in words of one syllable

English

Pronunciation

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Prepositional phrase

in words of one syllable

1. (idiomatic) In simple, clear, straightforward language; in blunt language.
   • 1894, John Kendrick Bangs, “A Midnight Visitor”, in The Water Ghost and Others:

     I am at present engaged in preparing a vest-pocket edition of the philosophical works of Schopenhauer in words of one syllable.

   • 1914, Samuel Hopkins Adams, chapter 24, in The Clarion:

     So I explained in words of one syllable that I went there to pick edelweiss from the fire escapes.

   • 1915, John Galsworthy, chapter 22, in The Freelands:

     Felix propounded the story of the arrest, so far as might be, in words of one syllable.

   • 1972 December 27, Alden Whitman, “Obituary: Harry S. Truman, Decisive President”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 September 2012:

     The President used "words of one syllable" to convey his insistence that Poland be "free and independent".

   • 2003 November 19, Richard Corliss, “That Old Feeling: The Show at the Casino”, in Time:

     Or, in words of one syllable, it's Cirque's sex show.

See also

• in no uncertain terms

References

• “in words of one syllable”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.