Epic rivalries elevate sport – The Hindu (July 07, 2016)

Epic rivalries elevate sport – The Hindu (July 07, 2016)

In sport, greatness is seldom achieved alone. For greatness’s ultimate stamp of approval, its one unequivocal endorsement, lies in the overcoming of the thrilling challenges provided by a meaty foe, a worthy opponent who can take the race all the way to the wire. For greatness cannot exist in a vacuum, so to say. For further reading, visit “The Hindu”.

Today’s Words:

1. Stamp of approval (phrase) – official statement, indication of approval, assent.
2. Unequivocal (adjective) – unambiguous, unmistakable, indisputable; clear, plain, well defined.
3. Down to the wire (idiom) – something which is full of suspense and to be decided at the very last moment.
4. In a vacuum (idiom) – separated from the ideas/influences/events/people.
5. So to say (idiom) – saying something unusually & figuratively.
6. It takes two to tango (idiom) – two people involved in a bad/tough situation are equally responsible for it.
7. Cliché (noun) – platitude, hackneyed/trite/banal/overworked phrase, truism, commonplace.
8. Baggage (noun) – previous experiences/long-held attitudes/ intangible things (feelings, desires, etc).
9. Visceral (noun) – full of strong emotions without any logic, not intellectual, instinctive, unreasoning.
10. Ashes urn (noun) –  It is a small urn made of terracotta (fired clay) and standing 11 cm high, believed to contain the ashes of a burnt cricket bail. (Courtesy: Wikipedia).
11. Spring up (phrasal verb) – something which appears quickly.
12. Jangle (verb) ( of nerves) – irritate, disturb, shred, upset, rattle.
13. Retroactively (adverb) – to denote something which is effect from the past.
14. Subjective (adjective) – personal, irrational, individual, instinctive.
15. Unpalatable (adjective) – disagreeable, unpleasant, displeasing, unattractive.
16. Lopsided (adjective) – one-sided, unequal, uneven, asymmetrical.
17. Matador (noun) – bullfighter who kills the bull (to complete his job).
18. Punching bag (noun) – target, scapegoat.
19. High noon (noun) – the most important/defining/result producing time/period/situation.
20. Tantrum (noun) – fit/impulse/surge of bad temper (behaving like a child).

Note:

• Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/ .
• Definitions (elementary level)  & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press.