paradox: a situation that seems strange because it involves two ideas or qualities that are very different
(Collocations)
(1) apparent/ great paradox
(2) explain/ resolve a paradox
(Example)
(1) It's a paradox that in such a rich country there can be so much poverty.
(2) The paradox is that the fishermen would catch more fish if they fished less.
(3) How paradoxical that the world's greatest chefs have all been men!
realm: (written) a general area of knowledge, activity, or thought
(phrase)
(1) within the realms of possibility
(2) not beyond the realms of possibility
(Example)
(1) an idea that belongs in the realm of science fiction
(2) I suppose it's not beyond the realms of possibility.
(3) Cooking would clearly seem to be a field that lies exclusively within the women's realm.
annals: (phrase) in the annals of something = in the whole history of something
(Example)
(1) one of the most unusual cases in the annals of crime
(2) The annals of cookery are replete with masculine names.
compound: to make a difficult situation worse by adding more problems
(Example)
(1) Helmut's problems were compounded by his lack of concentration.
(2) To compound the puzzle,
tinge: a very small amount of color, emotion, or quality
(phrase) tinge + of
(Example)
(1) There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.
(2) This glass has a greenish tinge.
(3) There has rarely been a tinge of rumor or scandal casting doubts on the masculinity of these heroes of cuisine.
rumor: information or a story that is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true
scandal: an event in which someone, especially someone important, behaves in a bad way that shocks people
cast doubt(s) on something: to make people feel less certain about something
masculinity: the features and qualities considered to be typical of men (Opposite) femininity
cuisine: a particular style of cooking, especially when it is very good
