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slough ~ slough
[different pronunciation]
“Slough” (verb & rhymes with ‘cuff’, with the letters ‘gh’ said with an ‘f’ sound) is ‘to lose, take off or get rid of a layer of dead skin; to remove or get rid of some thing that one does not want or something that is damaging to one’s good name’,
{Note: ‘Slough’, with the pronunciation that rhymes with ‘cow’ and always with a Capital ‘S’, is the name of a place near central England.}
(a snake sloughing — the old skin on the head peels off and continues peeling to the end of the tail)
e.g.
Snakes slough their entire skin from time to time.
The Prime Minister advised his ministers to slough off their bad image immediately.
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“Slough” (noun & rhymes with ‘cow’ with no ‘f’ sound at the end, or ‘sloo’) {also ‘slew‘ and/or ‘slue‘} is ‘a bad situation from which one cannot find a way out; a state of sadness with no hope of getting out of it; a very wet area of land, usually covered in deep dirty water or mud’,
a slough/slue
e.g.
The President found his office staff in a slough of disorder and despair over the gun licensing issue.
Any slough is not a suitable place for growing crops.
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About the Author:BC Kumar
BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.
