🌆 Shank of the Evening: Navigating the Twilight Zone 🌌
Twilight, dusk. This expression uses ‘shank’ in the sense of “latter part of” or “end of,” a usage rare except in this phrase. The earliest citation in the OED is from 1828. P.G. Wodehouse used it in Pearls, Girls, and Monty Bodkin (1972): “‘It’s very late.’—‘Shank of the evening.’”
Related and Similar Terms:
- Dusk: The darker stage of twilight, just after the sun has set.
- Twilight: The soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon.
- Evenfall: The onset of evening; another term for twilight.
- Crepuscular: Resembling or related to twilight.
Common Phrases and Idioms:
- Burning the midnight oil: Working late into the night.
- Night owl: Someone who stays up late.
- The witching hour: Refers to the late evening, often associated with spooky occurrences.
- Between the devil and the deep blue sea: Being faced with two difficult choices, often likened to navigating uncertainties during twilight.
Synonyms and Antonyms:
- Synonyms: Twilight, dusk, evenfall, nightfall.
- Antonyms: Dawn, daybreak, sunrise, morning.
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “The evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening,’ and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.” —Anonymous
- “Twilight drops her curtain down, and pins it with a star.” —Lucy Maud Montgomery
Essays, Literature, and Films:
- Book: Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.
- Poem: “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas.
- Film: The Twilight Saga series.
- Song: “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
- Play: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.
Thought-Provoking Farewell:
Keep a touch of twilight in your heart even as you step into the continually evolving evening of life. Let the subtle end-of-day hues remind you that in life’s darkest moments, there’s always a hint of brilliance shimmering, just waiting to be noticed.
### Which of these terms signifies the latter part of the evening?
- [x] Shank of the evening
- [ ] Dawn
- [ ] Morning twilight
- [ ] Noon
> **Explanation:** "Shank of the evening" signifies the latter part of the evening, whereas the others represent other times of day.
### What does "The witching hour" refer to?
- [ ] Early morning
- [ ] Noon
- [ ] Mid-afternoon
- [x] Late evening
> **Explanation:** “The witching hour” refers to the late evening, often linked with mystical happenings.
### True or False: Dusk and Twilight are synonymous.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Dusk and Twilight both refer to the period between sunset and nighttime, hence they are synonymous.
### "Burning the midnight oil" means:
- [ ] Taking a nap at noon
- [x] Working late into the night
- [ ] Going for a morning jog
- [ ] Eating breakfast for dinner
> **Explanation:** "Burning the midnight oil" means working late into the night, often implying dedication or hard work.
### The opposite of 'Night Owl' is:
- [ ] Evening Star
- [x] Early Bird
- [ ] Twilight Piper
- [ ] Midnight Falcon
> **Explanation:** The opposite of 'Night Owl' is 'Early Bird,' referring to someone who rises early in the morning.
