The icing on the cake is something added to a situation that is not essential, but makes a good situation even better. (this idiom is not from the RD.)

touchstone: a means of determining what a thing should be.

I read Hemingway’s short stories when I need a touchstone for writing

inventive: showing creativity or original thought.

fishing: when a person says or does something to get a compliment from someone.

makeover: a complete transformation of the appearance of someone or something.

debut: perform in public for the first time.

uplifting: inspiring happiness, optimism, or hope.

a tidy collection of uplifting true stories, family-friendly humor, and surprising and useful information.

coverage: reporting; the treatment of an issue by the media.

crave: feel a powerful desire for (something).

You applaud coverage of social affairs and crave a variety of voices and views–thus a new section was born.

You’ll get longer reads when a tale needs to be told, briefer pieces when the point can be made quickly.

thought-provoking: stimulating careful consideration or attention.

We’ll run essays when a writer has a thought-provoking point to make, and lists when they are the fastest way to impart information.

impart: make (information) known.

witty: showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humour.

take a bold step synonym: requiring or exhibiting courage and bravery.

take comfort in: to feel less worried/upset because of (something).

Now we can take comfort in knowing we were scammed by a true professional!

con: an instance of deceiving or tricking someone.

fiancé: a man to whom someone is engaged to be married.

I literally laughed until I had tears rolling down my cheeks.

have someone in stitches: make someone laughing uncontrollably.

contemplate: look thoughtfully for a long time at.

insult: speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse.

There is a tremendous value in education, but none of us have the right to insult an entire group of people who are earning a living, perhaps doing the best they can.

tab: a restaurant bill.

go viral: something spreads quickly and widely on the internet through social media and email.

pull up: (of a vehicle) come to a halt.

patron: a customer of a shop, restaurant, etc., especially a regular one.

on a streak: A winning streak or a lucky streak is a continuous series of successes, for example in gambling or sport. A losing streak or an unlucky streak is a series of failures or losses.

all aflutter: in a state of nervous excitement.

render: cause to be or become; make.

During his recovery, he suffered a stroke that rendered his right arm all but useless.

defray: provide money to pay (a cost or expense).

feature: made a feature or highlight; given prominence.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood.

The story featured a local five-year-old boy named Brecon Vaughan, who had a rare form of cerebral palsy and had never walked without assistance.

pledge: a solemn promise to do something.

nuptial: a wedding.

call off: to draw away; divert; cancel.

devastate: cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief.

reveler: a person who is enjoying themselves in a lively and noisy way.

prospect: the possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.

deposit: a sum payable as a first instalment on the purchase of something.

reception: party; a formal social occasion held to welcome someone or to celebrate an event.

Because when Carol and Willie faced the prospect of losing 75 percent of their deposit at the upscale Italian restaurant they’d booked for their daughter’s reception, Willie had an idea.

venue: the place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports competition.

patio: an outdoor space generally used for dining or recreation that adjoins a structure and is typically paved.

ballroom: a room that has enough space for many people to dance.

gone off to: to go away to something; to depart and go into something.

tinnitus: when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears. 

chiggers: a small flea, their bite causes severe itching.

gout: a common form of inflammatory arthritis that is very painful. It usually affects one joint at a time (often the big toe joint).

I was not a man who wished for children. It seemed contrary to the notion of human happiness, like wishing for chiggers, or tinnitus, or the more awful forms of gout.

afflict: (of a problem or illness) cause pain or trouble to; affect adversely.

shudder: (of a person) tremble convulsively, typically as a result of fear or revulsion.

ping: to make a short, sharp sound.

As teenagers, they seemed to lose all sanity, pinging through mood swings like Ricochet Rabbit.

While listening to music with more foul language than my uncles used drunk at a rooster fight.

come in a package: is used to indicate that if you get A, then B comes along with it automatically.

deem: regard or consider in a specified way.

banish: to send someone away, especially from their country, and not allow them to come back.

prankster: a person love to take jokes.

transgression: crime; an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence.

sulk in: to be silent and refuse to smile or be pleasant to people because you are angry about something that they have done.

fling about: to throw on all sides; to scatter.

Every time the boy locked his car, it (the dog) gave a short, quick honk. Woody, who is too fat to jump (usually), bounded into the air at the sound, defying gravity, flinging rugs about, and destroying furniture on a wild-eyed dash to the door.

thingamajig: used to refer to or address a person or thing whose name one has forgotten, does not know, or does not wish to mention.

magistrate: a civil officer who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court that deals with minor offences and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones.

bewildered: perplexed and confused; very puzzled.

called a recess: called a pause.

undue: unwarranted or inappropriate because excessive or disproportionate.

adjourn: to suspend court proceedings to another time or place, or to end them.

stunned: so shocked that one is temporarily unable to react; astonished.

abide: accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation).

bench: a judge’s seat in a law court.

pulpit: a raised enclosed platform in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon.

The bench is not a pulpit, and using it as one, as this judge did, violates the parents’ rights and our sense that people of all faiths will be treated fairly in the courtroom.

provision: the action of providing or supplying something for use.

chancellor: a senior state or legal official.

moniker: a name.

diacritical mark: (of a mark or sign) serving to indicate different pronunciations of a letter above or below which it is written.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.

embark: begin (a course of action).

foster: bring up (a child that is not one’s own by birth).

in foster care.

An expectant mother: a woman who is currently pregnant.

convention: an agreement between states covering particular matters, especially one less formal than a treaty.

pump: draw (milk) from the breast using a breast pump, typically in order to feed a baby by means of a bottle.

a MoTher’S laMenT: Whoever said not to cry over spilled milk has obviously never had to pump before.

lore: something that is learned.

propel: spur or drive into a particular situation.

confront: face up to and deal with (a problem or difficult situation).

wield: have and be able to use (power or influence).

She noticed that the judge wielded all the power in the courtroom and decided that someday she would be one.

summa cum laude: denoting or holding a university degree achieved with the highest distinction.

atypical: a state, condition, or behavior that is unusual or different from what is considered normal.

cut it out: to stop doing.

gratifying: giving pleasure or satisfaction.

bone up: to try to master necessary information quickly.

Someone who rises (gets up) early in the morning.

verdict: an opinion or judgment.

clear-cut: sharply defined; easy to perceive or understand.

cart off: to take something or someone somewhere, esp. using a lot of effort.

booth: a small temporary tent or structure at a market, fair, or exhibition, used for selling goods, providing information, or staging shows.

scrub: rub (someone or something) hard so as to clean them, typically with a brush and water.

stroll in: to walk slowly and leisurely through some place.

I took great joy in watching people stroll in after hours, thinking they could grab a late-night sundae.

shut: fall sleep.

I would point to the dimmed lights and stacked chairs as proof that we were shut.

eavesdrop: secretly listen to a conversation.

pledge: a solemn promise or undertaking.

When we first started out, I was terrified of doing anything wrong onstage.

start out: embark on a venture or undertaking, especially a commercial one.

onstage: (in a theater) on or onto the stage and so visible to the audience.

cynics: a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.

askew: not in a straight or level position.

Our priorities are askew.

contagious: infectious; (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact.

Smiles are the most contagious kind of facial expression, even among people who don’t know each other.

crook: a person who is dishonest or a criminal.

cop: catch or arrest (an offender).

nab: catch (someone) doing something wrong.

Since the crook will likely cop your mobile phone or tablet, use technology to nab him later.

Pigmentation means coloring. Skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin.

elasticity: the ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed; stretchiness.

gauge: measure the dimensions of (an object) with a gauge.

oratory: the art of speaking in public eloquently or effectively.

anecdote: a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

schizophrenia: A disorder that affects a person’s ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.

delusion: an unshakable belief in something that’s untrue.

angst: a feeling of persistent worry about something trivial.

fatigue: cause (someone) to feel tired or exhausted.

longevity: long life.

devile: (of food) cooked with hot seasoning.

temptation: anything that influences you to disobey God.

piquant: having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor.

kick: the sharp stimulant effect of something, especially alcohol.

And even then, the folks who brought them aren’t likely to go home with leftovers. The “devil” part? It’s not because they’re a source of temptation (though they are); it refers to the spices that add their nice, piquant kick.

accoutrement: additional items added for flavoring such as, but not limited to, seasonings, mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise.

poach: to cook something such as a fish, or an egg with its shell removed, by putting it in gently boiling water or other liquid.

connoisseur: an expert judge in matters of taste.

springiness: the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length.

tang: a strong taste, flavor, or smell.

dodgy: of low quality.

sputter: make a series of soft explosive sounds (boiling), typically when being heated or as a symptom of a fault.

Once the water is sputtering, reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cook for eight minutes.

Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground red peppers.

hand down: give or leave something such as knowledge, a possession, or a skill, to people who belong to a younger generation.

dash: a small quantity of a substance, especially a liquid, added to something else.

do the trick: achieve the required result.

For spicier eggs, a few dashes of Tabasco or grated horseradish will do the trick.

declare: pronounce or assert (a person or thing) to be something specified.

And there are plenty of folks who won’t declare a deviled-egg filling ready until they’ve added a teaspoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of pickle relish.

tinker with: to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner.

But by then, you’re just tinkering with perfection.

trace: a very small quantity, especially one too small to be accurately measured.

trace amounts of

Eggnog, historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage.

porch: a covered shelter projecting in front of the entrance of a building.

saturate: holding as much water or moisture as can be absorbed; thoroughly soaked.

revel: enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing.

THey revel in THeir firsT love.

brew: make (tea or coffee) by mixing it with hot water.

compliment: politely congratulate or praise (someone) for something.

intimate: private and personal.

fluff: make (something) appear fuller and softer by shaking or brushing it.

penetrate: to move into or through something.

nick: a small cut in a surface or an edge.

Seltzer water: sparkling water, alcohol and flavourings.

obstruct: block (an opening, path, road, etc.); be or get in the way of.

primer: a base coat used to help treat a surface before applying a topcoat.

foil: metal hammered or rolled into a thin flexible sheet, used chiefly for covering or wrapping food.

zap: cause to move suddenly and rapidly in a specified direction.

pachyderm: a very large mammal with thick skin, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.

teetotalers: a person who never drinks alcohol.

dawn on: to begin to be understood or realized by (someone) for the first time.

bartender: a man who prepares and serves drinks at a bar.

etiquette: the customary code of polite behavior in society or among members of a particular profession or group.

outweigh: to be likely to be more important than or have an effect on something else.

exasperated: intensely irritated and frustrated.

won out: to achieve victory or success after dealing with many difficulties.

rigorously: in an extremely thorough and careful way.

certify: attest, vouch, and witness; to testify.

During development, cleaners are dropped onto floors 5,318 times to certify they can withstand ten years of use.

wind up with: to come to a conclusion.

kink: bend; a sharp twist or curve in something that is otherwise straight.

cue from: to do what is done or suggested by (someone or something)

mahogany color: reddish-brown.

declutter: remove unnecessary items from (an untidy or overcrowded place).

declutter the wallet

nix: put an end to; cancel.

finance a purchase: borrow money and pay it back with interest.

large resort: to be the only person or thing that might be able to help you, when every other person or possibility has failed.

The bank may consider it a “last resort” loan, which is a huge red flag for higher credit risk.

trigger: start; cause (an event or situation) to happen or exist.

Check whether moving money from a big bank to a smaller credit union will trigger a hard inquiry.

toll: charge, payment.

enhance: intensify, increase, or further improve the quality, value, or extent of.

discreet: careful not to cause embarrassment or attract a lot of attention.

arthritis: joint effusion; caused by a fault in the immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues in the joints.

brittle: delicate and easily broken.

want out: you no longer want to be involved in a plan, project, or situation that you are part of.

yank: a sudden hard pull.

quadriceps: a group of muscles at the front of your thigh.

A tendon is a fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone.

hinge: a movable joint or mechanism on which a door, gate, or lid swings as it opens and closes or which connects linked objects.

pickup: informal and spontaneous.

Then, one weekend, he joined a pickup basketball game.

anterior: nearer the front, especially in the front of the body, or nearer to the head or forep

wobble: move or cause to move unsteadily from side to side.

excruciating: intensely painful.

I heard a pop and felt a wave of excruciating pain wash over me as The Body fell to the ground.

craggy: (of a cliff or rock face) rough and uneven.

arthritis: inflammation or swelling of one or more joints.

Cartilage is a strong, flexible connective tissue that protects your joints and bones. 

Weweather, climate, and the forces that cause change in our environment.

throbbing: beating with a strong, regular rhythm; pulsating.

irritating: cause inflammation or other discomfort in (a part of the body).

limp out: to walk slowly and with difficulty because of having an injured or painful leg or foot.

nix: put an end to; cancel.

crippling: causing a person to become unable to walk or move properly.

shuffle: walk by dragging one’s feet along or without lifting them fully from the ground.

cramp: not having enough space or time.

quell: suppress (a feeling). quell the pain

gulp: swallow (drink or food) quickly or in large mouthfuls, often audibly.

hobble: walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.

in heels: following closely after.

drenched: wet thoroughly; soak.

prone: likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something unpleasant or regrettable.

rigid: unable to bend or be forced out of shape; not flexible.

whip up: to excite (someone or something).

chronic: (of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring.

artillery: heavy military ranged weapons.

burn the midnight oil.

be tuckered out: completely exhausted; very tired.

wedge: force into a narrow space.

Innocuous: not harmful or offensive.

genetically modified organisms.

proponent: advocater, a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or course of action.

tinker: attempt to repair or improve something in a casual or desultory way.

fan the flames: to make a dangerous or unpleasant mood or situation worse.

mandatory: required by law or mandate; compulsory.

unintended: not planned or meant.

walk around with: be engaged in an activity, often for no particular purpose other than pleasure.

denounced: publicly declare to be wrong or evil.

pantry: a room or closet used for storage (as of provisions) or from which food is brought to the table.

slumber: a sleep.

hit the hay: go to bed.

stick with: to continue using or doing (something).

regimen: a prescribed course of medical treatment, diet, or exercise for the promotion or restoration of health.

In folklore, a werewolf, or occasionally lycanthrope, is an individual that can shapeshift into a wolf, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction with the transformations occurring on the night of a full moon.

toss and turn: to move about and turn over in bed because one is unable to sleep.

big dip: a great part of something that is at a lower level or a movement to a lower level.

Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness.

granted: admittedly; it is true (used to introduce a factor which is opposed to the main line of argument but is not regarded as so strong as to invalidate it).

toll: suffering, deaths, or damage.

sprinkle: cover (an object or surface) with small drops or particles of a substance.

All warm-blooded animals shed tiny flakes from their skin called dander (it’s like dandruff in humans, but much harder to see).

congestion: when your nose becomes stuffed up and inflamed.

boudoir: a woman’s dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room.

drowsiness: a feeling of being sleepy and lethargic; sleepiness.

doze off: to fall asleep especially for a short period of time.

speculate: form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.

In the normal brain, hypothermia reduces the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen by 6% for every 1°C reduction in brain temperature.

squelch: make a soft sucking sound such as that made by treading heavily through mud.

workout: a practice or exercise to test or improve one’s fitness for athletic competition, ability, or performance. 

interval: a period between two events or times, or the space between two points.

Ghrelin is a hormone produced by enteroendocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach, and is often called a “hunger hormone” because it increases the drive to eat.

An abscess is a painful collection of pus, usually caused by a bacterial infection.

shed light on: help to explain (something) by providing further information about it.

plaques: a sticky deposit on teeth in which bacteria proliferate.

Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities.

Tylenol: an analgesic for mild pain but not for inflammation.

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen or para-hydroxyacetanilide, is a medication used to treat fever and mild to moderate pain.

relieve: cause (pain, distress, or difficulty) to become less severe or serious.

fib: a lie, typically an unimportant one.

prod: poke with a finger, foot, or pointed object.

grueling: extremely tiring and demanding.

wade: walk with effort through water or another liquid or viscous substance.

strap into: to tie or bind someone or something down to something.

yank: to pull on something with a quick vigorous movement.

bystander: a person who is present at an event or incident but does not take part.

dimple: a small depression in the flesh, either one that exists permanently or one that forms in the cheeks when one smiles.

onlooker: someone who watches something that is happening in a public place but is not involved in it.

nuance: characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression.

subtle: (especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe.

focal point: the point at which rays or waves meet after reflection or refraction, or the point from which diverging rays or waves appear to proceed.

Amygdala is the integrative center for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation.

unflappable: having or showing calmness in a crisis.

demeanor: outward behaviour or bearing.

puncture: make a puncture, a hole in (something).

imminent: about to happen.

The basal ganglia (pronounced “bay-sal” “gang-lee-uh”) are a group of structures near the center of your brain that form important connections.

execute: put (a plan, order, or course of action) into effect.

embed: attach (a journalist) to a military unit during a conflict.

inherent; existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.

reportedly: according to what some say (used to express the speaker’s belief that the information given is not necessarily true).

Oxytocin is a hormone that’s produced in the hypothalamus and released into the bloodstream by the pituitary gland.

A bathroom stall is an enclosed private space with a toilet or urinal available for use by the general public.

Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a hormone your adrenal glands make to help you prepare for stressful or dangerous situations.

wear off: to stop having an effect or influence.

unfeasible: inconvenient or impractical.

clamber out: climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet.

flummoxed: disorganized; bewildered or perplexed.

insurgent: a person fighting against a government or invading force; a rebel or revolutionary.

lob: throw or hit (a ball or missile) in a high arc.

fracture: (of a bone or hard object) broken; cracked.

shrapnel: fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion.

scramble: make one’s way quickly or awkwardly up a steep gradient or over rough ground by using one’s hands as well as one’s feet.

torso: the trunk of the human body.

cinder: a partly burned combustible in which fire is extinct.

perish: die, especially in a violent or sudden way.

obituary: a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.

superintendent: a person who manages or superintends an organization or activity.

expendable: of relatively little significance, and therefore able to be abandoned or destroyed.

mediocrity: a person that is not very good at something or not very good at anything in particular, or something that is not very good.

hoist: raise or haul up.