Time is of the essence when it comes to today’s word pair! The verb rush means “to move, act, or progress with speed, impetuosity, or violence.” One can rush to the store to stock up on essentials or one can rush to judgement—the point being that rush works on a few different levels; its meaning is not restricted to physical movement. Scurry, however, just about always describes physical movement. It is defined as “to go or move quickly or in haste” and it comes from hurry-scurry, a verb and adverb about disorderly and confused rapid movement. Scurry, too, suggests a degree of disorderliness or frenzied movement, commonly turning up in descriptions of critters that are skedaddling to safety.

The main idea behind the verb prepare is readiness, whether getting ready for something (prepare for a speech), or making something or someone ready (the nurse prepared the patient for surgery). The verb gird is a suitable synonym in only a few situations because it means, specifically, to prepare oneself for action, as in a defendant who girds himself for an upcoming trial. Gird originally meant “to encircle or bind with a belt or band,” as in the expression gird (up) one’s, which originally alluded to tucking up the traditional long robe into a girdle (that is, a belt) so it would not hamper physical activity. Today girding up one’s loins carries the same meaning as the shorter gird, that is to say, preparing oneself for action.

What's the difference between a joke and a wisecrack? Well, for starters, a joke is more likely to be in a question-and-answer format! A joke is something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, whether it be a knock-knock joke, a prank, or a short, amusing anecdote. The noun wisecrack is more specific: this term is defined as a smart or facetious remark, usually a one-liner that pokes fun at someone or something. A wisecrack is not exactly a pun, which typically involves a play on words, nor is it a gag, which sometimes involves a prank or boisterous physical humor. A wisecrack is closer to a quip or gibe, which is a taunting or sarcastic remark.