Alphabetic B

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Bad / Delay

noun

Picture

backlog - A quantity of work that should have been done already, but has not yet been done

When Bill got back from his vacation, there was such a backlog of work to catch up on, that he had to work until 10pm every night for a month to catch up.

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Bad / Mistake

verb

Picture

backfire - When a plan fails, and it has the opposite result of what was intended.

The politician tried to hide his assets, in order to appear like a common man. But his plan backfired when they were revealed, and people saw that he was a liar.

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Other / Squeeze

noun

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Brevity - The quality of being brief or concise in speech or writing.

I appreciated the brevity of the report—it got straight to the point.

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Bad / Small

noun

blip - An unexpected, minor, and typically temporary deviation from a general trend

The blip on the naval ship's radar indicated an approaching vessel, and the captain hoped it was a friendly one.

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Other / Squeeze

noun

Picture

Bunch - A large amount or number of something.

She picked a bunch of flowers from the garden, and they looked beautiful in a vase when her husband came home.

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Good / Beautiful

adjective

Picture

Breathtaking - Extremely beautiful or stunning, leaving one in awe.

The sunset over the ocean was breathtaking.

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Other / Move

nounverb verb

Picture

Blast - To explode or destroy something or someone with explosives, or to break through or hit something with a similar, very strong force

While building the tunnel through the mountain, the construction crew blasted its way day by day until it was finished.

nounverb noun

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Bad / Bad

adjective

barren - A land or a person that is incapable of growing anything or bearing fruit

Steve couldn't imagine how he would be able to cross the desert as he looked at the barren desert from on top of his camel

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Other / Inward

nounverb verb

blush - Develop a pink tinge in the face from embarrassment or shame

Kelly blushed when her teacher told her she was a good student.

nounverb noun

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Other / Body

verb

bloat - To become swollen with fluid or gas.

After eating the large plate of baked beans, Fred felt like his stomach was so bloated that he might float away like a balloon.

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Good / Successful

noun

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Bigwig - A VIP (very important person) or influential decision-maker, often used informally.

Only the bigwigs got access to the exclusive boardroom on the top floor of the company's headquarters.

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Bad / Unfriendly

noun

barb - A remark that is funny but unkind.

Burt realized that Sam was not really his friend when Sam made several barbed comments directed at Burt at the dinner party.