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Grenville KleiserFifteen Thousand Useful Phrases (July 29, 2007)

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LibriVox recording of Grenville Kleiser's Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases read by a variety of LibriVox members.

A Practical Handbook of Pertinent Expressions, Striking Similes, Literary, Commercial, Conversational, and Oratorical Terms, for the Embellishment of Speech and Literature, and The Improvement of the Vocabulary of Those Persons Who Read, Write, and Speak English.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org.

This audio is part of the collection: LibriVox

Artist/Composer: Grenville Kleiser
Date: 2007-07-29 01:48:07
Source: Librivox recording of a public-domain text
Keywords: librivox; audiobooks; literature; language

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

Individual Files

Whole Item	Format	Size
15000_useful_phrases_librivox_128kb.m3u	128kbps M3U	Stream
15000_useful_phrases_librivox_64kb.m3u	64Kbps M3U	Stream
15000_useful_phrases_librivox_64kb_mp3.zip	64Kbps MP3 ZIP	434 MB

Audio Files	128Kbps MP3	Ogg Vorbis	64Kbps MP3
000 - Introduction	11 MB	6.23 MB	5.65 MB
001 - How To Use This Book	4.46 MB	2.35 MB	2.23 MB
002 - Plan of Study	4.46 MB	2.17 MB	2.23 MB
003 - Useful Phrases: abandoned hope - ample culture	4.78 MB	2.57 MB	2.39 MB
004 - Useful Phrases: amusing artlessness - azure sky	3.83 MB	2.12 MB	1.92 MB
005 - Useful Phrases: babbling gossip - bygone period	3.62 MB	2.00 MB	1.81 MB
006 - Useful Phrases: cabalistic phrase - collateral duties	2.56 MB	1.40 MB	1.28 MB
007 - Useful Phrases: collective wisdom - contingent reasons	2.50 MB	1.37 MB	1.25 MB
008 - Useful Phrases: continuous endeavor - cynical disregard	3.78 MB	2.13 MB	1.89 MB
009 - Useful Phrases: damaging admission - diligently propagated	5.92 MB	3.15 MB	2.96 MB
010 - Useful Phrases: dim comprehension - dynastic insolence	5.36 MB	2.85 MB	2.68 MB
011 - Useful Phrases: eager animosity - entrancing sadness	5.35 MB	2.91 MB	2.67 MB
012 - Useful Phrases: enveloping presence - exultant condition	4.49 MB	3.34 MB	2.25 MB
013 - Useful Phrases: facetious mood - flickering conscience	2.64 MB	1.49 MB	1.32 MB
014 - Useful Phrases: flighty obstinacy - futile babble	3.00 MB	1.64 MB	1.50 MB
015 - Useful Phrases: gabbling reminiscences - gymnastic agility	4.15 MB	2.26 MB	2.07 MB
016 - Useful Phrases: habitual deference - hysterical agitation	4.49 MB	2.46 MB	2.24 MB
017 - Useful Phrases: iconoclastic attitude - incipient fancy	6.50 MB	3.42 MB	3.25 MB
018 - Useful Phrases: incisive critic - inquisitional rack	5.28 MB	2.75 MB	2.64 MB
019 - Useful Phrases: inquisitive observer - isolated splendor	5.28 MB	2.86 MB	2.64 MB
020 - Useful Phrases: jaded sensibility - lying equivocations	5.04 MB	2.72 MB	2.52 MB
021 - Useful Phrases: maddening monotony - meteoric splendors	4.05 MB	2.19 MB	2.03 MB
022 - Useful Phrases: methodical regularity - mythical kingdom	3.54 MB	1.91 MB	1.77 MB
023 - Useful Phrases: naive manner - overworked drudge	5.80 MB	3.13 MB	2.90 MB
024 - Useful Phrases: pacific disposition - political malcontent	6.81 MB	4.44 MB	3.40 MB
025 - Useful Phrases: polluting taints - pyrotechnic outburst	8.18 MB	5.15 MB	4.09 MB
026 - Useful Phrases: quailing culprit - remarkable sagacity	3.06 MB	1.76 MB	1.53 MB
027 - Useful Phrases: remedial measure - ruthless commercialism	2.34 MB	1.36 MB	1.17 MB
028 - Useful Phrases: sacerdotal preeminence - shuddering reluctance	4.42 MB	2.54 MB	2.21 MB
029 - Useful Phrases: shuffling preliminaries - starched sterility	4.61 MB	2.63 MB	2.31 MB
030 - Useful Phrases: starlit eminence - systematic interaction	3.59 MB	2.05 MB	1.79 MB
031 - Useful Phrases: tacit assumption - tyrannical disposition	4.70 MB	2.68 MB	2.35 MB
032 - Useful Phrases: ubiquitous activity - undue predilection	3.72 MB	2.14 MB	1.86 MB
033 - Useful Phrases: undulating hills - unpalatable truth	3.78 MB	2.17 MB	1.89 MB
034 - Useful Phrases: unparalleled atrocities - utmost scorn	3.87 MB	2.22 MB	1.93 MB
035 - Useful Phrases: vacant stupidity - vulnerable foe	2.87 MB	1.62 MB	1.43 MB
036 - Useful Phrases: wabbling enterprise - zoologically considered	2.93 MB	1.59 MB	1.47 MB
037 - Significant Phrases: abashed and ashamed - awkwardness and crudity	3.90 MB	2.36 MB	1.95 MB
038 - Significant Phrases: babel and confusion - civilized and cultured	4.46 MB	2.57 MB	2.23 MB
039 - Significant Phrases: clamorous and wild - cynical and contemptuous	4.68 MB	2.70 MB	2.34 MB
040 - Significant Phrases: dangers and pitfalls - digressive and wanton	3.35 MB	1.93 MB	1.67 MB
041 - Significant Phrases: dilatory and hesitating - dwindle and disappear	4.34 MB	2.30 MB	2.17 MB
042 - Significant Phrases: eagerness and ecstasy - exuberant and infectious	5.75 MB	3.01 MB	2.87 MB
043 - Significant Phrases: fabulous and fabricated - futile and untrustworthy	4.39 MB	2.32 MB	2.20 MB
044 - Significant Phrases: gaiety and grace - hypocrisy and impudence	4.85 MB	2.57 MB	2.43 MB
045 - Significant Phrases: ideas and achievements - indomitable and dogged	3.13 MB	1.66 MB	1.56 MB
046 - Significant Phrases: indorsed and applauded - isolated and detached	3.31 MB	1.82 MB	1.66 MB
047 - Significant Phrases: jabber and chatter - luxury and pomp	3.78 MB	1.94 MB	1.89 MB
048 - Significant Phrases: madness and folly - mystic and wonderful	2.67 MB	1.37 MB	1.34 MB
049 - Significant Phrases: nagging and squabbling - overworked and fagged	3.82 MB	1.97 MB	1.91 MB
050 - Significant Phrases: pains and penalties - puzzled and affected	5.63 MB	2.99 MB	2.82 MB
051 - Significant Phrases: quackery and incompetence - rust and disuse	4.56 MB	2.37 MB	2.28 MB
052 - Significant Phrases: sad and melancholy - spacious and lofty	3.49 MB	1.86 MB	1.75 MB
053 - Significant Phrases: sparkling and spontaneous - sympathetic and consoling	3.76 MB	3.01 MB	1.88 MB
054 - Significant Phrases: taciturn and laconic - tyrant and oppressor	4.40 MB	2.43 MB	2.20 MB
055 - Significant Phrases: unaccountable and grotesque - vulgar and artificial	5.34 MB	3.05 MB	2.67 MB
056 - Significant Phrases: wandering and erratic - zigzag and deviating	2.10 MB	1.53 MB	1.05 MB
058 - Felicitous Phrases: curious, fantastic, and charming - calculated, logical, and dispassionate	3.84 MB	2.12 MB	1.92 MB
059 - Felicitous Phrases: dwarfed, scant, and wretched - danger, difficulty, and hardship	4.15 MB	2.32 MB	2.08 MB
060 - Felicitous Phrases: eagerness, heartiness, and vehemence - fustian, padding, and irrelevancy	4.21 MB	2.96 MB	2.10 MB
061 - Felicitous Phrases: gaunt, desolate, and despoiled - humor, fancy, and susceptibility	3.37 MB	1.59 MB	1.69 MB
062 - Felicitous Phrases: idle, profuse, and profligate - luxurious, whimsical, and selfish	3.98 MB	2.22 MB	1.99 MB
063 - Felicitous Phrases: magnificent, sumptuous, and stately - overriding, arrogant, and quarrelsome	3.53 MB	1.86 MB	1.77 MB
064 - Felicitous Phrases: pain, toil, and privation - puzzles, tangles, and questionings	3.44 MB	1.58 MB	1.72 MB
065 - Felicitous Phrases: quarrels, misunderstandings, and enmities - rush, roar, and shriek	2.41 MB	1.31 MB	1.21 MB
066 - Felicitous Phrases: sacredness, dignity, and loveliness - sympathy, service, and compassion	3.74 MB	1.83 MB	1.87 MB
067 - Felicitous Phrases: talent, scholarship, and refinement - wrinkled, careworn, and pale	4.70 MB	2.66 MB	2.35 MB
068 - Impressive Phrases: able, skilful,... - business, profession,...	4.30 MB	2.93 MB	2.15 MB
069 - Impressive Phrases: candid, sincere,... - dull, heavy,...	5.56 MB	3.80 MB	2.78 MB
070 - Impressive Phrases: earth, air,... - gross, academic,..	5.78 MB	3.94 MB	2.89 MB
071 - Impressive Phrases: habit, custom,... - lucidity, impressiveness,...	5.22 MB	3.57 MB	2.61 MB
072 - Impressive Phrases: malice, anger,... - purpose, meaning,...	5.19 MB	3.58 MB	2.60 MB
073 - Edit: Impressive Phrases: quack, imposture,... - symmetry, proportion,..	3.98 MB	2.69 MB	1.99 MB
074 - Edit: Impressive Phrases: tact, courtesy,... - worry, annoyance,...	3.82 MB	2.60 MB	1.91 MB
075 - Prepositional Phrases of: abandon of spontaneity - business of life	4.21 MB	2.33 MB	2.10 MB
076 - Prepositional Phrases of: cadences of delirium - dust of defeat	3.55 MB	2.01 MB	1.78 MB
077 - Prepositional Phrases of: earnestness of enthusiasm - futility of pride	3.85 MB	2.10 MB	1.93 MB
078 - Prepositional Phrases of: gaiety of spirit - irony of life	3.69 MB	2.00 MB	1.84 MB
079 - Prepositional Phrases of: jangle of sounds - overflow of vitality	3.83 MB	2.07 MB	1.91 MB
080 - Prepositional Phrases of: page of desolation - ruts of conventionality	4.47 MB	2.40 MB	2.23 MB
081 - Prepositional Phrases of: sadness of soul - system of aspersion	3.27 MB	1.76 MB	1.64 MB
082 - Prepositional Phrases of: taint of megalomania - zone of delusion	3.92 MB	2.12 MB	1.96 MB
083 - Prepositional Phrases by: affected by externals - hushed by denial	2.83 MB	1.57 MB	1.42 MB
084 - Prepositional Phrases by: impelled by duty - wrenched by emotions	3.26 MB	1.67 MB	1.63 MB
085 - Prepositional Phrases in: absorbed in meditation - kept in abeyance	3.00 MB	1.54 MB	1.50 MB
086 - Prepositional Phrases in: landmarks in memory - weak in conception	3.48 MB	1.80 MB	1.74 MB
087 - Prepositional Phrases into: abashed into silence - goaded into action	1.82 MB	1021 KB	932 KB
088 - Prepositional Phrases into: hushed into silence - withdraw into solitude	1.70 MB	954 KB	871 KB
089 - Prepositional Phrases to: addicted to flattery - hostile to progress	1.69 MB	940 KB	867 KB
090 - Prepositional Phrases to: impervious to suggestion - yield to reason	2.26 MB	1.22 MB	1.13 MB
091 - Prepositional Phrases with: abounding with plenty - intoxicated with joy	2.19 MB	1.18 MB	1.09 MB
092 - Prepositional Phrases with: kindle with enthusiasm - work with zeal	2.28 MB	1.18 MB	1.14 MB
093 - Business Phrases	23 MB	17 MB	11 MB
094 - Literary Expressions: A bitterness crept into her face - A nimble-witted opponent	6.31 MB	3.83 MB	3.15 MB
095 - Literary Expressions: A painful thought was flooding his mind - A wordless farewell	5.91 MB	3.22 MB	2.96 MB
096 - Literary Expressions: Absolutely vulgarized by too perpetual a parroting - Awaiting his summons to the eternal silence	7.61 MB	4.73 MB	3.80 MB
097 - Literary Expressions: Bandied about from mouth to mouth - Dull black eyes under their precipice of brows	6.22 MB	3.83 MB	3.11 MB
098 - Literary Expressions: Earth danced under a heat haze - Guilty of girlish sentimentality	3.76 MB	2.67 MB	1.88 MB
099 - Literary Expressions: Half choked by a rising paroxysm of rage - Humiliating paltriness of revenge	8.64 MB	4.78 MB	4.32 MB
100 - Literary Expressions: I capitulated by inadvertence - Kiss-provoking lips	4.68 MB	2.60 MB	2.34 MB
101 - Literary Expressions: Laden with the poignant scent of the garden honeysuckle - Rudely reminded of life's serious issues	9.84 MB	5.16 MB	4.92 MB
102 - Literary Expressions: Sacrificed to a futile sort of treadmill - Swift summer into the autumn flowed	6.83 MB	4.82 MB	3.41 MB
103 - Literary Expressions: Taking the larger sweeps in the march of mind - The hungry curiosity of the mind	7.46 MB	3.93 MB	3.73 MB
104 - Literary Expressions: The idiosyncratic peculiarities of thought - The swing of the pendulum through an arch of centuries	8.82 MB	4.69 MB	4.41 MB
105 - Literary Expressions: The tempered daylight of an olive garden - Twilight creeps upon the darkening mind	5.10 MB	2.71 MB	2.55 MB
106 - Literary Expressions: Unapproachable grandeur and simplicity - Your mind enthroned in the seventh circle of content	3.35 MB	1.78 MB	1.67 MB
107 - Striking Similes: A blind rage like a fire swept over him - And the smile she softly uses fills the silence like a speech	10.00 MB	4.79 MB	5.00 MB
108 - Striking Similes: As a child in play scatters... - Awkward as a cart-horse	6.10 MB	3.36 MB	3.05 MB
109 - Striking Similes: Babbling like a child - Dull as champagne	6.00 MB	3.27 MB	3.00 MB
110 - Striking Similes: Each like a corpse within its grave - Great scarlet poppies lay in drifts ...	4.21 MB	2.37 MB	2.11 MB
111 - Striking Similes: Hair as harsh as tropical grass and gray as ashes - Hushed like a breathless lyre	8.54 MB	6.88 MB	4.27 MB
112 - Striking Similes: I had grown pure as the dawn and the dew - Kingdoms melt away like snow	3.31 MB	2.58 MB	1.65 MB
113 - Striking Similes: Laboring like a giant - Like a yellow silken scarf the thick fog hangs	6.47 MB	3.54 MB	3.23 MB
114 - Striking Similes: Like an alien ghost I stole away - Like sweet thoughts in a dream	5.97 MB	3.26 MB	2.98 MB
115 - Striking Similes: Like the awful shadow of some unseen power - Lovely the land unknown...	5.99 MB	3.29 MB	3.00 MB
116 - Striking Similes: March on my soul nor like the laggard stay - Quivering like an eager race-horse to start	6.25 MB	3.52 MB	3.12 MB
117 - Striking Similes: Rage, rage ye tears, that never more should creep... - Swifter than the twinkling of an eye	9.55 MB	6.93 MB	4.77 MB
118 - Striking Similes: Talking and thinking became to him... - The music almost died away...	6.03 MB	3.31 MB	3.02 MB
119 - Striking Similes: The name that cuts into my soul like a knife - Then the lover sighing like furnace	7.75 MB	4.10 MB	3.87 MB
120 - Striking Similes: Theories sprouted in his mind like mushrooms - Turning easily and securely as on a perfect axle	5.83 MB	3.08 MB	2.91 MB
121 - Striking Similes: Unbends like a loosened bow - Youth like a summer morn	7.61 MB	4.24 MB	3.80 MB
122 - Conversational Phrases: A most extraordinary idea! - Human nature interests me very much indeed	6.09 MB	3.40 MB	3.04 MB
123 - Conversational Phrases: I admire your foresight - I could never forgive myself for that	6.85 MB	4.11 MB	3.42 MB
124 - Edit: Conversational Phrases: I dare say your intuition is quite right - I seem to have heard that sentiment before	8.29 MB	4.29 MB	4.14 MB
125 - Conversational Phrases: I shall at once proceed to forget it - It has never occurred to me	6.19 MB	3.50 MB	3.09 MB
126 - Conversational Phrases: It is a curious fact - It would take too long to formulate my thought	5.76 MB	4.15 MB	2.88 MB
127 - Conversational Phrases: Join us, please, when you have time - Surely you would not countenance that	6.42 MB	3.94 MB	3.21 MB
128 - Conversational Phrases: Tell me in what way you want me to help you - True, I forgot!	6.09 MB	3.74 MB	3.04 MB
129 - Conversational Phrases: Undeniably true - Would you mind telling me your opinion?	3.47 MB	1.93 MB	1.73 MB
130 - Conversational Phrases: Yes and no - Your statement is somewhat startling	4.42 MB	2.43 MB	2.21 MB
131 - Public Speaking Phrases: A fact of vast moment - And next I would ask	6.86 MB	4.66 MB	3.43 MB
132 - Public Speaking Phrases: And now allow me to call attention - Away then with the notion	7.35 MB	4.13 MB	3.68 MB
133 - Public Speaking Phrases: Be assured, then - But it has been suggested to me	4.52 MB	3.41 MB	2.26 MB
134 - Public Speaking Phrases: But it is a fact - By this time it will be suspected	3.97 MB	2.17 MB	1.99 MB
135 - Public Speaking Phrases: Can it be supposed - Granting all this	3.85 MB	2.11 MB	1.93 MB
136 - Public Speaking Phrases: Had I time for all that might be said - However, it is to me a very refreshing thing	3.00 MB	1.65 MB	1.50 MB
137 - Public Speaking Phrases: I abide by my statement - I am willing to know	5.74 MB	3.27 MB	2.87 MB
138 - Public Speaking Phrases: I anticipate with pleasing expectation - I distrust all general theories of	7.01 MB	3.83 MB	3.50 MB
139 - Public Speaking Phrases: I do again and again urge upon you - I hasten to concede	7.49 MB	4.65 MB	3.74 MB
140 - Public Speaking Phrases: I have a dark suspicion - I hope you will not accuse me	11 MB	6.67 MB	5.41 MB
141 - Public Speaking Phrases: I imagine that no one will be disposed - I rejoice to think I remark here	8.60 MB	5.33 MB	4.30 MB
142 - Public Speaking Phrases: I remember a reference made - I thank you very sincerely for the honor	8.87 MB	4.79 MB	4.44 MB
143 - Public Speaking Phrases: I think I am correct in saying - I yielded to the earnest solicitations	9.75 MB	5.25 MB	4.87 MB
144 - Public Speaking Phrases: If any man be so persuaded - In widening our view	9.74 MB	5.55 MB	4.87 MB
145 - Public Speaking Phrases: Indeed, can anyone tell me - It is my present purpose	8.63 MB	6.47 MB	4.31 MB
146 - Public Speaking Phrases: It is natural to ask the question - It may still more probably be said	5.17 MB	2.74 MB	2.59 MB
147 - Public Speaking Phrases: It must be a cause of delight - Just the reverse is true	4.91 MB	2.52 MB	2.46 MB
149 - Public Speaking Phrases: Nay, I boldly say - Now, you will understand from this	5.25 MB	2.86 MB	2.62 MB
150 - Public Speaking Phrases: Observe again - Surely it is not too much for me to say	7.07 MB	3.87 MB	3.53 MB
151 - Public Speaking Phrases: Take another instance - The whole story of civilization	6.23 MB	4.56 MB	3.12 MB
152 - Public Speaking Phrases: Then again, in corroboration - Think of the cool disregard	5.34 MB	2.84 MB	2.67 MB
153 - Public Speaking Phrases: This absurdity arises - Very strange is this indeed	4.82 MB	2.17 MB	2.41 MB
154 - Public Speaking Phrases: We all agree as to - What strikes the mind so forcibly	8.29 MB	4.46 MB	4.14 MB
155 - Public Speaking Phrases: What, then, are we to believe - Your presence seems to say	6.37 MB	3.41 MB	3.18 MB
156 - Miscellaneous Phrases: A bewildering labyrinth of facts - A pleasant flow of appropriate language	6.43 MB	3.57 MB	3.21 MB
157 - Miscellaneous Phrases: A bewildering labyrinth of facts - A pleasant flow of appropriate language	6.75 MB	3.75 MB	3.37 MB
158 - Miscellaneous Phrases: An abandoned and exaggerated grief - Awaited with feverish anxiety	5.55 MB	4.05 MB	2.78 MB
159 - Miscellaneous Phrases: Bandied to and fro - Dwindled to alarmingly small dimensions	6.39 MB	4.64 MB	3.20 MB
160 - Miscellaneous Phrases: Easy-going to the point of lethargy - Hopelessly belated in its appearance	8.71 MB	4.71 MB	4.35 MB
161 - Miscellaneous Phrases: I adjured him - Its dominating and inspiring influence	10 MB	5.48 MB	5.14 MB
162 - Miscellaneous Phrases: Jealous and formidable foes - Quixotically generous about money	9.69 MB	5.05 MB	4.84 MB
163 - Miscellaneous Phrases: Radiantly and transparently happy - Swift and vehement outbursts of feeling	7.36 MB	4.09 MB	3.68 MB
164 - Miscellaneous Phrases: Take root in the heart - The sycophants of the rich	11 MB	6.10 MB	5.50 MB

Information	Format	Size
15000_useful_phrases_librivox_files.xml	Metadata	192 KB
15000_useful_phrases_librivox_meta.xml	Metadata	1.45 KB
15000_useful_phrases_librivox_reviews.xml	Metadata	2.19 KB

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Reviewer: librivoxbooks - - April 1, 2009
Subject: Published in 1919
Of course they are outdated! The book was published in 1919!! This was meant to be a fun little read with little to no practical use.

Reviewer: GKeefe - - March 25, 2009
Subject: Bad
I'm sorry to all the people who put their hard work into this, but I really didn't like it. The introductory chapters were long, pompous, and dull. The work has not aged well, being full of out-dated misconceptions about language and groan-worthy allusions to the "better classes". Many of the phrases are also out-dated, and some seem to have been of little use ever. No explanation of what the phrases mean, how they are often used, or WHY they are useful is given. To top it all off, a reader is clearly meant to use this book as a leisurely study guide (the author even recommends circling or underlining phrases the reader likes), it translates VERY poorly to an audio book.

Reviewer: tranquille - - March 1, 2009
Subject: Thank you
I had no idea that this sort of thing even existed, and am greatful to publisher.
I am not well schooled as I had as ayoungman a reading disability. I am older now and just worked my way though this disability. I find it just wonderful that someone would develope this an that an uneducated person of intelligence has access to it.
I will not give it my highest rating because this LibriVox to me is a great adventure and no telling what is going to be my next great discovery.