cardhouse

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Word: Cardhouse

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A "cardhouse" is an unstable structure made from playing cards. It is built by carefully stacking and balancing cards on top of each other to create different shapes or levels. Because the cards are not very stable, these constructions can easily fall down if they are touched or if they are not built carefully.

Usage Instructions:

• "Cardhouse" is used mainly in informal contexts, often when talking about games or activities involving playing cards.
• You can use it to describe what someone is building or what has happened to their structure.

Example Sentences:

1. "He built a beautiful cardhouse, but it fell over as soon as the cat walked by."
2. "They spent the afternoon constructing a cardhouse, trying to see how many levels they could make."

Advanced Usage:

In a more metaphorical sense, the term "cardhouse" can also refer to any fragile or unstable situation or structure, not just one made of cards. For example: - "The company’s finances are like a cardhouse, ready to collapse at any moment."

Word Variants:

• Cardcastle: This is a similar term that refers to a card structure, often implying a more elaborate or taller construction than a simple cardhouse.
• Cardboard house: While not the same, this term refers to a house made from cardboard, which is also unstable.

Different Meanings:

There are no widely recognized different meanings for "cardhouse", as it primarily relates to the construction of playing cards.

Synonyms:

• Card tower
• Card structure

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "cardhouse", but you might hear phrases like:
  • "Building on shaky ground" (meaning creating something unstable, similar to a cardhouse).

Summary:

A "cardhouse" is a fun and creative way to describe a structure made from playing cards, usually built for enjoyment but often unstable and prone to collapse.

Academic

Noun

1. an unstable construction with playing cards
   • he built three levels of his cardcastle before it collapsed

Synonyms

• house of cards
• card-house
• cardcastle