Make Your Point > Archived Issues > ABUBBLE

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"ABUBBLE" Pronunciation: uh BUB ull Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like “large” or “late.” This particular adjective is only used in these ways: 1. Right after a noun, as in “cauldrons abubble.” 2. After a linking verb, as in "The winner was abubble.”) Meaning: Just as you'd guess, something abubble is actually full of bubbles. And, more loosely, things and people who are abubble are full of exciting activity or enthusiasm. Other forms: None How to use it: This is a fun, cute, lighthearted word, with the same structure as "atwitter," "aflutter," etc., and it's often followed by "with." Talk about a place being abubble with activity, a meeting being abubble with ideas, people being abubble with excited talk or nervous energy, and so on. You don't have to use "with," though: "I'm all abubble!" "Twitter is abubble over the latest scandal." "The malls in December are abubble." At times, you go through periods when you just can't sleep because your mind is abubble with plans and ideas. Whatever your geek thing is that gets you all abubble, embrace it, whether it's painting miniatures or restyling the hair on your vintage My Little Ponies.  Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "abubble" means when you can explain it without saying “exuberant" or "bustling." Think of a place you like that's full of energy and activity, and fill in the blanks:  "(Place) is often/always abubble with (people doing something in particular)." Example: "The Galleria in Houston is always abubble with people shopping, eating, and ice skating." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: Our game for July is called A Verbal Tour of the US. I’ll ask you a trivia question each day this month about the names of US cities, states, geographic features, etc. Try it out each day, and see the right answer the next day. Happy verbal trails to you! From yesterday:  This famous island got its name from the Portuguese word for “pelican,” and that word is related to “albatross,” which as you probably know is often used as a metaphor for whatever burdens us and brings us misfortune. And that’s really appropriate for this island, which is not only a home to pelicans but is also the site of a historical prison, where misfortunes and burdens probably abounded! What’s the name of the island? Answer: Alcatraz Island. Try this one today: If you take a look at the name of this eastern Tennessee city known for being the headquarters of the Eastman Chemical Company, you might not be sure if the city’s name means “a port belonging to one or more male monarchs” or “a sport related to a male monarch.” I had to look it up to learn that it means the former—it’s a reference to an area on the Holston River. What’s the city’s name? A Point Well Made: Elias Canetti: “I would like to become tolerant without overlooking anything, persecute no one even when all people persecute me; become better without noticing it; become sadder, but enjoy living; become more serene, be happy in others; belong to no one, grow in everyone; love the best, comfort the worst; not even hate myself anymore.” 1. The opposite of ABUBBLE is A. LETHARGIC B. BUZZING C. SUBSTANTIAL 2. With the public still abubble over the product, _____ A. it will take a miracle just to break even on production costs. B. we'll have to take to social media to show them how useful the item really can be. C. now's the time to capitalize on that zeal and start building anticipation for the next product. Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C