Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BARRAGE
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"BARRAGE"
Pronunciation:
buh RAJ
Part of speech:
Both a noun ("a barrage of something") and a verb ("to barrage somebody with something.")
Meaning:
A barrage is a fast, violent, broad firing of bullets.
More loosely, a barrage is anything that gets spewed out in a fast, violent, overwhelming way.
Other common forms:
barrages, barraged, barraging
How to use it:
Talk about a barrage of questions, a barrage of criticism, a barrage of demands, a barrage of bad news, a barrage of angry emails, a barrage of bitter comments, and so on. You can talk about being barraged by something ("I'm so barraged by spam") or talk about barraging someone with something ("I barraged the company with phone calls, but they ignored me.")
To the critical observer, any printed magazine is just a glossy barrage of advertisements.
It's odd to stand on the peaceful black sand beaches here in Hawaii and imagine the fiery barrages from the volcano that created them.
Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "barrage” means when you can explain it without saying “pow-pow-pow” or “volley."
Think of the last time you wanted to clamp your hands over your ears or eyes, and fill in the blanks: "My (eyes/ears/mind) was/were barraged with _____ when _____."
Example : "My eyes were barraged with blaring florescent lights when I entered Wal-Mart."
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's game content is protected by a copyright, so I can't reprint the trivia questions here--but check out the challenging, endlessly entertaining game; it's called Moot!
A Point Well Made:
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: “We could even be the universe’s form of consciousness. We might have come along so that the universe could look at itself.”
1. The opposite of BARRAGE is
A. FUSILLADE
B. TRICKLE
C. BOMBAST
2. A playful journalist wrote about "a barrage of legislation on _____."
A. marriage rights
B. gun control
C. medical marijuana
Answers are below.
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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
"BARRAGE" Pronunciation: buh RAJPart of speech: Meaning: |