Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BUFFET

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connect today's word to others: In Old French, bufet meant "a slap or a punch," and that's where we got our verb buffet, pronounced "BUFF et," which means "to pound, to punch, to beat back, to assault over and over." It's just a coincidence, it seems, that French also has the word bufet, meaning "a cupboard or sideboard for serving food"--and that's where we got our other buffet, the kind pronounced "buff FAY," meaning the piece of furniture, or the style of dining during which you eat your weight in macaroni. (And for fellow Jimmy Buffett fans, that bufet probably gave us the last names Buffet and Buffett.) There's one other word we've checked out before that also means both an article of furniture and an abstract action. It's two syllables, and it starts with T. Could you recall it? Here it is, in an example: "I t___ed his constant dinner invitation by saying I would be really busy until at least the end of the semester." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "BUFFET" To buffet people or things is to punch or hit them again and again, or trouble them again and again. Pronunciation: BUFF et. (Don't pronounce it "buff FAY.") Part of speech: Verb, the transitive kind: "winds buffeted the boat," "problems buffeted the nation." Other forms: Buffeted, buffeting. ("Buffet" is also a noun meaning "a blow, a punch, a beating," so you can talk about a buffet or multiple buffets.) How to use it: This word has a negative tone. Usually we talk about some ongoing problem, issue, tension, or natural force (like wind or waves) that's buffeting someone or something. And we often use the passive voice to focus on who or what is being buffeted: hair buffeted by the wind, publishers buffeted by criticism, lawmakers buffeted by their constituents' demands, companies buffeted by higher costs, the American dollar buffeted by political turmoil, etc. Finally, because it's winds and waves that physically buffet things, we use those things as metaphors: "a relationship buffeted by waves of distrust," "an investigation buffeted by winds of public criticism." examples: Women remain buffeted by society's contradictory demands. Put effort into your appearance, but make it look effortless. Give 100% at work, but put your family first.  "And Apple is not facing the same headwinds buffeting Facebook and Google as consumers and government officials question their commitment to privacy and the true cost of 'free' – read ad-funded – services."    —The Guardian, 9 June 2018 study it now: Look away from the screen to define "buffet" without saying "pummel" or "beat over and over." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "(Hardships, problems, shortages, turmoil, chaos, bad news, natural disasters, or the like) (has or have) buffeted (someone or something) on all sides." Example: "Delays and accidents have buffeted the construction of the library on all sides." 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. Apt Adjective Anagrams!  I'll invent a person's name and a brief description of that person, and you unscramble the letters in the name to form an adjective that aptly describes the person or the person's situation. For example, if I say "Naomi Cirous is still holding a grudge," then you rearrange the letters in "Naomi Cirous" to form the adjective "acrimonious," meaning "sharp, bitter, and mean"--an appropriate adjective for someone holding a grudge. From the previous issue: Ursula Gro will talk your ear off. Answer: She's garrulous. Try this today: Maude Coins is a known liar. review today's word: 1. A close opposite of BUFFET is A. SAMPLE. B. SOOTHE. C. STRIVE. 2. The company is utterly failing; it's a _____ buffeted, nearly _____, by technological changes. A. horse .. crippled B. squad .. injured C. ship .. capsized 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. C