Make Your Point > Archived Issues > APLOMB
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pronounce
APLOMB:
Several ways are correct. I say it "uh PLOM."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
If you're calm and confident in a way that suggests an even, balanced mind, you've got equ____ity.
And if you're calm and confident in way that suggests an even, balanced posture, you've got aplomb.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
One meaning of the word "plumb," which came into both English and French from Latin, is "a piece of lead on the end of a line, showing a perfectly straight line down, or a perfectly perpendicular line to the ground."
Here's a plumb line, also known as a plumb bob. (Thanks for the image, Wikipedia!)
Imagine a person who stands up perfectly straight, at a precise right angle to the ground, like the plumb line above. That person seems balanced, confident, and self-possessed.
In French, a phrase meaning "on the plumb line," or more figuratively, "balance or self-possession," gave us our English word "aplomb."
Literally speaking, "aplomb" is another word for "perpendicularity." But we hardly ever use that meaning.
Figuratively speaking, "aplomb" is strong self-confidence and self-assurance, the kind that reminds you of standing up straight and tall.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Noun, the uncountable kind: "He did it with aplomb;" "She accomplished it with her usual aplomb."
Other forms:
none
how to use it:
"Aplomb" is a formal, semi-common word with a positive tone.
We pick it to describe people's calm confidence, especially in a stressful or difficult situation. In other words, if life is putting pressure on you, but you're still standing straight and tall, you've got aplomb.
Most of the time, we talk about someone doing or saying something with aplomb. "She delivered the speech with aplomb." "He received the bad news with his characteristic aplomb." "I noted the aplomb with which they handled their defeat."
Often we add an adjective: "his technical aplomb," "her political aplomb," "their physical aplomb," "British aplomb, which allows him to greet monsters and ghosts as if he met them every day (New York Times)."
Although it's most often a person who displays aplomb, we might get figurative and attribute aplomb to a machine, an economy, a work of art or literature, etc.
examples:
"Lydia Brown...handled that demanding piano part, unpianistic as it was, with aplomb."
— James R. Oestreich, New York Times, 1 June 2010
"Both [scanners] successfully rotated text when necessary, and chewed through the 10 page stack with aplomb."
— Tim Barribeau, Salon, 4 November 2012
has this page helped you understand "aplomb"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "aplomb" without saying "poise" or "grace under fire."
try it out:
In a parenting podcast for Slate, Dan Kois proudly recounted how he "handled a children's health emergency with aplomb and a strong stomach." His daughter had stapled her finger. He reports: "I went to school and when I got there, I saw her finger. And I am proud that I did not barf."
With Dan's triumph in mind as an example, talk about a situation that you handled with aplomb.
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for February is "Piece It Together."
Use your knowledge of the given terms to define a related, ultra-rare term.
For example, you could use your knowledge of CELLULAR and MULTUM IN PARVO ("a lot in a little") to define the ultra-rare PARVOCELLULAR as "small-celled."
To see the answer, scroll all the way down. Enjoy!
Try this one today:
Use MOVEMENT and FESTINA LENTE to define LENTAMENTE.
review this word:
A. IGNORING IT.
B. FREAKING OUT.
C. PROCRASTINATING.
2. The word "aplomb" connotes the assured steadfastness of a _____ angle.
A. wide
B. sharp
C. ninety-degree
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my 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.
If you're calm and confident in a way that suggests an even, balanced mind, you've got equ____ity.
One meaning of the word "plumb," which came into both English and French from Latin, is "a piece of lead on the end of a line, showing a perfectly straight line down, or a perfectly perpendicular line to the ground."
Part of speech:
"Aplomb" is a formal, semi-common word with a positive tone.
"Lydia Brown...handled that demanding piano part, unpianistic as it was, with aplomb."
Explain the meaning of "aplomb" without saying "poise" or "grace under fire."
In a parenting podcast for Slate, Dan Kois proudly recounted how he "handled a children's health emergency with aplomb and a strong stomach." His daughter had stapled her finger. He reports: "I went to school and when I got there, I saw her finger. And I am proud that I did not barf."
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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