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Bluffer's luck
Bluffer's luck

Chapter VI · Reputations

Cover illustration for Bluffer's luck
Context Illustration Reading 1/63 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.
For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.
It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.
Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.
“You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Bluffer's luck

Chapter VI · Reputations

Reading 1/63 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.
Line 2
For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.
Line 3
It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.
Line 4
Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.
Line 5
“You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.”

All words in this reading · 66

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

abstained

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

accept

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

advice

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

blind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

boiled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

Charley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

Cole

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

dissuade

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

don't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.

drank

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

drunk

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

get

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

got

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

Harry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

home

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

liquor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

Lobo

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

Oasis

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

owl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

position

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

Prentice

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

Prentice's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

proverbial

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

quarts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

refused

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

said

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.

several

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

stuff

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading That night Charley Prentice got as drunk as the proverbial boiled owl.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

totally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

tried

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Harry Cole had tried to dissuade him, but he refused to accept advice.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

unusual

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

want

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

Wells

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was nothing unusual for a man to get drunk in Lobo Wells, but for a man in Charley Prentice’s position it was not quite the right thing.

whisky

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

years

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading For several years Prentice had totally abstained from all liquor, but this night he drank himself blind drunk at the Oasis and took two quarts of whisky home with him.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You don’t want that stuff, Charley,” said Cole.