What is blush? Pronunciation and usage in English

blush means . Learn how to pronounce and use blush through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of blush

blushverb

/blʌʃ//blʌʃ/
Definition & pronunciation of blush

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "blush" in English! Here's a breakdown and a few ways to approach it:

The Most Common and Recommended Pronunciation:

  • ˈblʌʃ (This is the generally accepted and most natural pronunciation.)

Let's break it down syllable by syllable:

  1. ˈblʌ - This part is tricky! It sounds like "blur" but shorter and with a slightly more drawn-out vowel sound. Think of the "bl" sound combined with a very short "uh" sound (like in "cup").
  2. ʃ - This is the "sh" sound, similar to the "sh" in "ship" or "shoe."

Putting it together: ˈblʌʃ (Blur-sh)

Tips & Variations:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("blu").
  • Regional Variations: You might hear slight variations depending on where someone is from. In some regions, the "u" sound in the first syllable might be a bit more open (closer to a "oo" sound).

Resources to Hear It:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (This can sometimes help me account for regional pronunciation differences.)

Usage and examples with the word blush in English

Let's break down how to use the word "blush" in English. It has several different meanings and ways to be used! Here's a breakdown with examples:

1. Physical Blush (The Most Common Meaning)

  • Definition: To turn red in the face, usually due to embarrassment, shyness, joy, or anger.
  • How to Use It: This is the most familiar meaning. You describe the action of turning red.
  • Examples:
    • "She blushed when he complimented her dress." (She turned red.)
    • "He blushed with embarrassment after tripping in front of everyone."
    • "Her cheeks were flushed with happiness." (Similar to blushing)
    • "A little blush crept across her face."

2. Blush as a Verb (Action of Blushing)

  • Definition: To turn red in the face as a result of feeling embarrassed, shy, joyful, or angered.
  • Examples:
    • "She blushed when asked about her past."
    • "Don't blush! Just tell us the truth."
    • "He blushed and looked down at his shoes."

3. Blush as a Noun (The Color)

  • Definition: The reddish color of the skin when someone blushes. It refers to the color itself.
  • Examples:
    • "She had a delicate blush on her cheeks."
    • "The sun gave his face a blush."
    • "The makeup artist blended a subtle blush onto her cheeks."

4. Blush (Figurative Meaning - A Hint or Suggestion)

  • Definition: To hint at something, to suggest something without stating it directly. This is a less common usage.
  • How to Use It: You’re implying something.
  • Examples:
    • "His words were a blush about his feelings for her." (He hinted at his feelings.)
    • "The silence was a blush of unspoken agreement." (They implicitly agreed.)

Here’s a table summarizing the different uses:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To turn red in the face "He blushed when he heard the news."
Noun The reddish color "Her cheeks had a lovely blush."
Verb (Figurative) To hint or suggest "His comments were a blush of jealousy."

Tips for Using "Blush" Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of “blush” depends heavily on the context of the sentence.
  • Describing the Feeling: When describing a physical blush, try to connect it to the emotion causing it (embarrassment, joy, etc.).
  • Synonyms: Consider using synonyms like "flushed," "redden," or "turn red" for variety.

Would you like me to:

  • Give you more examples of how to use “blush” in a specific situation?
  • Help you write a sentence using “blush” in a particular way?

Synonyms for the word blush

Practice with vocabulary blush

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. When she realized her mistake during the presentation, a faint ______ crept up her neck.
  2. Despite his confident demeanor, the unexpected compliment made him ______ slightly.
  3. The athlete's face began to ______ after the strenuous run in the summer heat.
  4. His immediate ______ upon hearing the shocking news showed his profound surprise.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. She tends to ______ whenever she receives an unexpected compliment about her dedication. a) blush b) frown c) smile d) recoil

  2. Faced with an unexpected question about her personal life during the interview, the candidate began to ______ and ______ nervously. a) stammer b) blush c) boast d) falter

  3. The professor couldn't help but ______ slightly, or at least ______ in acknowledgement, when the entire audience gave him a standing ovation. a) blush b) flinch c) redden d) ignore

  4. The consultant was asked to ______ the complex financial data for the board meeting, ensuring clarity for all members. a) articulate b) elaborate c) simplify d) obfuscate

  5. During the tense negotiations, it was crucial for the team leader to ______ directly the allegations of misconduct. a) confront b) evade c) address d) gloss over

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Her face turned a deep shade of red when her past errors were brought up during the performance review. Rewrite using "blush":

  2. The young intern felt quite shy and self-conscious when praised publicly by the director for his exceptional report. Rewrite using "blush" or a related word form:

  3. When the manager heard the outrageous proposal, he became visibly angry and his face turned red with indignation. Rewrite without using "blush":

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. blush
  2. blush
  3. flush
  4. recoil

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. a) blush, c) smile
  2. a) stammer, b) blush, d) falter
  3. a) blush, c) redden
  4. c) simplify
  5. a) confront, c) address

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. She couldn't help but blush deeply when her past errors were brought up during the performance review.
  2. A slight blush appeared on the young intern's cheeks when praised publicly by the director for his exceptional report.
  3. When the manager heard the outrageous proposal, he became visibly angry and flushed with indignation.

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