Perspire — A Vocabulary Story
The Lion Who Needed a Fan
Minh had wanted to be the front of the lion for two whole years. Now, at last, his uncle Bao had said yes.
The lion head was red and gold, with a fringe of white fur and eyes that blinked when Minh pulled a string. It was also heavy. And hot. Very hot.
"Lift the head, then shake it," Uncle Bao called from the side of the hall. "Now trot. Now nod to the drum."
Minh lifted, shook, trotted and nodded. Inside the lion it was like standing in a cupboard with a heater on. By the third run through, he had started to perspire. By the fifth, his fringe was stuck to his forehead.
Perspire means to give off sweat through the tiny holes in your skin, usually when you are hot or nervous.
"Are you all right in there?" asked his cousin Linh, who was the back legs. "You are making the whole lion warm."
"Lions do not perspire," Minh said in his bravest voice. "Lions are magnificent."
"This one is perspiring," said Linh. "I can feel it through the cloth."
Uncle Bao stopped the drum and lifted the lion's head off. Minh's face was pink and shining.
"A lion that never perspires is a lion that never dances properly," said Uncle Bao. "Water break."
Minh drank a whole cup, then another. Linh fanned him with a paper plate.
"Next time," Minh said, "I want the head with the little fan inside."
"There is no head with a fan inside," said Uncle Bao.
"Then next time," said Minh, "I will be the drum."
Word Definition
perspire
meaning
to give off sweat through the pores of the skin
synonyms
sweat · swelter
antonyms
cool · chill
example sentence
After the long run, I began to perspire heavily.