Vocabulary Mnemonics Episode 87: Brio, Shambolic, Errantry, and more
Oct 11, 2025
Explore the lively meanings of words like brio, where vivacity meets a tasty brioche mnemonic. Delve into the historical quirk of guardy-loo, an Edinburgh warning cry. Discover the distinction between proscribe and prescribe, and the playful contrast of phoneme versus morpheme. Wander with errantry's chivalrous adventures and navigate the chaos of shambolic disarray. Plus, uncover the secrecy of hugger-mugger with a memorable mental image. A delightful take on vocabulary awaits!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Brio Evokes Liveliness
- Brio means liveliness or vigor and can be visualized by a rising brioche bread coming alive.
- Matt uses the brioche mnemonic to link energetic personality to the word brio.
Guardy-Loo: A Historic Warning Cry
- Mom recounts the old Edinburgh warning cry "gardy-loo" used before dumping chamber-pot contents from windows.
- She uses vivid imagery of slops raining onto the street to cement the interjection's origin and meaning.
Potable = Drinkable (Think Portable)
- Potable describes water safe to drink and also appears as the noun potables for drinks, especially alcohol.
- Matt links potable to portable as a mnemonic: you'd carry potable (drinkable) water on a hike.
