in words of one syllable

in words of one syllable

English

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

in words of one syllable

1. (idiomatic) In simple, clear, straightforward language; in blunt language, simply, clearly, straightforwardly, bluntly.
   • 1894, John Kendrick Bangs, "A Midnight Visitor" in The Water Ghost and Others:

     I am at present engaged in preparing a vest-pocket edition of the philosophical works of Schopenhauer in words of one syllable.

   • 1914, Samuel Hopkins Adams, The Clarion, ch. 24:

     So I explained in words of one syllable that I went there to pick edelweiss from the fire escapes.

   • 1915, John Galsworthy, The Freelands, ch. 22:

     Felix propounded the story of the arrest, so far as might be, in words of one syllable.

   • 1972 Dec. 27, Alden Whitman, "Obituary: Harry S. Truman, Decisive President," New York Times (retrieved 21 Sep 2012):

     The President used "words of one syllable" to convey his insistence that Poland be "free and independent".

   • 2003 Nov. 19, Richard Corliss, "That Old Feeling: The Show at the Casino," Time:

     Or, in words of one syllable, it's Cirque's sex show.

References

• in words of one syllable at OneLook Dictionary Search