Some words I can't think of

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JohnDurvin
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Some words I can't think of

Post by JohnDurvin » August 24th, 2011, 12:29 am

1. What's a non-colloquial word for 'bad-ass'? There has to be one, but I can't, for the life of me, think of it.
2. Let's say you get annoyed, frustrated, or let down; you let out a sharp sigh of exasperation. Is there a word for that noise?
3. Same but more indignant: the scoffing snort, or maybe the wry-faced pursed-lip raspberry.
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Beethovenfan
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by Beethovenfan » August 24th, 2011, 3:20 am

For #2, perhaps "...he hissed through clenched teeth." I don't know. Best I can do. I got nothin' for the others. :?
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Samanthavibes
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by Samanthavibes » August 24th, 2011, 7:18 am

badass should "cool"?

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polymath
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by polymath » August 24th, 2011, 10:30 am

JohnDurvin wrote:1. What's a non-colloquial word for 'bad-ass'? There has to be one, but I can't, for the life of me, think of it.
Several connotations for badass, one, troublemaker, two, a masterfully skilled person, three, a person with a large ego. The main variant for the term is a compound word, no hyphen. Badass has a vulgar connotation, so it's an emotionally loaded term good for conveying emotional context.
JohnDurvin wrote:2. Let's say you get annoyed, frustrated, or let down; you let out a sharp sigh of exasperation. Is there a word for that noise?
Again, emotionally loaded context. Emotional expressions, words, facial expressions, gestures, body language are best for interpretation purposes when they occur in clusters. A single noise is open to broad interpretation. A nonvolitional reaction, like the context of the question suggests, might mean at least a pair of emotional reactions. Though leaving an emotional reaction open to interpretation can be as artfully dramatic as a reaction cluster. Huff is an onomatopoeic word for the context. A discourse marker might do as well. Huh. Hah. Huhn. Oh-ho. Huh-uh. Uh-huh. An acquaintance makes a aharp peep with her nose when she's exasperated. Wrapping context counts large.
JohnDurvin wrote:3. Same but more indignant: the scoffing snort, or maybe the wry-faced pursed-lip raspberry.
Ditto above. Snort, derisive snort. More visual and aural sensations, action emotion, for stronger reactions.
Last edited by polymath on August 24th, 2011, 9:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Watcher55
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by Watcher55 » August 24th, 2011, 10:40 am

JohnDurvin wrote:1. What's a non-colloquial word for 'bad-ass'? There has to be one, but I can't, for the life of me, think of it.
2. Let's say you get annoyed, frustrated, or let down; you let out a sharp sigh of exasperation. Is there a word for that noise?
3. Same but more indignant: the scoffing snort, or maybe the wry-faced pursed-lip raspberry.
1. It depends on the nature of the badass. a machine like the over-used Mack truck? Weapons master? Human weapon? You get the idea. You really need to break this one down. If you mean badasses in general - hmmmm.

2. Isn't that a snort?

3. Can you use scoffed as a verb (Karl scoffed then laughed)? Or use the antino ontariom Onomatopoeic "Humph"

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Watcher55
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by Watcher55 » August 24th, 2011, 10:47 am

do over on 2. You said sigh, and even polymath knows a sigh isn't a snort. How 'bout bark, sharp growl, or grunt - a lot of it depends on context.

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dios4vida
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by dios4vida » August 24th, 2011, 11:27 am

JohnDurvin wrote:1. What's a non-colloquial word for 'bad-ass'? There has to be one, but I can't, for the life of me, think of it.
2. Let's say you get annoyed, frustrated, or let down; you let out a sharp sigh of exasperation. Is there a word for that noise?
3. Same but more indignant: the scoffing snort, or maybe the wry-faced pursed-lip raspberry.
1. Rogue?
2. I usually go with 'scoff'.
3. Man, would I want to know that!!
Brenda :)

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bcomet
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by bcomet » August 24th, 2011, 7:11 pm

Oh, this is fun...

1. What's a non-colloquial word for 'bad-ass'? There has to be one, but I can't, for the life of me, think of it.

cracker-balls / lad/lass worthy of semiology (or perhaps Polymath?) / right fight fortunous badcap

2. Let's say you get annoyed, frustrated, or let down; you let out a sharp sigh of exasperation. Is there a word for that noise?

puffed the atmosphere from her nostrils at the same time like she wasn't willing to let it out of the spout

3. Same but more indignant: the scoffing snort, or maybe the wry-faced pursed-lip raspberry.


and squinted so hard with her left eye, you could thread it with a needle

(Oh dear, the pent-up creative juices must have flooded the hood again...)

bcomet
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Re: Some words I can't think of

Post by bcomet » August 24th, 2011, 7:44 pm

And a favorite of my husband's is rabble-rouser. (He is the one with the amazing vocabulary while I just like to make it up. :-D)
Definition of RABBLE-ROUSER
: one that stirs up (as to hatred or violence) the masses of the people : demagogue
— rab·ble–rous·ing noun or adjective
See rabble–rouser defined for English-language learners »
See rabble-rouser defined for kids »
First Known Use of RABBLE-ROUSER
1843
Related to RABBLE-ROUSER
Synonyms: demagogue (also demagog), exciter, firebrand, fomenter, incendiary, inciter, instigator, kindler, provocateur
-http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/

and, again, it really depends on how you mean bad-ass.

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