to delay doing something until a later time, and it can also mean to keep a person or thing away. To use hold off in a sentence, name the thing you postpone… Read More »Hold Off in a Sentence: Meaning, Patterns & Practice

Push back means to disagree with or resist a plan, idea or request instead of accepting it quietly. To use push back in a sentence, name what is resisted after on or against: “The staff… Read More »Push Back in a Sentence: Meaning, Patterns & Practice