Ever get a particular mental image in your mind whenever you hear or read certain words?
I do all the time.
For example...
The word "
Flee"
Verb:
"To run away, as from trouble or danger"Example: "Seeing no other alternative, Joe was forced to flee."
Whenever I hear the word "flee", I get a mental picture in my mind of people running away. Like from Godzilla.
But to me, when one "flees", they must not be carrying anything. Instead, they must be looking straight ahead or slightly up and to the left and they must also not run like a regular person runs.
They must have their hands up in the "I surrender" position while running and they must all be screaming, "
AIIEEEEE!!!" as they do it.
To me, that is "fleeing".
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Another one....
"
Poised"
ADJECTIVE: "
Held balanced or steady in readiness"
Example, "The evil corporation was poised to take over the rival company."
Whenever I hear or read the word "poised", I picture a person or group of people kneeling down, like runners right before a race starts.
To be truly "poised", they must all have the tips of all of their fingers touching the ground, as if they're about to leap forward to pounce.
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"Tout"Verb: "
To promote or praise energetically; publicize"
Example: "The press touted the drug company for making a promising new drug"
Whenever I hear this word, I picture someone shaking their finger in another person's face in an accusing and angry manner. And their finger must be very close to the other person's face.
I know my mental image is incorrect with the meaning of the word, but I can't help it...that's what always comes into my head.
Being "touted" means a finger in the face!
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"
Mulling" or "
Mull"
Verb:
"To go over extensively in the mind; ponder"Example: "The Pentagon was mulling over whether to send more troops to Iraq".
When I hear this word, I immediately picture a person or group of people sitting at a big table with one hand on their chins, heads down and thinking hard.
While that pretty much fits the definition, my mind always adds something extra.
In my mind, when one "mulls", they must grind their teeth, move their jaws and make an internal and throaty growling noise while they do it.
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"
Seeking" or "
Seek"
Verb: "
To try to locate or discover; search for"
Example: "He was seeking enlightenment"
When I hear or read this word, I always picture the seeker holding their right hand horizontally above his or her right brow.
Kind of like they're saluting, but they're not.
They look off into the distance with their hand held that way.
They're "
seeking".
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So yeah, my mind comes up with all kinds of weird images whenever I hear certain words.
How about you?
Got any you want to share?