A messy, complicated process that takes longer than it should…. rigamarole Rigamarole is a messy, complicated process that takes longer than it should. The rigamarole involved in getting your driver’s license might make it tempting to just keep riding your bike. The word rigamarole, which is also spelled rigmarole, is a great way to describe bureaucratic procedures like…
a riddle or puzzle, sometimes including a play on words or pun conundrum The tricky word conundrum is used to describe a riddle or puzzle, sometimes including a play on words or pun. One of the most famous conundrums is the riddle of the Sphinx, famously in the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Oedipus encounters…
A commotion, controversy, or fuss…. kerfuffle A kerfuffle is some kind of commotion, controversy, or fuss. If you read about a scandal in a newspaper, it could be described as a kerfuffle. Kerfuffle is a humorous-sounding word for a mostly non-humorous situation: some kind of disturbance, scandal or mess. However, a kerfuffle usually isn’t…
A situation that is hard to get out of…. plight A plight is a situation that’s hard to get out of. Learning about the plight of very poor people trying to rebuild their homes after a devastating earthquake might inspire you to send money to a charity. Plight means predicament. It comes from the word for pleat,…
“foolish, wacky, or nutty.” daft Daft means “foolish, wacky, or nutty.” like your daft idea of wearing flip-flops to hike through the snow so that you didn’t ruin your boots. When the adjective daft is used, you know something extremely silly or obviously goofy is involved — like setting all your money on fire to keep warm, instead…
To waste time doing nothing…. Faff Verb. 1. to waste time doing nothing. 2. to waste time doing stupid things 3. to delay, dilly-dally, especially before leaving the house to be on time somewhere. Example 1: “I didn’t do anything on Sunday; I just faffed around the house.” Example 2: Person…
artisan An artisan has both the creativity and the skill to make a product. Wandering around a local craft fair, you will often see artisans selling handicrafts like pot holders or beaded jewelry. In medieval times, blacksmiths, carpenters, and masons were artisan trades. Unskilled laborers were not. The hierarchy of skill and prestige among artisans, from apprentice…