checquered

checquered

A black and white checquered tablecloth is spread on the picnic table.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Marked with a pattern of squares: "checquered" describes a surface or design that is divided into squares of alternating colors, often black and white, like a chessboard.
    • Varied or fluctuating in fortune: Figuratively, "checquered" refers to a life, career, or history characterized by alternating periods of success and failure, stability and upheaval.
Usage Examples

  • Literal meaning:

    • The floor of the old palace was made of checquered marble tiles. (The floor had a pattern of alternating colored squares.)
    • She wore a checquered scarf that reminded her of a chessboard. (The scarf had a square pattern.)

  • Figurative meaning:

    • His checquered career included both brilliant successes and devastating failures. (His career had alternating good and bad periods.)
    • The country has a checquered history of conquests and defeats. (The country's past was marked by mixed fortunes.)
Advanced Usage

  • "a checquered past": a history that includes both honorable and dishonorable events.

    • The politician had a checquered past, with scandals as well as achievements. (His background had both positive and negative aspects.)

  • "checquered pattern": a design of alternating colored squares.

    • The tablecloth had a red and white checquered pattern. (The pattern was made of red and white squares.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Checkered (adj): the alternative spelling, more common in American English.

    • The checkered flag signaled the end of the race. (The flag had a black-and-white square pattern.)

  • Chequer (noun): a single square in a checquered pattern; also a piece in the game of checkers (draughts).

    • Each chequer on the board was carefully painted. (Each square was painted individually.)
Synonyms

  • Patterned: having a regular design (literal).

    • The fabric was patterned with squares. (It had a checquered design.)

  • Varied: showing diversity or change (figurative).

    • Her checquered life was full of varied experiences. (Her life had many ups and downs.)

  • Turbulent: characterized by conflict or disorder (figurative).

    • He had a checquered career in the volatile stock market. (His career was full of dramatic changes.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • Chequer off: to mark with a checquered pattern (rare).
    • The artist chequered off the canvas into equal sections. (He divided the canvas into squares.)
Related Idioms

  • A checquered career: a professional life with both successes and failures.

    • After a checquered career in journalism, he retired to write novels. (His career had many highs and lows.)

  • Checquered fortunes: alternating good and bad luck.

    • The company's checquered fortunes reflected the unstable economy. (The company experienced both prosperity and decline.)