Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DERRING-DO

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explore the archives: Derring-do sounds like "daring (to) do," and that's exactly what it means: daring feats, or courageous acts. What makes derring-do so easy to remember and fun to say is the alliteration: the repeated sound. The same thing happens in:    Phrases, like "v__ and vigor," "wax and w___," and "first fr___s;"    Hyphenated words, like "weather-w___;'     And compound words, like "ramr__" and "scatters___." Could you recall these and explain what they mean? make your point with... "DERRING-DO" Derring-do is stuff you dare to do: it's daring actions or reckless courage. Pronunciation: DARE ing doo Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the derring-do," "such derring-do," "a lot of derring-do," "no derring-do," and so on, but don’t say "derring-dos.") Other forms: None in common use. Why isn't it spelled "daring-do" or "daring-to-do"? It's because of the word's long, literary history of misunderstanding and misprints. Now that's just how we spell it, so we're sticking to it. How to use it: Compared to "bravado," "courage," and "valor," the alliterative, hyphenated, somewhat ostentatious "derring-do" has that pseudo-archaic tone that helps you emphasize either the grandeur or ridiculousness of someone's bravery or brave deeds. So, talk about:    someone's derring-do;    the derring-do of someone (or of some action);    the derring-do of a particular era;    a story or tale of derring-do;    or an act (or bit, deed, feat, etc.) of derring-do. If you like, add an adjective: Cold War derring-do, knightly derring-do, political derring-do, romantic derring-do, space race derring-do, swashbuckling derring-do, Wild West derring-do, etc. examples: The book's description promised a nonstop whirl of derring-do. What's with all these long passages of hushed conversations? Having purchased the fishing equipment, and having spent the entire day by the water only to catch nothing, the friends agreed on an inventive tale of derring-do to tell their wives. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "derring-do" means when you can explain it without saying "boldness" or "heroic actions." try it out: Think of someone incredibly brave. Be serious or silly as you fill in the blanks: "In a feat of derring-do, (somebody) _____." Example: "In a feat of derring-do, Frederick Douglass taught himself to read and write--knowing that if he were caught, he would be severely punished."  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. This month, we're playing with rhyming puzzles as we review previous words.  Examples: Someone who belts out songs in church with great gusto has ____ ___. Answer: hymn vim. And the barbecue place where you always meet up with your friends from Dallas and Houston is your _____ _____. Answer: Texas nexus. The puzzles, and their answers, will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. Click or mouse-over the link to the clue if you need it, and see each answer the following day. Enjoy! From yesterday: When you rediscovered your adorably ugly troll doll in your attic, you gripped it in both hands as excitement and pure joy filled your heart. That's a _____-______ _____ ____. (Three words: the first is hyphenated and has two syllables, and the second and third words have one syllable each. Clue: use this word.) Answer: whole-souled troll hold. Try this today: Here's a big ole' crowd of regular folks. They're not fancy or high-class. They're hardworking folks. All dressed in thick-ribbed cotton pants. They're the ________ ___ ______. (The first word has three syllables. Follow that with a two-word phrase made up of a first word with one syllable, then a second word with two syllables. Clue: use this word.) review today's word: 1. The opposite of DERRING-DO is A. ABSOLUTION B. COWARDICE C. EDUCATION 2.  The second book is less about civil rights derring-do and more about _____. A. quiet moral strength B. courageous large-scale changes C. physically spectacular fight scenes Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@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. B 2. A