Make Your Point > Archived Issues > MICAWBER

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connect today's word to others: I'm not really a devoted fan of Charles Dickens, so the first time I heard the word Micawber was when John Lithgow, the author (and actor), used it in a picture book. Lithgow's Micawber is a plucky squirrel who visits the art museum and creates fine art of his own. (The title is also Micawber. It's wonderful.) And Dickens's Wilkins Micawber, the original Micawber, is an optimistic guy who can't keep a job. He often says "something will turn up." Let's check out some quotes from that novel, David Copperfield. Here's Micawber talking to Copperfield: "Walking along the street, reflecting upon the probability of something turning up (of which I am at present rather sanguine), I find a young but valued friend turn up." And here's Copperfield talking about Micawber: "He was the most sanguine of men, looking on to fortune." So, could you define sanguine? make your point with... "MICAWBER" In a Charles Dickens story, Mr. Micawber is the hopeful, optimistic character who's terrible with money and unable to hold down a job, and he ends up in debtors' prison. In general, a Micawber is a person who is dreamy and optimistic but is too lazy and/or too irresponsible to succeed.     Pronunciation: muh COB er Part of speech: Both a proper noun ("he's a Micawber") and a proper adjective ("she has a Micawber spirit"). Other forms worth knowing: An alternative adjective is "Micawberish." The noun for the idea or the attitude is "Micawberism." And you can use "Micawber-like" as an adjective as well as an adverb: "their Micawber-like approach;" "they wait, Micawber-like, for a solution." How to use it: This word has a negative tone. Micawbers might be good-hearted, but they're often lazy, foolish, unrealistic, scattered, and irresponsible. Because the word "Micawber" comes from a piece of literature that not everyone is familiar with, we should use it with tact and sensitivity. Compare it to "Scrooge," which is also based on a Charles Dickens story. When you call someone a Scrooge, everybody gets it. Not so when you call someone a Micawber. You can refer to someone as a Micawber, or talk about Micawbers (or "the Micawbers") in general. Or, talk about a Micawber faith, spirit, approach, attitude, philosophy, disposition, etc. Although it's often a person who's guilty of Micawberism, it can also be a group of people, a company, a government, an industry, etc. Any group who seems to expect a lucky and sudden solution to its many problems can be called a Micawber. examples: As the paper's due date approached, she carried on with a Micawberish whistle, assuming that at any moment a great idea for a topic would fall into her lap. Quit your day job, follow your dream, and ignore the naysayers? That's terrible advice that encourages Micawberism and puts people on the streets, and yet motivational speakers keep insisting on it. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "Micawber" means when you can explain it without saying "hopeful but feckless" or "foolish optimist." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "We can't wait, Micawber-like, for _____ to turn up. We have to _____." Example: "We can't wait, Micawber-like, for a job offer to turn up. We have to keep applying for other positions." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "The Meanings of Maladies." I'll share a tidbit about the word for a particular symptom, disease, or condition, and you try to name it. We'll start with common maladies and work our way toward the rare and strange. From our previous issue: The word for this condition, which makes it hard for people to interact with others, comes from the Greek for "self." What is it? Answer: Autism. Try this today: The name of this condition traces back to a Latin word for "greenish yellow." We can also use this condition's name figuratively to mean "to color someone's views or judgment, usually for the worse." What is it? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of MICAWBER is A. ANTAGONIST. B. PRAGMATIST. C. ABSURDIST. 2. Agreeing with the journalist who argued that "history has been on the side of the Micawbers," he said that _____. A. we're increasingly dedicated to combating the effects of climate change B. a solution to the human trafficking crisis will eventually come to light C. skyrocketing inflation will destroy society as we know it Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B