Definition: (adjective) With no effort to conceal.
Synonyms: bald.
Usage: They attacked him in various ways—with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all.
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Month: April 2021
hearth
Armenia Motherhood and Beauty Day
This is a national holiday in Armenia, celebrated each year on April 7. It comes not long after another national holiday, Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8. Women’s Day is meant to honor all women, but Motherhood and Beauty Day is dedicated especially to those who have become mothers. Children and adults alike show their affection for their mothers with special visits, cards, and gifts. Sending flowers to one’s mother is an especially popular way to mark this holiday. Another tradition associated with the day is the gift of a twig that has fresh sprouts on it. Discuss
if (one's) life depended on it
Under any circumstances; no matter what. (Used almost exclusively with a negative statement regarding something that one couldn’t or wouldn’t do.) Watch the video
MREs
An MRE—or Meal, Ready-to-Eat—is a complete, self-contained field ration provided to members of the US military. MREs are carefully developed to provide enough calories for soldiers in the field and may include condiments, utensils, and matches. They are lightweight and capable of withstanding a parachute drop. Today, MREs come in 24 varieties, some of which are reportedly more palatable than others—inspiring such nicknames as “Meals, Rarely Edible.” What is the shelf life of an MRE? Discuss
grouch
rush
exigent – A good word to write on letters or packages, since everyone else writes “urgent” or “rush.” More…
rush candle, rush light – A rush candle or rush light is a candle of feeble power made by dipping the pith of a rush in tallow or other grease. More…
spate – A sudden flood or rush, an outpouring. More…
debacle – Comes from French debacler, “to unbar, free,” with the root sense being “to shatter with one’s rod”; its original meaning was “a breaking-up of ice in a river” or a “sudden flood or rush of water carrying debris.” More…
Chakri Day
Chakri Day is a national holiday in Thailand to commemorate the enthronement of Rama I, who founded the Chakri Dynasty in 1782. He was born Chao Phraya Chakri in 1737 and had become Thailand’s leading general when a palace coup took place in Thon Buri. The dynasty he established has headed the country to this day, although the end of absolute monarchy came in 1932. The king was given the title Rama after his death. Ceremonies on April 6 honor his deeds and the founding of Bangkok as the capital. Discuss
like (one's) life depends on it
With maximum, possibly desperate, effort or energy (i.e., as if one is at risk of losing one’s life if one fails). Watch the video
Knockout Mice
Because mice are so closely related to humans—relative to other common lab animals—they are particularly suited for investigations of human genetics. Researchers today rely heavily on “knockout mice,” mice that have been bred with one or more genes intentionally switched off. Millions of these mice are used each year in studies of aging, cancer, obesity, and other conditions. So prized are they that some strains of knockout mice have even been patented. When was the first knockout mouse created? Discuss