AK-yoo-men
(noun) Keen insight or the ability to make quick, smart decisions.
Her business acumen turned the small shop into a thriving franchise.
Fun Fact
“Acumen” stems from the Latin acuere, meaning “to sharpen.” It refers not just to intelligence, but to mental sharpness in practical matters, such as strategy, leadership, or negotiation. From investors to chess players, acumen separates the instinctive from the merely informed.
TAW-dree
(adjective) Showy but cheap and of poor quality; lacking good taste.
The room was filled with tawdry decorations that looked like they came from a discount bin.
Mid 17th century: contraction of St. Audrey’s lace, which referred to cheap lace sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey. Over time, the lace was seen as gaudy and tasteless, and St. Audrey became tawdry.
Fun Fact
The transformation from St. Audrey to tawdry is a classic case of how language evolves through cultural snobbery. Once a respected religious figure, St. Audrey lent her name to lace accessories sold at fairs. But as styles changed, those accessories were considered garish or outdated, and the word became an insult. Today, tawdry is used to describe anything that’s cheaply flashy, overly glitzy, or just in bad taste—from outfits to gossip.