Word of the Day, August 16, 2023

August 16, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [punctilious]( [Discuss]( Definition: (adjective) Strictly attentive to minute details of form in action or conduct. Synonyms: [meticulous]( Usage: The old prince, like all fathers indeed, was exceedingly punctilious on the score of the honor and reputation of his daughters. Missing Idiom Contest The Free Dictionary has the largest collection of English idioms in the world. But we are always looking for more to add, and we want your help! Every so often we hear from users who have looked up an idiom on The Free Dictionary that it was not found in the database. Maybe it was some expression they heard at work, or some phrase they grew up hearing their grandmother say. If you know an idiom that isn't already defined on The Free Dictionary, [send it to us]( and you might win $150 USD. The Farlex Idioms & Slang Dictionary [The Farlex Idioms & Slang Dictionary] New! The most complete collection of idioms and slang in the English language. Thousands more words and phrases than the leading idioms dictionaries! ✔ 17,000+ entries covering idioms, slang, phrasal verbs, and more from throughout the English-speaking world. ✔ Example sentences for every definition showing how the term is used in real life by native speakers. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [handbags at dawn]( — A confrontation or disagreement that is highly aggressive, emotionally expressive, and/or highly dramatic, but which does not end or result in violence. Used originally and primarily in reference to football (soccer) players, who would be sent off if they engaged in violent actions, the phrase is a play on the clichéd "pistols at dawn," indicating a forthcoming pistol duel. Primarily heard in UK. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day The Poppy [Discuss]( The poppy family is composed chiefly of herbs from the Northern Hemisphere that have characteristic milky or colored sap. Most species are native to the Old World, and many are cultivated in gardens for their brilliantly colored, if short-lived, blossoms. The opium poppy is grown for its opium as well as for its seeds for cooking and baking. The poppy has been the symbol of the dead and of sleep since antiquity. In many countries, the poppy is worn to commemorate what holiday? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Linking Verbs [Discuss]( Linking verbs (also known as copulas or copular verbs) are used to describe the state of being of the subject of a clause. What is the most common linking verb? [More...]( This Day in History Ray Chapman Fatally Injured by Pitch to the Head (1920) [Discuss]( For the entirety of his Major League Baseball career, Ray Chapman was a shortstop for Cleveland. He set a team record for stolen bases that would stand for decades, but his career was tragically cut short when he was hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Yankees hurler Carl Mays. According to eyewitnesses, Chapman likely never even saw the ball. He is the only Major League Baseball player to have died as a result of an injury received in a game. His death led the league to establish what rule? [More...]( Today's Birthday Wilhelm Wundt (1832) [Discuss]( Wundt was a German physiologist and psychologist who stressed the use of scientific methods in psychology. Regarded as one of the fathers of psychology and the founder of experimental psychology, Wundt is credited with many firsts in the field: he gave the first course in scientific psychology in 1862, established the first psychological laboratory in 1879, and founded the first journal of psychology in 1881. What famous expression is attributed to Wundt? [More...]( Today's Holiday Daimonji Okuribi [Discuss]( In Japan, the belief that the souls of the dead return to earth during the [Obon Festival]( gave rise to the custom of lighting great bonfires to guide the souls back to heaven after their yearly visit. This custom is known as [Daimonji Okuribi]( the Great Bonfire Event. In the city of [Kyoto]( an enormous flammable structure, built in the shape of the Chinese character dai, meaning "big," is set on fire on the hill in back of the Zenrinji Temple. The character is 530 feet tall and 510 feet wide, providing a spectacular display for city residents. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( There is a great deal of unmapped country within us which would have to be taken into account in an explanation of our gusts and storms. 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