What does oblique mean?
Word: Oblique
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Oblique means at a slant, neither upright nor flat. An oblique remark hints at something instead of saying it plainly.
Synonyms: slanting
How do you spell oblique?
Syllables: o - blique
Tricky part: The k sound at the end is the trap. It is spelt que, the French-style ending of antique and unique.
Watch out for: obliqe, obliq, oblike
Memory tip: Remember that this word is unique, and let unique show you how it must close.
Oblique in a sentence
Example 1: Sunlight came through the window at an oblique angle and lit the far wall.
Example 2: Instead of refusing outright, my uncle made an oblique comment about being busy.
Example 3: An oblique line on the diagram shows the slope of the hill.
Fun Fact
In British English the slanting stroke used in and/or can also be called an oblique, a neat match for its shape.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is correct. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. diagonnal 2. perpendiculer 3. oblique 4. paralell
a) leaning to one side at an angle
b) joining two opposite corners of a square
c) always the same distance apart
d) exactly upright, meeting a line at a right angle
Show answer
a) leaning to one side at an angle. The geometry words should be parallel, perpendicular and diagonal, which leaves one correct spelling.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word oblique as used in the sentence:
Priya made an oblique reference to the missing homework instead of asking me about it.
a) indirect
b) veiled
c) direct
d) sloping
Show answer
c) direct. Priya only hints; asking straight out would be the reverse.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
_b_ique
a) o, r
b) u, l
c) o, l
d) a, l
Show answer
c) o, l. The word opens like obvious, and an l follows the b.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
The evening sun threw long uboqeli shadows across the hockey field.
a) obscure
b) oblique
c) opaque
d) oblong
Show answer
b) oblique. The jumble has a b, a q and an l, and no s, c, n or p.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Looking at her brother, Mona said, 'Some people never return borrowed books.' Why is this an oblique remark?
a) It repeats something he said to her
b) It points at him without naming him
c) It asks him a question about books
d) It thanks him for a book he lent
Show answer
b) It points at him without naming him
2. Which of these stands at an oblique angle to the floor?
a) a flagpole fixed in a school yard
b) a rug lying flat in a hall
c) a ladder leaning against a wall
d) a door hanging in its frame
Show answer
c) a ladder leaning against a wall
