Make Your Point > Archived Issues > FLAGGING

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explore the archives: Today's flagging is a synonym of lan_____ing. The former suggests a drooping flag on a hot, still day, and the latter suggests a person lying in bed, ill and weak. And if you prefer to suggest instead an image of the moon becoming dimmer and more like a tiny sliver, you might pick w__ing. make your point with... "FLAGGING" One meaning of "flag" is "to flap down loosely; to droop or fade." So, something flagging is droopy, fading, or becoming less strong. Pronunciation: FLAG ing Part of speech: Adjective. (Adjectives are describing words, like "large" or "late." They can be used in two ways: 1. Right before a noun, as in "a flagging thing." 2. After a linking verb, as in "It was flagging.") Other forms: flag, flagged, flaggingly How to use it: Talk about a company's flagging sales or performance, a school's flagging admissions, an entire campaign or industry that's flagging, or someone's flagging energy, enthusiasm, imagination, spirits, etc. examples: I realized from my daughter's flagging appetite that she must be feeling sick. By 10:00 on that night when she ate too many gummy bears, there was still no sign of her energy flagging. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "flagging" means when you can explain it without saying "losing strength" or "wilting." try it out: Think of a time you totally lost interest in something. Fill in the blanks: "After _____, my flagging interest in _____ never revived." Example: "After she realized she'd worked for a tedious hour and covered only half a page, her flagging interest in the coloring books trend never revived." 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 "You Know, That Thing!" This game challenges your powers of recall. Start a timer: twenty seconds if you're an adult, longer if you're a kid or an English language learner. Read the description of each thing, and come up with its name. Try to name all three before your timer runs out. (Scroll all the way down for the answers.) Ready? Go! 1. A level area of high ground, or a time when you're not making any progress, is a… 2. The rubbery part of the tire that touches the road and allows for traction is the… 3. That employee benefit in which you get paid for a certain number of days when you don't actually work is called… review today's word: 1. The opposite of FLAGGING is A. BULKING B. STRENGTHENING C. CONSOLIDATING 2. Because of flagging sales, the restaurant owners _____. A. decided to open a second location B. placed an ad with a coupon in the paper C. met with a tax lawyer to straighten it all out Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, 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. B Answers to game questions: 1. plateau 2. tread 3. paid vacation, paid time off or PTO, vacation pay, sick pay, paid sick leave, paid sick days, or something like that! :)