Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SHOWPIECE

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connect today's word to others: One meaning of our word showpiece is "an exemplar; a perfect specimen; an example of something that is qui_______tial (purest and most typical)." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "SHOWPIECE" Just like it sounds, a showpiece is...    a thing (like a song) that people perform in order to display their talent;    a thing that gets put on display, especially the best thing in a display;    the very best part or feature of something;   or an excellent example of something. Pronunciation: SHOW piece Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like "bottle," "piece," and "decision," are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about "a bottle," "three pieces," and "many decisions." Likewise, talk about one showpiece or multiple showpieces.) Other forms: The plural is "showpieces." And sometimes we use "showpiece" like an adjective: a showpiece event, a showpiece game, a showpiece song, a showpiece home, a showpiece exhibit. How to use it: This word has a positive tone. And it has instant comprehensibility; say "showpiece" and everyone knows what you mean, even if they've never heard the word before. Here are some things we call showpieces: sporting events; houses and other buildings; novels; museum exhibits; songs, especially songs performed on stage; and monologues performed on stage. You can also call something a showpiece of something else: this fountain is a showpiece of downtown Kansas City; this game is the showpiece of the football season. examples: Cross-stitched and framed in gold is Rainbow Row, the showpiece of Charleston. Their chicken madeira may not ever be the menu's showpiece, all squat and swimming in unseemly gravy, but it's absolutely delicious. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "showpiece" means when you can explain it without saying "piece de resistance" or "feature on display." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "_____ (remains or has become) the showpiece of _____." Example: "Bordered by trellises heavy with ivy, the walkway behind the welcome center has become the showpiece of the university, displayed first and most in every pamphlet." 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 "Game of Games!" Guess the one-word title of each board game, using your knowledge of vocabulary. From our previous issue:  Designed by Rikki Tahta, this game has players battling it out to grab the throne. Board Game Geek reports, "Beware as the game can end suddenly with a bold attack on an inadequately defended castle, making for a game that can be very nasty, brutish and short." The game's title means "a brawl: an angry, confusing, hand-to-hand fight among many people." It's pictured below, with the title blurred out. What game is this? Answer: Melee. Check out the game here and the word here. Try this today:  Designed by Matt Leacock, this game has players working together to treat and cure diseases that are quickly spreading across the world. Board Game Geek reports, "If one or more diseases spreads beyond recovery or if too much time elapses, the players all lose." The game's title means "a disease that has spread all over a large area" OR "extremely widespread, in a bad way." It's pictured below, with the title blurred out. What game is this? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of SHOWPIECE is A. ACCOLADE. B. JUGGERNAUT. C. MAKEWEIGHT. 2. Cruise has become the cult's showpiece, _____. A. blamed for its failures to accurately predict the apocalypse B. held up as a model of devotion and accomplishment  C. speaking out against its rampant abuse 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. C 2. B