in words of one syllable

prepositional phrase

In simple, clear, straightforward language; in blunt language.

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. idiomaticIn simple, clear, straightforward language; in blunt language.

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

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

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

    1894, John Kendrick Bangs, “A Midnight Visitor”, in The Water Ghost and Others

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

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

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

    1915, John Galsworthy, chapter 22, in The Freelands

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

    1972 December 27, Alden Whitman, “Obituary: Harry S. Truman, Decisive President”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 Sep 2012
Cite this entry
APA

in words of one syllable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20words%20of%20one%20syllable

MLA

“in words of one syllable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20words%20of%20one%20syllable. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in words of one syllable,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20words%20of%20one%20syllable.

Source: in words of one syllable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.