Word of the day: Rigmarole (noun)
Possible Meanings:
- A long and complicated but unnecessary procedure or explanation.
- A lengthy and tedious speech or conversation filled with unnecessary details.
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Example Sentences:
- The new software installation process was a complete rigmarole, taking hours to complete. (Explanation: Rigmarole describes the unnecessarily complex and time-consuming procedure.)
- He launched into a rigmarole about his family history, losing his audience’s attention with every detail. (Explanation: Rigmarole describes the long and tedious speech that bored the listeners.)
- To avoid the rigmarole of customs, they opted for the express lane at the airport. (Explanation: Rigmarole refers to the lengthy and potentially frustrating customs procedures.)
- “Can you skip the rigmarole and just tell me the answer?” she asked, impatient with his long-winded explanation. (Explanation: Rigmarole describes the unnecessary details that are delaying getting to the point.)
- The teacher’s daily rigmarole of classroom rules could have been condensed into a simple reminder. (Explanation: Rigmarole describes the repetitive and lengthy instructions that could have been more concise.)
Conversation Example:
Person 1: “Ugh, these instructions are so confusing! It’s like they’re trying to make it a bigger job than it needs to be.”
Person 2: “Yeah, it’s a total rigmarole. There’s probably a much simpler way to do this.”
Can you use rigmarole in a sentence of your own? Share your example in the comments below.