Initials said as a word, not letters
A friend notices that laser and scuba are really just strings of initials, and asks what else on the list started that way.
The phrase
Don't point that laser at anyone, please.10 words10 sentences
The ten words
- laser/ˈleɪzər/
noun
A device that makes a narrow, very bright beam of light.
- radar/ˈreɪˌdɑːr/
noun
Equipment that finds distant objects by bouncing radio waves off them and reading what comes back.
- sonar/ˈsoʊnɑːr/
noun
Equipment that finds things underwater by sending out a sound and timing the echo.
- scuba/ˈskuːbə/
noun
A tank of air and a mouthpiece that let a diver breathe underwater.
- maser/ˈmeɪzər/
noun
A device that makes a focused beam of microwaves, working much like a laser does with light.
- modem/ˈmoʊdəm/
noun
A box that connects a computer to a network over a phone or cable line.
- flak/flæk/
noun
Harsh criticism aimed at someone.
- jeep/dʒiːp/
noun
A small tough vehicle built for driving on rough ground.
- awol/ˈeɪˌwɔːl/
adjective
Gone without permission, especially from a job or the military.
- swat/swɑːt/
verb
To hit something with one quick, hard slap.
The sentences
Don't point that laser at anyone, please.
The storm showed up on the radar last night.
The crew used sonar to map the sea floor.
I signed up for a scuba class next month.
I had never even heard of a maser until you said that.
The modem keeps dropping the connection every few minutes.
Our boss caught a lot of flak over the new schedule.
We rented a jeep for the drive up the mountain.
The whole crew went awol right after the lunch break.
Could you swat that fly before it lands again?
Pronunciation
laser/ˈleɪzər/
The s sounds like a z: LAY-zer.
radar/ˈreɪˌdɑːr/
RAY-dar, and the second half rhymes with car.
sonar/ˈsoʊnɑːr/
SO-nar, with the ending like car, not like her.
scuba/ˈskuːbə/
SKOO-buh, and the last syllable is a weak uh.
maser/ˈmeɪzər/
MAY-zer, rhyming with laser.
modem/ˈmoʊdəm/
The second syllable is a weak dum, not dem.
awol/ˈeɪˌwɔːl/
Said as one word: AY-wall.
swat/swɑːt/
The vowel is ah, as in spot, not the vowel in sat.
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- What does awol mean?
- It means gone without permission, especially from a job or the military, like when the whole crew went awol right after the lunch break.
- What's the word for equipment that finds things underwater with sound?
- Sonar — equipment that finds things underwater by sending out a sound and timing the echo.
- What do you say if someone criticizes you a lot at work?
- You could say you're catching flak, meaning harsh criticism, like when the boss caught a lot of flak over the new schedule.