Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SIMMER

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connect today's word to others: What does our word simmer have in common with the words embers, foment, fervency, flashpoint, and ignite? They all harness the metaphorical power of heat. If you need to remove the heat from the word simmer, you could pick the word mar_____, which means "to soak in something, letting it seep in." Literally speaking, you let things simmer on the stovetop, but you let things mar_____ in the fridge. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "SIMMER" When liquids simmer on a stovetop, they bubble quietly without actually getting hot enough to boil. So, figuratively, when people simmer, they keep on feeling bad emotions (like anger or frustration) for a long time, at a low or medium intensity, often in a hidden way. And when bad things and bad feelings simmer, they keep on existing for a long time, at a low or medium intensity, often in a hidden way. Lastly, "simmer down" is a slangy way to say "calm down." Pronunciation: SIM ur Part of speech: Usually a verb, the intransitive kind: "he simmers in anger," "her frustration simmers." But it can also be a noun: "he's in a simmer," "the anger is still in a simmer." Other forms: simmered, simmering How to use it: "Simmer" usually has a negative tone. Use it to describe things, feelings, and people that seem like they might boil over or explode soon, yet they keep on stewing in a slow, tense, passive way. Say that a person, a group, a place, or a bad feeling (like anger or frustration) is simmering: "the team simmered over their defeat," "resentment simmers in their neighborhood." Or, a person can simmer with or in some emotion: "she's simmering with frustration," "he simmered all weekend in jealous anger." Because simmering is less intense than boiling--or maybe because you often keep a lid on your food while you're letting it simmer--we can say that something simmers under or beneath something else.  And when you need an adjective, use "simmering;" talk about simmering insults or affronts, simmering tensions and arguments, simmering conflicts and wars, simmering anger and frustration, simmering questions and unknowns, etc. examples: Through all those years as caretakers, unpaid, unthanked, and unwilling, they simmered with resentment. "[The television series The Americans] has always simmered and stewed in the emotional strain of its premise without ever actually exploding."     —Lili Loofbourow, Slate, 31 May 2018 study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "simmer" means when you can explain it without saying "seethe" or "stew." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "Beneath _____ was a simmering (emotion, such as anger, frustration, or resentment)." Example: "Beneath their calm daily routine was a simmering grief." 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 "Sleek Slogans." I'll take a familiar slogan from a company or a product, express that slogan in plain language, and tell you the specific qualities the slogan has (like rhyme or alliteration), and then you come up with the real slogan as well as the name of the company or product. From the previous issue: Rewrite this slogan by using concision (the use of as few words as possible) and onomatopoeia (words that actually sound like what they mean): "When you pour milk on our product, it makes a series of distinctive and interesting sounds." Answer: That's the slogan for Rice Krispies: "Snap, crackle, and pop."  Try this one today: Rewrite this slogan by using concision (the use of as few words as possible) and synesthesia (the whimsical fusing of the senses, such as "seeing" a sound): "Eat our product, and you will experience the beauty of a rainbow." review today's word: 1. A close opposite of SIMMERING is A. ABATING. B. BILKING. C. CAROMING. 2. Their simmering _____ finally _____. A. attitude .. improved B. discontent .. surfaced C. optimism .. came to fruition 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. A 2. B