Master English one word at a time. World of Words provides a daily English word with its precise meaning, pronunciation, and practical usage examples to help you build a powerful vocabulary.
Catch up on this week in words. | Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this feature highlights language as it’s unfolding.
Stories about a great pumpkin, another French art heist, and the secrets of cuttlefish all contributed to the vocabulary from this week’s news. Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this feature highlights language as it’s unfolding.
Lily-livered describes someone who is cowardly or easily intimidated. The phrase comes from an old belief that the liver was the seat of courage, with a pale or "lily-white" liver suggesting it was lacking. A lily-livered person might talk a big game, but they tend to shrink away when the pressure is on.
Example: My lily-livered brother refused to watch the scary movie, so we picked a comedy instead.
Each week, we scan the latest headlines to spot words in action. From major news stories to pop culture buzz, this list highlights language as it’s unfolding.
