Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CANARD

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"CANARD" Meaning: A canard is an untrue report or a ridiculous rumor. Pronunciation: kuh NARD 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 canard or multiple canards.) Other forms: canards How to use it: Talk about hearing some canard about somebody, an old canard that keeps circulating, a story or piece of information that turns out to be just a canard, people who promote or repeat canards, people who accept or swallow or buy that old canard, the struggle to correct a canard, and so on. Here's a sentence pattern you can use: "To pretend/imagine/say/claim (etc.) that ... is a canard," as in "To claim that there's a simple, easy trick to staying thin is a canard." You might also use the phrase "the canard that..." as in "the canard that they intended to deceive the public" or "the canard that the new program is the first step in a full hostile takeover." Is it possible that Yelp gives too much power to the consumer? Anyone who cares to post some wildly exaggerated canard can have a serious impact on a business's reputation. I'd always heard that this store was an overpriced, overhyped purveyor of junk, but that turned out to be a canard. Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "canard" means when you can explain it without saying "hoax" or "absurd rumor." Think of a silly or vicious rumor that's been around for a long time, and fill in the blank: "The canard that _____ is so old that (it's got dust on it / my ancestors heard it / no one believes it anymore, etc.)"  Example: "The canard that some celebrity or another has been killed in a car crash just now is so old that it's got a driver's license." Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Playing With Words: This month, we're playing with some fascinating thematic word lists assembled by Stephen Chrisomalis, an English language expert over at The Phrontistery who kindly gave permission for me to use his work. (Check out his site; you will definitely enjoy it!) Try a question each day, and see the right answers here the following day--or if you can't wait, follow the link to Stephen's list to dig out the answers yourself. Have fun! Yesterday's question: Forsoothery! That's the name for the funny-sounding archaic terms that you really only see in stories, and the Phrontistery has a hilarious list of them that will make you shout "Gadzooks!" or maybe "Lackaday!" Try identifying the correct definitions for these terms: - Does erelong mean away or soon? - Is gardyloo a shout of joy or a cry of warning? - Does twain mean two or rip? Answers: Erelong means soon. Gardyloo is a cry of warning. Twain means two. Try this one today: Of the many, many different words for types of fortune-telling, could you use your knowledge of word roots to explain what these are? For example, arithmancy is divination using numbers. - Chiromancy is divination by means of _____. - Gastromancy is divination by sounds from the _____. - Odontomancy is divination using _____. Can't wait until tomorrow for the right answers? Check out Stephen's full list and discussion at the Phrontistery. A Point Well Made: Friedrich Nietzsche: “Is life not a thousand times too short for us to bore ourselves?” 1. The opposite of CANARD is A. CLEAN SLATE B. VERACIOUS REPORT C. STELLAR RESUME 2. The _____ turned out to be another silly canard. A. seemingly promising candidate B. details about his past as a felon C. new tourist destination Answers are below. To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.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 Exploring the archives: Today's word is "canard:" a vicious rumor, a fake report, or a hoax. Let's use it to review some previous words: -What does it mean if someone fabricated a canard? -What does it mean if people are bandying a canard around? -What does it mean if a canard gets debunked?