Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases


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(3.9 stars; 66 reviews)

A Practical Handbook of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, and Oratorical Terms, for the Embellishment of Speech and Literature, and The Improvement of the Vocabulary of Those Persons Who Read, Write, and Speak English
Alt-BC: Lucy Burgoyne

Chapters

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Introduction 12:20 Read by Betsie Bush
How To Use This Book 4:52 Read by Maria Morabe
Plan Of Study 4:52 Read by Maria Morabe
Useful Phrases: abandoned hope - ample culture 5:13 Read by Betsie Bush
Useful Phrases: amusing artlessness - azure sky 4:10 Read by roolynninms
Useful Phrases: babbling gossip - bygone period 3:57 Read by roolynninms
Useful Phrases: cabalistic phrase - collateral duties 2:47 Read by roolynninms
Useful Phrases: collective wisdom - contingent reasons 2:43 Read by roolynninms
Useful Phrases: continuous endeavor - cynical disregard 4:07 Read by pallavy
Useful Phrases: damaging admission - diligently propagated 6:27 Read by Diana Troldahl
Useful Phrases: dim comprehension - dynastic insolence 5:51 Read by Diana Troldahl
Useful Phrases: eager animosity - entrancing sadness 5:50 Read by David Barnes
Useful Phrases: enveloping presence - exultant condition 4:54 Read by skern922
Useful Phrases: facetious mood - flickering conscience 2:53 Read by E. Plein
Useful Phrases: flighty obstinacy - futile babble 3:16 Read by pallavy
Useful Phrases: gabbling reminiscences - gymnastic agility 4:31 Read by pallavy
Useful Phrases: habitual deference - hysterical agitation 4:53 Read by pallavy
Useful Phrases: iconoclastic attitude - incipient fancy 7:05 Read by Chris Chapman
Useful Phrases: incisive critic - inquisitional rack 5:45 Read by Chris Chapman
Useful Phrases: inquisitive observer - isolated splendor 5:46 Read by Kira Rutherford-Boese
Useful Phrases: jaded sensibility - lying equivocations 5:30 Read by Kira Rutherford-Boese
Useful Phrases: maddening monotony - meteoric splendors 4:25 Read by Linton
Useful Phrases: methodical regularity - mythical kingdom 3:51 Read by Linton
Useful Phrases: naive manner - overworked drudge 6:19 Read by Linton
Useful Phrases: pacific disposition - political malcontent 7:26 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
Useful Phrases: polluting taints - pyrotechnic outburst 8:56 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
Useful Phrases: quailing culprit - remarkable sagacity 3:20 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: remedial measure - ruthless commercialism 2:33 Read by Jordan Mueller
Useful Phrases: sacerdotal preeminence - shuddering reluctance 4:49 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: shuffling preliminaries - starched sterility 5:02 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: starlit eminence - systematic interaction 3:54 Read by Jordan Mueller
Useful Phrases: tacit assumption - tyrannical disposition 5:07 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: ubiquitous activity - undue predilection 4:04 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: undulating hills - unpalatable truth 4:07 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: unparalleled atrocities - utmost scorn 4:13 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: vacant stupidity - vulnerable foe 3:07 Read by Lisa Chau
Useful Phrases: wabbling enterprise - zoologically considered 3:11 Read by Heather Lambert
Significant Phrases: abashed and ashamed - awkwardness and crudity 4:15 Read by Claire Goget
Significant Phrases: babel and confusion - civilized and cultured 4:52 Read by Lisa Chau
Significant Phrases: clamorous and wild - cynical and contemptuous 5:06 Read by Lisa Chau
Significant Phrases: dangers and pitfalls - digressive and wanton 3:39 Read by Lisa Chau
Significant Phrases: dilatory and hesitating - dwindle and disappear 4:44 Read by Shirley Donahue
Significant Phrases: eagerness and ecstasy - exuberant and infectious 6:16 Read by Shirley Donahue
Significant Phrases: fabulous and fabricated - futile and untrustworthy 4:47 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950-2014)
Significant Phrases: gaiety and grace - hypocrisy and impudence 5:17 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950-2014)
Significant Phrases: ideas and achievements - indomitable and dogged 3:24 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950-2014)
Significant Phrases: indorsed and applauded - isolated and detached 3:37 Read by Julian Jamison
Significant Phrases: jabber and chatter - luxury and pomp 4:07 Read by dhenderson
Significant Phrases: madness and folly - mystic and wonderful 2:55 Read by dhenderson
Significant Phrases: nagging and squabbling - overworked and fagged 4:10 Read by dhenderson
Significant Phrases: pains and penalties - puzzled and affected 6:09 Read by Kathy
Significant Phrases: quackery and incompetence - rust and disuse 4:58 Read by Kathy
Significant Phrases: sad and melancholy - spacious and lofty 3:48 Read by Kathy
Significant Phrases: sparkling and spontaneous - sympathetic and consoling 4:06 Read by jenneferdawn
Significant Phrases: taciturn and laconic - tyrant and oppressor 4:48 Read by Scot Colford
Significant Phrases: unaccountable and grotesque - vulgar and artificial 5:49 Read by Marwa Gamil
Significant Phrases: wandering and erratic - zigzag and deviating 2:17 Read by twofistededitor
Felicitous Phrases: ability, humor, and perspicacity - busy, active, and toiling 4:11 Read by Mochan42
Felicitous Phrases: curious, fantastic, and charming - calculated, logical, and dispassionate 4:11 Read by Marwa Gamil
Felicitous Phrases: dwarfed, scant, and wretched - danger, difficulty, and hardship 4:32 Read by Marwa Gamil
Felicitous Phrases: eagerness, heartiness, and vehemence - fustian, padding, and irrelevancy 4:35 Read by Sandra Zera
Felicitous Phrases: gaunt, desolate, and despoiled - humor, fancy, and susceptibility 3:40 Read by Brian Lojeck
Felicitous Phrases: idle, profuse, and profligate - luxurious, whimsical, and selfish 4:20 Read by Brian Lojeck
Felicitous Phrases: magnificent, sumptuous, and stately - overriding, arrogant, and quarrelsome 3:51 Read by Justin S Barrett
Felicitous Phrases: pain, toil, and privation - puzzles, tangles, and questionings 3:45 Read by William Haseltine
Felicitous Phrases: quarrels, misunderstandings, and enmities - rush, roar, and shriek 2:38 Read by Rohanna
Felicitous Phrases: sacredness, dignity, and loveliness - sympathy, service, and compassion 4:05 Read by William Haseltine
Felicitous Phrases: talent, scholarship, and refinement - wrinkled, careworn, and pale 5:08 Read by Marwa Gamil
Impressive Phrases: able, skilful,... - business, profession,... 4:41 Read by Stephen Lamb
Impressive Phrases: candid, sincere,... - dull, heavy,... 6:04 Read by Stephen Lamb
Impressive Phrases: earth, air,... - gross, academic,.. 6:18 Read by Stephen Lamb
Impressive Phrases: habit, custom,... - lucidity, impressiveness,... 5:41 Read by Stephen Lamb
Impressive Phrases: malice, anger,... - purpose, meaning,... 5:40 Read by Stephen Lamb
Impressive Phrases: quack, imposture,... - symmetry, proportion,.. 4:20 Read by Stephen Lamb
Impressive Phrases: tact, courtesy,... - worry, annoyance,... 4:10 Read by Stephen Lamb
Prepositional Phrases "of": abandon of spontaneity - business of life 4:35 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "of": cadences of delirium - dust of defeat 3:52 Read by Alex Foster
Prepositional Phrases "of": earnestness of enthusiasm - futility of pride 4:12 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "of": gaiety of spirit - irony of life 4:01 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "of": jangle of sounds - overflow of vitality 4:10 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "of": page of desolation - ruts of conventionality 4:52 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "of": sadness of soul - system of aspersion 3:34 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "of": taint of megalomania - zone of delusion 4:16 Read by Joseph Etcheto
Prepositional Phrases "by": affected by externals - hushed by denial 3:05 Read by Scot Colford
Prepositional Phrases "by": impelled by duty - wrenched by emotions 3:33 Read by Precious
Prepositional Phrases "in": absorbed in meditation - kept in abeyance 3:16 Read by Precious
Prepositional Phrases "in": landmarks in memory - weak in conception 3:47 Read by Precious
Prepositional Phrases "into": abashed into silence - goaded into action 1:59 Read by Joe Brenneman
Prepositional Phrases "into": hushed into silence - withdraw into solitude 1:51 Read by Joe Brenneman
Prepositional Phrases "to": addicted to flattery - hostile to progress 1:50 Read by Joe Brenneman
Prepositional Phrases "to": impervious to suggestion - yield to reason 2:28 Read by Joe Brenneman
Prepositional Phrases "with": abounding with plenty - intoxicated with joy 2:23 Read by Joe Brenneman
Prepositional Phrases "with": kindle with enthusiasm - work with zeal 2:29 Read by liquidneutrino
Business Phrases 24:37 Read by Karen Savage
Literary Expressions: A bitterness crept into her face - A nimble-witted opponent 6:53 Read by Lee Elliott
Literary Expressions: A painful thought was flooding his mind - A wordless farewell 6:27 Read by Joe Brenneman
Literary Expressions: Absolutely vulgarized by too perpetual a parroting - Awaiting his summons to the eternal silence 8:18 Read by Ken Crooker
Literary Expressions: Bandied about from mouth to mouth - Dull black eyes under their precipice of brows 6:47 Read by Ken Crooker
Literary Expressions: Earth danced under a heat haze - Guilty of girlish sentimentality 4:06 Read by Heather Lawrence
Literary Expressions: Half choked by a rising paroxysm of rage - Humiliating paltriness of revenge 9:26 Read by David Best
Literary Expressions: I capitulated by inadvertence - Kiss-provoking lips 5:06 Read by David Best
Literary Expressions: Laden with the poignant scent of the garden honeysuckle - Rudely reminded of life's serious issues 10:45 Read by Pete Darby
Literary Expressions: Sacrificed to a futile sort of treadmill - Swift summer into the autumn flowed 7:27 Read by Heather Lawrence
Literary Expressions: Taking the larger sweeps in the march of mind - The hungry curiosity of the mind 8:09 Read by C.L.Coney
Literary Expressions: The idiosyncratic peculiarities of thought - The swing of the pendulum through an arch of centuries 9:37 Read by C.L.Coney
Literary Expressions: The tempered daylight of an olive garden - Twilight creeps upon the darkening mind 5:34 Read by C.L.Coney
Literary Expressions: Unapproachable grandeur and simplicity - Your mind enthroned in the seventh circle of content 3:39 Read by C.L.Coney
Striking Similes: A blind rage like a fire swept over him - And the smile she softly uses fills the silence like a speech 10:55 Read by SueAnn Dozier
Striking Similes: As a child in play scatters... - Awkward as a cart-horse 6:39 Read by Joe Brenneman
Striking Similes: Babbling like a child - Dull as champagne 6:33 Read by Joe Brenneman
Striking Similes: Each like a corpse within its grave - Great scarlet poppies lay in drifts ... 4:36 Read by Joe Brenneman
Striking Similes: Hair as harsh as tropical grass and gray as ashes - Hushed like a breathless lyre 9:19 Read by Sandra Zera
Striking Similes: I had grown pure as the dawn and the dew - Kingdoms melt away like snow 3:36 Read by Sandra Zera
Striking Similes: Laboring like a giant - Like a yellow silken scarf the thick fog hangs 7:03 Read by Rohanna
Striking Similes: Like an alien ghost I stole away - Like sweet thoughts in a dream 6:31 Read by Rohanna
Striking Similes: Like the awful shadow of some unseen power - Lovely the land unknown... 6:32 Read by Rohanna
Striking Similes: March on my soul nor like the laggard stay - Quivering like an eager race-horse to start 6:49 Read by Sarah Jennings
Striking Similes: Rage, rage ye tears, that never more should creep... - Swifter than the twinkling of an eye 10:25 Read by Sandra Zera
Striking Similes: Talking and thinking became to him... - The music almost died away... 6:35 Read by Marwa Gamil
Striking Similes: The name that cuts into my soul like a knife - Then the lover sighing like furnace 8:27 Read by Betsie Bush
Striking Similes: Theories sprouted in his mind like mushrooms - Turning easily and securely as on a perfect axle 6:21 Read by Betsie Bush
Striking Similes: Unbends like a loosened bow - Youth like a summer morn 8:18 Read by Scot Colford
Conversational Phrases: A most extraordinary idea! - Human nature interests me very much indeed 6:38 Read by C Pannier
Conversational Phrases: I admire your foresight - I could never forgive myself for that 7:28 Read by Mark Mascolino
Conversational Phrases: I dare say your intuition is quite right - I seem to have heard that sentiment before 9:02 Read by Precious
Conversational Phrases: I shall at once proceed to forget it - It has never occurred to me 6:45 Read by Lee Ann Howlett
Conversational Phrases: It is a curious fact - It would take too long to formulate my thought 6:17 Read by Heather Lawrence
Conversational Phrases: Join us, please, when you have time - Surely you would not countenance that 7:00 Read by Ken Crooker
Conversational Phrases: Tell me in what way you want me to help you - True, I forgot! 6:38 Read by Ken Crooker
Conversational Phrases: Undeniably true - Would you mind telling me your opinion? 3:47 Read by Elizabeth Palmer
Conversational Phrases: Yes and no - Your statement is somewhat startling 4:49 Read by Elizabeth Palmer
Public Speaking Phrases: A fact of vast moment - And next I would ask 7:29 Read by Rose
Public Speaking Phrases: And now allow me to call attention - Away then with the notion 8:01 Read by Scot Colford
Public Speaking Phrases: Be assured, then - But it has been suggested to me 4:55 Read by Sandra Zera
Public Speaking Phrases: But it is a fact - By this time it will be suspected 4:20 Read by Joe Brenneman
Public Speaking Phrases: Can it be supposed - Granting all this 4:12 Read by Joe Brenneman
Public Speaking Phrases: Had I time for all that might be said - However, it is to me a very refreshing thing 3:16 Read by Joe Brenneman
Public Speaking Phrases: I abide by my statement - I am willing to know 6:16 Read by Jeff Wadden
Public Speaking Phrases: I anticipate with pleasing expectation - I distrust all general theories of 7:39 Read by Joe Brenneman
Public Speaking Phrases: I do again and again urge upon you - I hasten to concede 8:10 Read by Ken Crooker
Public Speaking Phrases: I have a dark suspicion - I hope you will not accuse me 11:49 Read by Ken Crooker
Public Speaking Phrases: I imagine that no one will be disposed - I rejoice to think I remark here 9:23 Read by Stephen Lamb
Public Speaking Phrases: I remember a reference made - I thank you very sincerely for the honor 9:41 Read by David Best
Public Speaking Phrases: I think I am correct in saying - I yielded to the earnest solicitations 10:38 Read by David Best
Public Speaking Phrases: If any man be so persuaded - In widening our view 10:38 Read by Ekpyrotic
Public Speaking Phrases: Indeed, can anyone tell me - It is my present purpose 9:25 Read by Sandra Zera
Public Speaking Phrases: It is natural to ask the question - It may still more probably be said 5:38 Read by Maura Walsh
Public Speaking Phrases: It must be a cause of delight - Just the reverse is true 5:21 Read by Maura Walsh
Public Speaking Phrases: Language is inadequate to voice my appreciation - My regret is intensified by the thought 8:23 Read by guava
Public Speaking Phrases: Nay, I boldly say - Now, you will understand from this 5:43 Read by Joe Brenneman
Public Speaking Phrases: Observe again - Surely it is not too much for me to say 7:43 Read by Joe Brenneman
Public Speaking Phrases: Take another instance - The whole story of civilization 6:48 Read by Holly
Public Speaking Phrases: Then again, in corroboration - Think of the cool disregard 5:49 Read by Betsie Bush
Public Speaking Phrases: This absurdity arises - Very strange is this indeed 5:15 Read by Don Powers
Public Speaking Phrases: We all agree as to - What strikes the mind so forcibly 9:02 Read by Jason Isbell
Public Speaking Phrases: What, then, are we to believe - Your presence seems to say 6:57 Read by Jason Isbell
Miscellaneous Phrases: A bewildering labyrinth of facts - A pleasant flow of appropriate language 7:01 Read by Joan Walton
Miscellaneous Phrases: A pompous failure - Ample scope for the exercise of his astonishing gifts 7:21 Read by Joan Walton
Miscellaneous Phrases: An abandoned and exaggerated grief - Awaited with feverish anxiety 6:03 Read by Heather Lawrence
Miscellaneous Phrases: Bandied to and fro - Dwindled to alarmingly small dimensions 6:58 Read by Heather Lawrence
Miscellaneous Phrases: Easy-going to the point of lethargy - Hopelessly belated in its appearance 9:30 Read by Luigina
Miscellaneous Phrases: I adjured him - Its dominating and inspiring influence 11:13 Read by Luigina
Miscellaneous Phrases: Jealous and formidable foes - Quixotically generous about money 10:34 Read by Luigina
Miscellaneous Phrases: Radiantly and transparently happy - Swift and vehement outbursts of feeling 8:02 Read by Jason Isbell
Miscellaneous Phrases: Take root in the heart - The sycophants of the rich 12:00 Read by Nick Davies

Reviews

Cringe and Whinge


(4 stars)

Prose as froze as an old garden hose? Wildly outdated social norms? Give us some moré! These are among the most delectable of the treats many LibriVoxians seek out. After cringing, I'm always amused by reviewers who whinge sourly about works in the public domain being outdated ... read this part reallly slowwwly...".innn the public domain". ... look up the definition if you have to. Then look up a book on developing a sense of humor. Or just go away. Too many complaints can ruin or even disappear things, good things. Like PBS deadbeats complaining so much about pledge breaks that it has practically gutted the whole listener-supported aspect. If you like commercials better, change channels. Don't wreck it for the rest of us! learn to hold your tongue, esp. when volunteers are doing the work for you free of charge, people! Statistically some of us are born bereft of empathy and a conscience, but the rest can get with the program and can the dopey complaints.

Published in 1919


(4 stars)

Of course they are outdated! The book was published in 1919!! This was meant to be a fun little read with little to no practical use.

057 and 148 missing


(4 stars)

057 and 148 missing thanx for the these wonderful chapters

Thank you


(4 stars)

I had no idea that this sort of thing even existed, and am greatful to publisher. I am not well schooled as I had as ayoungman a reading disability. I am older now and just worked my way though this disability. I find it just wonderful that someone would develope this an that an uneducated person of intelligence has access to it. I will not give it my highest rating because this LibriVox to me is a great adventure and no telling what is going to be my next great discovery.

very helpful


(4 stars)

As English is my second language I often run out of proper words to express my ideas. This book help me to expand my pool of selection.

Sandra Zeras' voice is angelic!


(5 stars)

Sections 111 and 112 are read by Sandra Zera; her voice absolutely shifts my consciousness in such a perfect way!

such a nice collection of words


(5 stars)

Bad


(1 star)

I'm sorry to all the people who put their hard work into this, but I really didn't like it. The introductory chapters were long, pompous, and dull. The work has not aged well, being full of out-dated misconceptions about language and groan-worthy allusions to the "better classes". Many of the phrases are also out-dated, and some seem to have been of little use ever. No explanation of what the phrases mean, how they are often used, or WHY they are useful is given. To top it all off, a reader is clearly meant to use this book as a leisurely study guide (the author even recommends circling or underlining phrases the reader likes), it translates VERY poorly to an audio book.