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Word for the Wise August 01, 2006 Broadcast Topic: Guess the word

Ready to test your linguistic reflexes? Today we're playing "Guess the word." Here's how it works. We pass along a number of meanings associated with a word (and we will not begin with the obvious ones); your job is to figure out which word we are talking about. All set? (来源:老牌的英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

We begin by noting this verb can be both transitive (it takes an object) and intransitive (it doesn't). Ready? Our mystery word has two very old, now obsolete senses: it meant "to beat" or "belabor" something, and it meant "to make a loud sudden noise; to knock or bang loudly."

Here's a hint: our mystery word is of imitative origin. And now, back to the definitions. Our verb has two chiefly British applications, "to bluff or bully with big talk; scold" or "browbeat," and "to talk big; bluster; swagger; boast."

Finally, we'll throw in a few more common applications: "to cause [something] to rebound" or "cause [it] to be reflected" and "to strike and rebound." Paired with back, our word means "to recover from a blow or a defeat quickly or vigorously." Used about a check, the word means "to be returned by a bank as no good," applied to a person, it means "to expel or eject from a room, place, membership, or participation."

Recoiling at the idea that you're only just now figuring out the word is bounce? Don't feel bad . . . we didn't make it easy.

 
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