hackneyed(HAK need) adj.made commonplace or trite through overuse- “Been there, done that” is one example of a hackneyedexpression.
- “We’re going to give it 110%” is both hackneyedand impossible.
[Syn. trite]
harangue(hoer ANG) n.a long, loud, scolding speech; a blustering tirade —vt.
to speak or address one in such a manner - The sergeant gave the patrol a 20-minute haranguewhen they failed to be
in the first two to finish their exercise. - The coach haranguedthe kicker for 15 minutes for having missed the field
goal.
[-d, haranguing] [Syn. tirade]
harass(HAR ris, hoer AS) vt.1. to bother or torment as with worries, bills,
repeated questions, etc.; 2. to trouble by repeatedly attacking - Bill collectors harasstheir debtors with phone calls at all hours of the day
and night. - Viola’s ex-boyfriend, Ted, kept harassingher about why they couldn’t give
it a second try. - The attack helicopters kept harassingthe retreating enemy with repeated
sorties against their rear guard.
[-ed, -ing]
harvest (HAHR vist) n.1. the time of year when ripe crops are reaped; 2. a sea-
son’s yield of crops or of a particular crop —vt., vi. 1. to gather in the ripe crop(s);
- to trap, shoot, or catch game, usually for commercial purposes; 3. to get some-
thing as the result of some action; 4. to collect organs for transplant
- Autumn is the time for the cranberry harvest.
- There was a plentiful harvestof all crops last year.
- We need some migrant labor to help harvestthe grapes.
- Salmon farms harvestonly salmon of a certain age after breeding is
finished. - How much goodwill you can harvestdepends on how much your speech is
believed. - Surgeons harvesthearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, and corneas from donors for
transplant.
[-ed, -ing, -er n.]
heckle(HEK il) vt. to annoy or harrass a speaker by taunting or interrupting
with annoying questions - It’s not unusual for comedians in a nightclub to be heckledby one or more
inebriated audience members. - When the prime minister of England speaks to Parliament, he can expect
members of the opposition to heckle him.
[-d, heckling, -r* n.] [Syn. bait]
122 Essential Vocabulary