figurative sense
111Plot twist — A plot twist is a change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot of a film, television series, video game, novel, comic or other fictional work. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually… …
112List of Ainu terms — The Ainu language of the Ainu people is distinct from those of the people around them.The list is ordered alphabetically by romanization.A* aca (アチャ) father; uncle; a middle aged man (Ainu aca may mean either father or uncle depending on the… …
113Back seat driver — A back seat driver is a passenger in a vehicle who is not in control of the vehicle and appears to be uncomfortable with the skills of the current driver and/or feels the need to tutor said driver. Some backseat drivers exhibit this type of… …
114Grianan of Aileach — The Grianan of Aileach (also spelled Ailech; Irish: Grianán Ailigh ) is a group of historic monuments in County Donegal, Ireland built on the hill of Grianán which is 244 metres high. Most writers have identified the site as being the great… …
115Inquiry — For other uses, see Public inquiry and Enquiry character. An inquiry is any process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem. A theory of inquiry is an account of the various types of inquiry and a treatment …
116shambles — [sham′bəlz] n. 〚ME schamel, bench, as for displaying meat for sale < OE scamol, bench or stool, akin to Ger schemel < early WGmc borrowing < L scamellum, dim. < scamnum, bench < IE base * skabh , * skambh , to prop up > Sans skámbhana , a… …
117compel, impel — These words agree in the idea of using physical or other force to result in a course of action, to cause something to be done. Compel has a greater sense of coercion, of actual force, than does impel: My mounting debts compelled me to seek a loan …
118Iron Curtain — in reference to the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe, famously coined by Winston Churchill March 5, 1946, in speech at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, but it had been used earlier in this context (e.g. by U.S. bureaucrat Allen W. Dulles …
119air — {{11}}air (n.1) c.1300, invisible gases that make up the atmosphere, from O.Fr. air atmosphere, breeze, weather (12c.), from L. aerem (nom. aer) air, lower atmosphere, sky, from Gk. aer (gen. aeros) air (related to aenai to blow, breathe ), of… …
120bloom — {{11}}bloom (n.1) blossom of a plant, c.1200, a northern word, from a Scandinavian source akin to O.N. blomi flower, blossom, also collectively flowers and foliage on trees; from P.Gmc. *blomon (Cf. O.S. blomo, M.D. bloeme, Du. bloem, O.H.G.… …
