A musical director was having a lot of trouble with one drummer. He talked and talked and talked with the drummer, but his performance simply didn"t improve.
Finally, before the whole orchestra, he said, "When a musician just can"t handle his instrument and doesn"t improve when given help, they take away the instrument, and give him two sticks, and make him a drummer."
A stage whisper was heard from the percussion section: "And if he can"t handle even that, they take away one of his sticks and make him a conductor."
admiral n. Naval officer ranking below vice admiral.
- —n. - back part of anything.
- space behind, or position at the back of, anything.
- colloq. Buttocks. —adj. At the back. bring up the rear come last. [probably from *rearward or *rearguard]
- v. - a bring up and educate (children). B breed and care for (animals). C cultivate (crops).
- (of a horse etc.) Raise itself on its hind legs.
- a set upright. B build. C hold upwards.
- extend to a great height. [old english]
REDO
v. (redoing; 3rd sing. Present redoes; past redid; past part. Redone) 1 do again.
- redecorate.
REED
n. - a water or marsh plant with a firm stem. B tall straight stalk of this.
- a strip of cane etc. Vibrating to produce the sound in some wind instruments. B (esp. In pl.) Such an instrument. reeded adj. [old english]
REEF
n. - ridge of rock or coral etc. At or near the surface of the sea.
- a lode of ore. B bedrock surrounding this. [old norse rif]
- —n. Each of several strips across a sail, for taking it in or rolling it up to reduce its surface area in a high wind. —v. Take in a reef or reefs of (a sail). [dutch from old norse]
REEK
—v. (often foll. By of) 1 smell strongly and unpleasantly.
- have unpleasant or suspicious associations (reeks of corruption). —n. - foul or stale smell.
- esp. Scot. Smoke.
- vapour, visible exhalation. [old english]
REEL
—n. - cylindrical device on which thread, silk, yarn, paper, film, wire, etc., are wound.
- quantity of thread etc. Wound on a reel.
- device for winding and unwinding a line as required, esp. In fishing.
- revolving part in various machines.
- a lively folk or scottish dance. B music for this. —v. - wind (thread, fishing-line, etc.) On a reel.
- (foll. By in, up) draw (fish etc.) In or up with a reel.
- stand, walk, or run unsteadily.
- be shaken mentally or physically.
- rock from side to side, or swing violently.
- dance a reel. reel off say or recite very rapidly and without apparent effort. [old english]
REIN
—n. (in sing. Or pl.) 1 long narrow strap with each end attached to the bit, used to guide or check a horse etc.
- similar device used to restrain a child.
- means of control. —v. - check or manage with reins.
- (foll. By up, back) pull up or back with reins.
- (foll. By in) hold in as with reins.
- govern, restrain, control. give free rein to allow freedom of action or expression. Keep a tight rein on allow little freedom to. [french rene from latin retinere *retain]
RELY
v. (-ies, -ied) (foll. By on, upon) 1 depend on with confidence or assurance.
- be dependent on. [latin religo bind closely]
REME
abbr. Royal electrical and mechanical engineers.
REND
v. (past and past part. Rent) archaic tear or wrench forcibly. [old english]
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