Words / C2

BRAND-ish/ˈbrændɪʃ/

To brandish is to wave something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or showy way: brandish a letter, brandish a sword. Wave (already in the dictionary) is everyday; flourish (already in the dictionary) is to grow well, or to wave with a flourish. Bluster (already in the dictionary) is loud empty swagger, of talk not of an object. A ranking slide is not a finding.

Meaning

To wave something, especially a weapon, in a threatening or showy way.

Examples

• “Brandishing a ranking slide does not invent an n.”
• “Wave is everyday (already in A2). Flourish is to thrive or to wave (already in B1). Bluster is empty swagger (already in C2). A dated figure on a slide can be exact. A flourish that never states the cell is theatre. Write the number; then the gesture.”

Good to know

Wave showily or threateningly. Everyday: wave (already in this dictionary). Close: flourish (already in B1). Contrast: bluster (empty talk — already in C2). A slide is not an n.

Near in meaning

flourish, wave, wield, flaunt

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