Knife Skills

noun a fruit peel or outer skin that has been removed

verb to trim or cut away the outer edges of something

• The chef carefully used a knife to pare the apple, ensuring no waste.
• I'll just pare down my wardrobe before moving to a smaller apartment.
• I need to pare back on my spending if I want to save up for vacation.
• She had to pare away the unnecessary details from her presentation to make it more concise.

noun a small piece or portion that has been pared off something larger

verb the act of cutting away the outer layer of something

• The chef carefully selected the knife for paring the vegetables.
• I need to find a good knife for paring these apples.
• Let me grab the sharp knife for paring these potatoes.
• She was skilled at paring down complex ideas into simple concepts.

noun a tool or object used for sharpening

verb to make or become sharp

• It is important to sharpen your skills through continuous learning and practice.
• I need to sharpen my pencil before I can start writing.
• I'm going to sharpen up on my basketball skills before the game.
• The competition will sharpen our focus and determination to succeed.

adjective describing a pencil or knife that has not been made sharp

• The unsharpened pencil was not suitable for writing.
• I can't find a sharpener, so I have to use this unsharpened pencil.
• I hate using these dull, unsharpened pencils.
• His mind felt unsharpened, unable to focus on the task at hand.

noun a thing that stimulates or sharpens

verb to sharpen or stimulate

• The appetizers served at the event were meant to whet the guests' appetite.
• I like to have a small snack to whet my appetite before dinner.
• Watching cooking shows always manages to whet my hunger.
• The new information only served to whet my curiosity even further.

noun a type of cut for vegetables where they are sliced into thin, matchstick-like strips

• The chef skillfully julienne the vegetables for the salad.
• I tried to julienne the carrots for the stir-fry, but they ended up in big chunks.
• I can't believe she julienne her bangs, it looks so cool!
• She julienne through the crowd, making her way to the front of the stage.