wakey words
A warning cry shouted before tossing slop out a window (literally “Look out below!”)
Gardyloo
1. Agog
a) A type of ancient Greek helmet
b) Very eager or curious
c) A wild goose from northern Russia
B
This word means not drinking alcohol—it's also a lifestyle for many in recovery.
What is sobriety?
Flummox (to confuse or bewilder someone)
Example:
The magician’s disappearing rabbit flummoxed the crowd so much, they forgot to clap.
Flummox
To bewilder or confuse completely.
Limerence
An intense, obsessive romantic attraction to someone.
example
When Sarah finally admitted her feelings of limerence for her seemingly indifferent coworker, his utterly flummoxed reaction left her feeling even more confused.
To confuse, perplex, or fluster
Bumfuzzle
2. Skedaddle
a) To run away hurriedly
b) A type of pancake made in Wales
c) The sound a snake makes when angry
A) To run away hurriedly
A complete transformation or rebirth, like the mythical phoenix.
What is transfiguration?
Limerence (the state of being intensely infatuated with someone)
Example
Her limerence for the barista was so intense, she started writing poems about coffee foam.
Wamble
To feel nauseated or have a rumbling stomach.
Gardyloo
An old Scottish warning cry shouted before throwing waste out of a window.
Example:
After a night of revelry, his stomach began to wamble, and he nearly shouted "Gardyloo!" to warn pedestrians below his window, as he desperately sought to empty the contents of his stomach.
A sycophant; someone who flatters excessively
Lickspittle
3. Flummox
a) To tickle someone until they laugh
b) A trick performed by clowns in old circuses
c) To confuse or bewilder
To confuse or bewilder
The Japanese art of repairing broken things with gold—used as a metaphor for healing.
→ What is kintsugi?
Wamble (to feel nauseated or have a rumbling stomach)
Example
I felt a strange wamble in my stomach after eating that suspicious-looking sandwich.
Widdershins
Moving counterclockwise or in the opposite direction of the sun; considered unlucky in folklore.
Gobbledygook
Language that is meaningless or hard to understand; jargon or nonsense.
Example:
The old wizard's incantations, full of complex, arcane phrases that sounded like so much gobbledygook, commanded the apprentices to stir their cauldrons widdershins, invoking an ancient and potentially unlucky ritual.
An awkward, clumsy person (rare and silly-sounding!)
Blubberlubber
4. Gobbledygook
a) Nonsense or overly technical language
b) A mythical bird that eats clocks
c) A stew made from turkey leftovers
a) Nonsense or overly technical language
This 9-letter word means the ability to bounce back after hardship or trauma.
What is resilience?
Solace (comfort in a time of distress or sadness)
Example
She found solace in quiet walks through the forest whenever life felt overwhelming.
Fudgel
(Obsolete) Pretending to work while actually doing nothing.
Jargogle
To confuse or jumble up.
Example:
The intern's attempt to fudgel through the project only served to jargogle the entire team's efforts, causing a complete mess of the final report.
A funny term for stomach pain or nervousness
Collywobbles
5. Kerfuffle
a) A small commotion or fuss
b) A fancy hat worn at tea parties
c) A type of Scottish dessert
a) A small commotion or fuss
A state of deep contemplation or spiritual connection—often part of meditative recovery practices.
What is mindfulness?
Reclamation (the process of recovering or restoring something lost)
Example
Recovery was a slow reclamation of her confidence, one small step at a time.
Bruxism
The involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, usually during sleep.
19. Bibliopole
A person who buys and sells rare or curious books.
Example:
As the pressure of running a successful business caused the bibliopole to unconsciously clench his jaw, his nighttime bruxism worsened, leading to cracked teeth and jaw pain.