Gordian knot
An exceedingly complicated problem or deadlock. An intricate knot tied by King Gordius of Phrygia and cut by Alexander the Great with his sword after hearing an oracle promise that whoever could undo it would be the next ruler of Asia.
For a third time the President failed to untie the fiscal Gordian knot.
Zeitgeist
The ideas, beliefs, and interests that are typical of most people during a particular time in history and are expressed in the culture of that time.
But reflecting the zeitgeist is nothing new for this iconic breakfast food.
Bailiwick
A person's specific area of interest, skill, or authority.
This is supposed to be his bailiwick: a technology announcement by a man who loves technology, support offered to entrepreneurs by the nation’s best-known entrepreneur.
Wiseacre
Someone who annoys you because they think that they know more about a particular thing than anyone else.
While being no particular fan of cops myself, I sympathise with them when they have to deal with wiseacres like you and your cohorts.
To force someone to accept or deal with something that they do not want.
Voters are tired of new regulations foisted on them by faceless lawmakers.
Fictioneer
One who writes fiction, especially a prolific creator of commercial or pulp fiction.
We won't please everyone the trick to surviving as a fictioneer is to find one's audience and satisfy their expectations and desires.
Hidebound
Stubbornly prejudiced, narrow-minded, or inflexible. Having abnormally dry, stiff skin that adheres closely to the underlying flesh.
This may be enough to create sustained and meaningful change in Japan's hidebound corporate culture.
Technobabble
Technical jargon.
Although there are flying vehicles, aliens who speak in weird tongues and tons of technobabble, it has an engaging tale.
Umpteen
Relatively large but unspecified in number.
No one can do there best if they're being torn in umpteen directions after working for twelve hours...sometimes more.
Askance
With disapproval, suspicion, or distrust. With a sideways glance; obliquely.
Having fun is not the sole purview of the young and older people would sincerely appreciate it if you kept your askance glances to yourself.
Foist
To force someone to accept or deal with something that they do not want.
Voters are tired of new regulations foisted on them by faceless lawmakers.
Supply glut
vehemently attacked
flippantly said he was “a war hero only because he got captured.
The protracted and ultimately successful effort
anti-Semitic
saved Jews from pogroms
injudicious Muslim ban statement undermined any chance
only strengthened Palestinian recalcitrance
break from the grind of academia.
surreptitiously install software programs
tampered with the computers
brief glimmer of hope
torment
It was a perilous if unwitting mistake that has defined both of their lives.
simply a life snuffed of promise
a thin upper lip and a flat philtrum
liked the euphoria of intoxication
invisible
Alcohol was a teratogen, a substance that kills or damages developing cells
chronic ear infections
cerebral palsy
Therapy segued from a 30-day regimen
destigmatize the issue and maybe prevent another young mother from doing what she did
every Friday she sees a matinee
professed a preference
Amid enticing agent promises
to be the impetus for the change
effectively supplanted Cooke as the most highly regarded prospect in the country.
Agoraphobia
A fear of being in open or public places.
Of the many famous people with agoraphobia, one name stands out as she has been very public about her condition - actress Kim Basinger. She, however, is only one of several celebrities who have agoraphobia or suffer from panic attacks.
Trencherman
A person who eats in a specified manner, typically heartily.
They had prepared a special menu for the opening, obviously with true trenchermen in mind.
Deprecate
To express disapproval of; deplore.
We deprecated our existing product and switched 100% of our attention to the new idea.
Worrywart
Changes in the law were railroaded through Parliament by unprincipled politicians
impersonate
cufflink
deliverance
Come around
Dissuade
Redeemer
crucible
Strung up
Foment
Parlor trick
He wants to please overbearing father figure, but resents a lack of reciprocated affection
Wastrel
A person who wastes time, money, etc.
Roman tales of Cleopatra as louche and languid, a bedizened wastrel, are probably crudely slanted.
Plangent
Of a sound : loud, deep, and often sad.
The movie finally feels more manufactured than organic, a travelogue of portent, complete with plangent guitars and peopled by characters from the backwoods playbook.
To debunk that long-held belief
Students are despondent over
letimotif
impetuosos
staccato
flagrant
modus
penitentiary
prowess
makesfift
colluding
A terse, witty, instructive saying; a maxim.
The whole “pass now, fix later” apothegm is naive. Just remember the apothegm that a government that is big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take it all away.
hazing ritual
punctured colon and required emergency surgery in Knoxville after the tip of the pool cue broke off inside his bladder.
kenskywalker