poison

Everyday

1. A substance that can make you very ill or kill you if you swallow, breathe in or touch it. tree →
2. Verb: to harm or kill someone with poison, or to put poison in something. tree →
3. Something that spoils or harms: «Gossip is poison to a friendship». tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons: many household things are poisons — bleach, cleaning sprays, medicines, weed killer, some plants and berries, button batteries; keep them in their containers, locked away from small children; warning symbols mark them. If someone swallows poison, tell an adult at once and call the poison help line or emergency number; don't make them sick. In science and nature: some animals use venom, some plants and mushrooms are poisonous. In stories: the poisoned apple in Snow White. Phrases: rat poison, food poisoning, poison ivy, poison control, poisonous.

Examples

• Bleach is a poison if you drink it. tree →
• Keep poisons locked away from little children. tree →
• Some berries are poison — don't eat them. tree →
• The witch poisoned the apple. tree →
• Food poisoning comes from bad or undercooked food. tree →
• Poison ivy gives you an itchy rash. tree →
• Call the poison help line if someone swallows medicine by mistake. tree →
• The skull and crossbones symbol means poison. tree →
• "We'll poison her--poison her!" shrieked the witches. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable: «some poison». Adjective: poisonous. Animals that bite or sting to inject poison are «venomous» (snakes, spiders); things that poison you when eaten or touched are «poisonous» (berries, some frogs). Never taste or sniff an unknown liquid.

In Jewish tradition

Here it is a picture of cruel enemies: the wine of the wicked is like the venom of snakes. It is a harsh word of warning in Moses' song.

Interpretation. Tradition reads this verse as a warning about the bitter end of those who turn from God, whose pleasures turn out to be deadly.

Examples

• Their wine is the venom of serpents, and the cruel poison of asps. (Torah DEU.32.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall slay him. (Writings JOB.20.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who have whet their tongue like a sword, and have aimed their arrow, a poisoned word; (Writings PSA.64.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• Yea, they put poison into my food; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Writings PSA.69.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable: «some poison». Adjective: poisonous. Animals that bite or sting to inject poison are «venomous» (snakes, spiders); things that poison you when eaten or touched are «poisonous» (berries, some frogs). Never taste or sniff an unknown liquid.