Spell Bee Word: referring

Basic Details

Word: Referring

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: To mention or to direct someone's attention to something.

Synonyms: Alluding, mentioning, citing

Antonyms: Ignoring, overlooking

Idioms and Phrases

1. Referring to the elephant in the room: This means acknowledging an obvious problem or issue that everyone is aware of but no one wants to discuss. Example: "During the meeting, Jane finally referred to the elephant in the room and spoke about the budget cuts."
2. Referring back: This is used when someone goes back to a previous point or statement. Example: "In her presentation, she kept referring back to her earlier slides to emphasise her key points."

Usage Examples

Example 1: The teacher was referring to the book when she talked about the main character’s journey.

Example 2: When referring to the rules of the game, the coach emphasised the importance of teamwork.

Example 3: I was referring to my friend's advice when I made my final decision.

Fun Fact

The origin of the word "refer" comes from the Latin word "referre," which means "to carry back." This illustrates how the word is used to bring back or direct focus to something that has already been mentioned.

Famous Quote

"When you refer to a person’s ideas, you are giving them credit for their thought." - Unknown

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does "referring" mean?

a) To ignore something
b) To mention or direct attention to something
c) To confuse someone
d) To ask someone a question

Answer: b) To mention or direct attention to something

2. Which of these is a synonym of "referring"?

a) Ignoring
b) Alluding
c) Avoiding
d) Concluding

Answer: b) Alluding

3. What is an antonym of "referring"?

a) Mentioning
b) Overlooking
c) Citing
d) Indicating

Answer: b) Overlooking

4. Which sentence uses "referring" correctly?

a) The cat was referring to its toy with great enthusiasm.
b) I was referring to the website for information about the competition.
c) The boy was referring to his dog as he played outside.
d) The plant was referring to the water in the pot.

Answer: b) I was referring to the website for information about the competition.

5. Which idiom includes the word "referring"?

a) Cold as a stone
b) Referring to the elephant in the room
c) As busy as a bee
d) Between a rock and a hard place

Answer: b) Referring to the elephant in the room