Part 10

It is a tale for tears

At the mercy of the merciless

Sorely in need of consolation

SQUELCHED

Silenced Discomfited

Paid back in his own coin

Suffering the inevitable consequences of his own disagreeableness

Received a sharp quietus

He was compelled to take a back seat

Stick to your own knitting

STRAIGHTFORWARD

Candid Frank

It was open and aboveboard

A candor which disarms criticism

There was no pretense about it

Perfectly frank and straightforward

An unequivocal rejoinder

Straight out from the shoulder

The message was explicit and unequivocal

With absolute frankness

With no inclination to blink facts

He does not seek to belittle the fact that——

Straightforward integrity

A frank, whole-hearted recognition of——

STUBBORN

Impervious Obstinate

Impervious to argument

He is not the least bit clever

He was perversely slow to——

He is too stupid to make a blunder

As impassive as a statue

He is inflexible to all entreaty

He has been inexorable to all invitations

The victim of his own prejudices

The dupe of his own stupidity

Empty of the kernel of good sense

He made a plump refusal

It is like trying to use a large screw-driver to turn a small screw

Altogether obtuse

Not a grain of novelty in it

The zealous stupidity of amateurs

Prodigiously stupid

He is as stubborn as hickory

He turned a deaf ear to——

SUCCESS

Victory Realization

My most sanguine hopes have been realized

But still we got on

He has the rare combination of audacity and calculation which assures success

No inconsiderable victory

It has proved a distinct success

Nothing venture nothing have

A very auspicious beginning

A project likely to be realized

I have a reasonable confidence in the success of the——

The indispensable foundation of successful work

We must capture the innermost citadel

His star is in the ascendant

It is a great day for——

Not because of the tactics used but in spite of them

It ought to prove a solar plexus blow

It is a great achievement

It is a hard won triumph

No inconsiderable victory

It was a triumph of sheer grit

The sinews of victory

The opposition disappeared under the fierce fires of——

A victory which shall achieve the high purpose which we have held

Attained only by those who intently seek it

SUFFICIENT

Ample Plenty

A land flowing with milk and honey

Like a spring whose waters cannot fail

Of a not inconsiderable degree

With ample room

All that heart could wish

A superabundance of——

SUGGESTION

Tip Hint

A word to the wise is sufficient

Let me put you on your guard

Let me make a suggestion

Let me put a bee in your bonnet

A suggestion, perhaps, may be ventured that——

SUGGESTIVE

Inspirational Helpful

An everlasting foundation. _Prov._ X., 25

More precious than of gold that perisheth. _I Pet._ I., 7

The power of the grave. _Hosea_ XIII., 14

The people of God. _Heb._ XI., 25

An ornament of grace. _Prov._ I., 9

The peaceable fruit of righteousness. _Heb._ XII., 11

The righteousness of the law. _Rom._ VIII., 4

The law of sin and death. _Rom._ VIII., 2

The light of life. _John_ VIII., 12

Good tidings of good. _Isa._ LII., 7

The tongue of the wise. _Prov._ XV., 2

The Prince of peace. _Isa._ IX., 6

The counsellors of peace. _Prov._ XII., 20

The firstfruits of all thine increase. _Prov._ III., 9

A goodly heritage. _Ps._ XVI., 6

The good fight of faith. _I Tim._ VI., 12

The paths of the Lord. _Ps._ XXV., 10

The secret of the Lord. _Ps._ XXV., 14

The courts of our God. _Ps._ XCII., 13

A diadem of beauty. _Isa._ XXVIII., 5

Before the foundation of the world. _Eph._ I., 4

Everlasting habitations. _Luke_ XVI., 9

A faithful creator. _I Pet._ IV., 19

Lord thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. _Ps._ XC., 1

He shall have dominion also from sea to sea. _Ps._ LXXII., 8

The eternal God is thy refuge. _Deut._ XXXIII., 27

God is the strength of my heart. _Ps._ LXXIII., 26

The joy of the Lord is your strength. _Neh._ VIII., 10

A crown of glory that fadeth not away. _I Pet._ V., 4

Unsearchable riches. _Eph._ III., 8

A crown of righteousness. _II Tim._ IV., 8

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. _II Tim._ III., 7

Let thy words be few. _Eccl._ V., 2

There is no discharge in that war. _Eccl._ VIII., 8

A living dog is better than a dead lion. _Eccl._ IX., 4

Wizards that peep, and that mutter. _Isa._ VIII., 19

He smelleth the battle afar off. _Job_ XXXIX., 25

While I was musing the fire burned. _Ps._ XXXIX., 3

In the valley of decision. _Joel_ III., 14

For who hath despised the day of small things. _Zech._ IV., 10

To the law and to the testimony. _Isa._ VIII., 20

A covenant with death. _Isa._ XXVIII., 15

Absent in body, but present in spirit. _I Cor._, V., 3

Fallen from grace. _Gal._ V., 4

The refuge of lies. _Isa._ XXVIII., 17

Line upon line. _Isa._ XXVIII., 13

Carried about with every wind of doctrine. _Eph._ IV., 14

Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. _Rom._ XIV., 5

Great plainness of speech. _II Cor._ III., 12

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. _I Thess._ V., 21

A book of remembrance. _Mal._ III., 16

The law of kindness. _Prov._ XXXI., 26

A mother in Israel. _II Sam._ XX., 19

The land of the living. _Ps._ CXVI., 9

I am escaped with the skin of my teeth. _Job_ XIX., 20

A still small voice. _I Kings_ XIX., 12

His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. _Deut._ XXXIV., 7

Let me die the death of the righteous. _Num._ XXIII., 10

A soft answer turneth away wrath. _Prov._ XV., 1

Not of the night, nor of darkness. _I Thess._ V., 5

An understanding heart. _I Kings_ III., 9

Hide me under the shadow of thy wings. _Ps._ XVII., 8

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in baskets of silver. _Prov._ XXV., 11

Establish thou the works of our hands. _Ps._ XC., 17

Whose I am, and whom I serve. _Acts_ XXVII., 23

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation. _I Tim._ I., 15

Her children arise up, and call her blessed. _Prov._ XXXI., 28

Their folly shall be manifest to all men. _II Tim._ III., 9

Lest I should be exalted above measure. _II Cor._ XII., 7

They have sold a girl for wine. _Joel_ III., 3

In your patience possess ye your souls. _Luke_ XXI., 19

Eyes full of adultery. _II Pet._ II., 14

Every idle word that men shall speak. _Matt._ XII., 36

My speech shall distill as the dew. _Deut._ XXXII., 2

A strong consolation. _Heb._ VI., 18

Great treasure and trouble therewith. _Prov._ XV., 16

A lover of hospitality. _Titus_ I., 8

A wholesome tongue. _Prov._ XV., 4

Not greedy of filthy lucre. _I Tim._, III., 3

A cheerful giver. _II Cor._ IX., 7

The children of light. _I Thess._ V., 5

Speaking the truth in love. _Eph._ IV., 15

The sword of the spirit. _Eph._ VI., 17

The tree of life. _Prov._ III., 18

The wings of the wind. _Ps._ XVIII., 10

A crown of life. _Rev._ II., 10

Not weary in well doing. _Gal._ VI., 9

Invisible things. _Rom._ I., 20

Slow to wrath. _Jas._ I., 19

An everlasting sign. _Isa._ LV., 13

The hidden things of dishonesty. _II Cor._ IV., 2

A thorn in the flesh. _II Cor._ XII., 7

A cloud of witnesses. _Heb._ XII., 1

The day is far spent. _Luke_ XXIV., 29

As one having authority. _Matt._ VII., 29

Borne the burden and heat of the day. _Matt._ XX., 12

A word spoken in due season. _Prov._ XV., 23

Mighty in word and deed. _Luke_ XXIV., 19

Not grudgingly or of necessity. _II Cor._ IX., 7

Faithful unto death. _Rev._ II., 10

Incorruptible and undefiled. _I Pet._ I., 4

The mind of Christ. _I Cor._ II., 16

I obtained mercy. _I Tim._ I., 13

The words of truth and soberness. _Acts_ XXVI., 25

This is the finger of God. _Ex._ VIII., 19

By the law is the knowledge of sin. _Rom._ III., 20

Things that accompany salvation. _Heb._ VI., 9

If a man die shall he live again? _Job_ XIV., 14

Watchman, what of the night? _Isa._ XXI., 11

In the furnace of affliction. _Isa._ XLVIII., 10

Owe no man anything, but to love one another. _Rom._ XIII., 8

A wounded spirit who can bear. _Prov._ XVIII., 14

Riches certainly make themselves wings. _Prov._ XXIII., 5

A man to have friends must shew himself friendly. _Prov._ XVIII., 24

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing. _Prov._ XVIII., 22

It is more blessed to give than to receive. _Acts_ XX., 35

Perfect love casteth out fear. _I John_ IV., 18

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. _Prov._ XXII., 1

The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. _Mk._ XIV., 38

Comfort one another with these words. _I Thess._ IV., 18

Of whom the world was not worthy. _Heb._ XI., 38

SUPERLATIVE

Supreme Highest

In an unrivaled degree

On a grand scale

Of profound significance

Beyond expression

On a world scale

In a rare degree

Of rarest beauty

In a notable way

In a conspicuous degree

On a grandiose scale

The weightiest factors in the whole matter is——

The supremest moments of life

Of the finest sort

The acme of——

SURE

Certain Positive

Demonstrated beyond all possibility of contradiction

As sure as God is sifting out the chaff

With mathematical certainty

That is one incontrovertible fact

In an unmistakable way

One conclusion is inescapable

An absolutely logical sequence of events

There is no wink of doubt about that——

By proof positive

To make assurance doubly sure

With unerring instinct

It leads to the inevitable conclusion that——

No doubt is possible that——

It is inevitable that——

Made us sure beyond a peradventure

Few events are better attested than——

They know to a dead certainty that——

It is safe to infer that——

Almost invariably

Unmistakable evidence

Conclusive evidence

Well-authenticated testimony

The conclusion cannot be escaped that——

A foregone conclusion. _Othello_, III., 3

I speak from certainties. _Coriolanus_, I., 2

Indisputably right

There is no gainsaying the fact that——

As certain as the multiplication table

We can rest absolutely assured that——

Beyond all dispute

The sure mark of a——

With entire certainty

It has the ring of finality in it

SUSPICION

Mistrust Jealousy

A lurking suspicion all the while that——

A chronic distrust

An uncertain sense of something hidden

Timid misgivings

In such a way as to raise a mild suspicion that——

Inclined to be suspicious

Not the most distant suspicion of——

Tortured by suspicion

A suspicion born of the fact that——

I cannot help suspecting that——

I smell a device. _Twelfth Night_, II., 3

The insinuation has a foundation in fact

It is the fashion of unthinking persons to——

SYMBOLIC

Emblematic Typical

Emblematic of the fact that——

The appearance for the thing

The form for the substance

The law for the essence

The sign for the thing signified

Of a figurative import

TACTLESS

Witless Foolish

The knack of setting everything and everybody by the ears

There is need of a lady’s hand

It was not placatory but rather exasperating

Wholly indifferent to expediency

The intention was good but the method was wrong

Foolhardy

He is impossible

He is going over fool’s hill and is only part way over

TERSE

Pithy Succinct

Knightly generosity

Charming surprises

Instinctive delights

Surpassing merits

Joyously happy

Laudable purposes

Beautifully clean

Neatly arranged

Social amenities

Amiable qualities

Grandly simple

Peculiarly becoming

Remarkably pretty

Well disposed

Capital sport

Gracious thoughts

Refined perceptions

Filial reverence

Grateful acknowledgments

Pleasant trivialities

Genuine joy

Most effective

Richly suggestive

Nicely married

Graphic descriptions

Due consideration

Well bred

Kind designs

Mutual burdens

Pure delight

Rich scholarship

Loyal attachment

Scrupulous veracity

Invincible logic

Well connected

High principles

Plausible reasons

Genteel society

Amicable relations

Noble words

Distinctive gifts

High intelligence

Moral dignity

Boon companions

Tender sensibilities

Substantial benefits

Conspicuous examples

Highly creditable

Unquestioning faith

Mutual fidelity

Fine qualities

Implicit confidence

Ample opportunity

Deep-rooted convictions

Homely simplicity

Altered circumstances

Atrociously bad

Serious complications

Sound economics

Splendid enterprise

Spiritual penetration

Ready response

Colossal undertakings

Delicate negotiations

Far-reaching policies

Sorry specimens

Dismal reminiscences

Rigidly orthodox

Cold facts

Artistic fineness

False sentimentality

True satisfaction

Aptly designated

Long confabulations

Absolutely inconclusive

Signally conspicuous

Amiable accomplishments

Nice distinctions

THANKS

Gratitude Acknowledgment

In great recognition of——

Overflowing with gratitude

The will is taken for the deed

I am immensely indebted to you

I am under many obligations to you

It is very nice of you to——

I am grateful for your good opinion

I feel very grateful to you for your kindness

It was a memorable ride

I am deeply indebted to you

A debt of gratitude

Not the least of our mercies

What a blessing it is to be quit of——

I am not unmindful of——

I hope to return the compliment

TROUBLE

Trial Adversity

A bad time of it

I have had some very trying days

In the full clutch of circumstance

As ill-luck would have it, I——

Tried in the crucible of sacrifice and suffering

It is a tragedy rather than an epic

In these turbulent days

An adverse wind blowing from an unexpected quarter

I have had an affecting business on my hands

A child of hard circumstances

Sorely vexed by——

I am in a very pretty pickle

I would gladly see an end to bickering

Swept with the besom of destruction

A troubled and precarious existence

Hard hit

A fact of great and sinister import

Bad news has wings

He must tread the wine-press alone

An ill-advised and unfortunate attempt to stir up strife

His heart as heavy as lead

A fountain of trouble

A series of heart-burnings

Turbulent times

The hour of misfortune

Acquainted with the painful problems of life

Painful vicissitudes

Tasting the bitterness of life

UNAWARE

Unconsciously Thoughtlessly

All the while I was living in blissful ignorance of——

I was sweetly oblivious to the fact that——

In happy ignorance

Crass ignorance

He has plainly a lot to learn about——

The idea never occurred to them so far as any evidence goes to show

A model of blameless mediocrity

There is a dearth of knowledge about——

One half the world knows not how the other half lives

UNITY

Concord Harmony

It will not do to further exalt our differences

All indissolubly linked together

A unity of effort

Too many cooks spoil the broth

He that hunts two hares will catch neither

Everybody’s business is nobody’s business

A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together

One and inseparable

Without the slightest friction

Pretty well in line with accustomed principles

Knit up with it

In perfect accordance with——

A happy blending of——

It is perfectly compatible with——

It is not until one has entered sympathetically into the conception of——

The result was a harmonious whole

We get on charmingly together

Into the scheme of things

Harmonious adjustment

UNSATISFACTORY

Unreliable Undesirable

He fixed his faith on an idol with feet of clay

A weak reed to lean upon

Of a less desirable kind

He does not cut a very good figure

It does but scant justice to——

I cannot settle my spirits to it

Not altogether prepossessing

There is an element of danger in it

It was sown in weakness

Efforts which were mere flashes in the pan

Wide of the mark

A sign of pusillanimity and cowardice

Not content with——

Who shall decide when doctors disagree

The inadequacy of certain features of the——

A crude business

A certain coarseness of fiber

Out of kilter

It did not have the desired effect

A plea to throw into the discard every sacrifice

A case in which back-stairs gossip figures as sober truth

It will not pass muster

It has many shortcomings

The argument is not so convincing to the modern mind

Notoriously unreliable

Utterly ineffective

No more backbone than a jellyfish

With very unpleasant consequences

Yielding to a passing impulse

He is _persona non grata_ with——

VAGUE

Hazy Ambiguous

Extremely vague

Not apparent at first sight

In a shadowy form

A hazy sea of memories

He left us quite uncertain as to his meaning

His meaning was at low visibility

A very vague and perfectly unconvincing answer

Words whose ambiguity have been used to throw doubt upon——

VALUE

Worth Excellence

The salt of the earth

It has become a precious memory

An important adjunct

Indispensable qualities

Lasting acquisitions

Of inestimable value

Intrinsic worth

Ill blows the wind that profits nobody. _III. King Henry VI._, II., 5

Of exceptional value

In every way calculated to insure the——

Decidedly worth while

Of high quality

Of unique and abiding value