Words / B2

BLUSH/blʌʃ/

To blush is to go red in the face from embarrassment or shyness; as a noun, that redness: blush with; a blush of. Flush is a close twin, often from heat or anger; redden is plainer. A blush in the photograph is not proof of guilt. Mix-up: blush vs brush; flush; do not write blush for a make-up brand unless the source is a cosmetics label.

Meaning

To go red in the face from embarrassment or shyness; as a noun, that redness.

Examples

• “A blush in the photograph is not proof of guilt, the jury source said.”
• “He blushed at the error in the minutes, which is the embarrassment sense.”

Good to know

blush with / at; a blush of. Close: flush / redden. Trap: brush. Literature, news, and citizenship. Face-redness from embarrassment, not a cosmetics slogan.

Near in meaning

flush, redden, colour

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