Basic Details
Word: Hone
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To improve or refine a skill or ability.
Synonyms: Sharpen, enhance, refine
Antonyms: Dull, weaken, impair
Idioms and Phrases
- Hone in on: To focus closely on something. Example: "The detective honed in on the clues to solve the mystery."
- Honed to perfection: Something that has been improved to the highest quality. Example: "Her cooking skills are honed to perfection after years of practice."
Usage Examples
Example 1: To succeed in her career, she decided to hone her communication skills through practice.
Example 2: The athlete honed his abilities by training every day for the upcoming competition.
Example 3: He spent hours in the workshop to hone his woodworking techniques.
Fun Fact
The word "hone" comes from the Old English word "hna," which referred to a stone used for sharpening blades. Over time, it has evolved to mean enhancing or perfecting skills.
Famous Quote
"To be better than you were yesterday, you have to keep honing your skills." Anonymous
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "hone" mean?
a) To make something dull
b) To improve or refine a skill
c) To ignore a problem
d) To confuse others
Answer: b) To improve or refine a skill
2. Which of these is a synonym of "hone"?
a) Dull
b) Weaken
c) Sharpen
d) Ignore
Answer: c) Sharpen
3. Which is the antonym of "hone"?
a) Enhance
b) Impair
c) Refine
d) Improve
Answer: b) Impair
4. Which sentence uses "hone" correctly?
a) She honed her skills by reading books.
b) He honed his car after driving fast.
c) They honed their garden in the spring.
d) The cat honed its meow.
Answer: a) She honed her skills by reading books.
5. What does the phrase "hone in on" mean?
a) To become distracted
b) To focus closely on something
c) To make noise
d) To move away from something
Answer: b) To focus closely on something
