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Our word brusque may have come from a Latin word for the butcher's-bloom plant, which has shoots that are stiff and spiky. That's perfect, because brusque people and manners are rude, rough, blunt, and dismissive.
To be brusque is often to be t_rs_: to use so few words when you talk to people that you come across as rude or snippy.
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"BRUSQUE"
Brusque people and things are rude because they're blunt, harsh, short, and/or abrupt.
Pronunciation:
BRUSK
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 brusque manner" or "a brusque person."
2. After a linking verb, as in "It was brusque" or "He was brusque.")
Other forms:
brusquely, brusqueness or brusquerie ("BRUSS kuh ree")
How to use it:
Talk about brusque people and personalities, brusque manners and ways, brusque behaviors and attitudes, brusque comments and criticisms, brusque responses and replies, brusque emails and voice messages, a brusque style of speaking, brusque customer service, etc.
To be a little sarcastic, talk about brusque welcomes and brusque receptions.
And to be a little figurative, talk about brusque confidence, brusque moodiness, brusque diplomacy, etc.
examples:
It's her way or the highway; she brushes off suggestions with brusque disdain.
"Claytor’s brusque manner intimidated most of his students, who couldn’t keep up as the professor furiously scribbled mathematical formulas on the chalkboard with one hand and just as quickly erased them with the other."
—Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures, 2016
study it now:
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "brusque" means when you can explain it without saying "gruff" or "snippy."
try it out:
Fill in the blanks: "(Someone's) only response was a brusque ('no,' 'you'll have to wait,' refusal, rejection, dismissal, etc)."
Example: "The receptionist's only response was a brusque 'There's the waitlist.'"
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 parallelism (the use of balanced clauses or phrases): "With our products and services, we empower you to accomplish projects around the house on your own."
Answer: That's a slogan for The Home Depot: "You Can Do It. We Can Help."
Try this one today: Rewrite this slogan by using antithesis (the side-by-side placement of contrasting ideas) and parallelism (the use of balanced clauses or phrases): "That beautiful woman might be naturally beautiful, or it might be that she’s wearing our products."
review today's word:
1. The opposite of BRUSQUE is
A. AFFABLE.
B. INAPPRECIABLE.
C. LAUDABLE.
2. His brusqueness prevents him from _____.
A. considering criticism
B. forming close friendships
C. developing interests outside his career
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
Our word brusque may have come from a Latin word for the butcher's-bloom plant, which has shoots that are stiff and spiky. That's perfect, because brusque people and manners are rude, rough, blunt, and dismissive.
"BRUSQUE" Brusque people and things are rude because they're blunt, harsh, short, and/or abrupt. Other forms:
It's her way or the highway; she brushes off suggestions with brusque disdain.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "brusque" means when you can explain it without saying "gruff" or "snippy."
Fill in the blanks: "(Someone's) only response was a brusque ('no,' 'you'll have to wait,' refusal, rejection, dismissal, etc)."
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.
1. The opposite of BRUSQUE is
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. |