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Meaning of twenty-five cent word | Babel Free

Noun CEFR C1

Definitions

Synonym of ten-dollar word.

Canada, US, dated

Examples

“The old man chuckled. “Well, you can bandy twenty-five cent words all you want⟳, but— Say⟳! we’ve never had a talk⟳ like⟳ this before, have⟳ we? […]””
“1988, Howard Rosenthal, Not With My Life I Don’t: Preventing Your Suicide and That of Others, Muncie, Indiana: Accelerated Development, Inc., Chapter 4, p. 18, Some of the most incredible cases I have⟳ ever worked with involve⟳ the act of pulling strands of hair from one’s own⟳ head. Psychiatrists and psychologists have⟳ a twenty-five cent word for this behavior. They call⟳ it Trichotillomania.”
“Remember⟳ that while the English language has lots of “twenty-five cent” words like⟳ perturb or effrontery, statuesque or decorous, it also has lots of essential short, sturdy words like⟳ of or but, say⟳ or stop⟳ or glow.”

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

See also

twenty-five-eight twenty-five-thousander twenty-five/eight twenty-foot equivalent unit twenty-four hour clock twenty-four hour day

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