polish

Everyday

1. (verb) To rub something to make it smooth and shiny. tree →
2. (noun) A cream, liquid or wax used to make things shiny: «shoe polish», «nail polish». tree →
3. (verb) To improve something to make it better: «polish your story». tree →
4. (noun) A smooth shine. Note: «Polish» with a capital P means from Poland. tree →
5. To polish off something is to finish it quickly, such as eating all of a meal. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: polishing shoes, furniture, silver; nail polish. In school writing, you polish a draft by checking spelling and making it better. Safety: polish and nail polish remover are chemicals — keep them away from small children and fire. Phrases: «shoe polish», «polish off» (finish quickly), «polish up».

Examples

• He polished his shoes until they shone. tree →
• Mum put on red nail polish. tree →
• Polish the table with a soft cloth. tree →
• Spend ten minutes polishing your story. tree →
• He polished off the whole pizza. tree →
• The old coin had a nice polish. tree →
• Keep nail polish remover away from little children. tree →
• You must have seen old Kerick polishing off a drove. tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable. Trap: «polish» (shiny, said «POL-ish») vs «Polish» (from Poland, said «POH-lish»). «Polish off» means eat or finish fast.

In Jewish tradition

It means to make smooth and shining. In the Song of Songs the beloved is praised as polished ivory, and Isaiah's servant is a polished arrow hidden in God's quiver.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the Song as love between God and Israel. The polished arrow is the servant of God, kept hidden until the right moment.

Examples

• His hands are as rods of gold set with beryl; his body is as polished ivory overlaid with sapphires. (Writings SNG.5.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Her princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire; (Writings LAM.4.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me; and He hath made me a polished shaft, in His quiver hath He concealed me; (Prophets ISA.49.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Mostly uncountable. Trap: «polish» (shiny, said «POL-ish») vs «Polish» (from Poland, said «POH-lish»). «Polish off» means eat or finish fast.