Ever heard a word that made you cringe? Terms to Make You Squirm -- 200 words you shouldn't use focuses on the words and phrases that we over- and misuse, words that have become cliches and words that are easily confused. Using contemporary examples, it shows us why certain words and phrases should be used sparingly -- if at all -- and by offering suitable replacements it can help us avoid using those terms that make us squirm. allude and elude If you allude to something, you refer to it indirectly or without mentioning it explicitly. If you elude someone, you escape from them in a clever or cunning way. If something you want eludes you, you cannot obtain it. He was a fugitive long before the FBI put him on the most wanted list. How he managed to allude capture for so long is unclear at this point. When used correctly, allude always appears with the preposition 'to', while elude takes a direct object. Ricky Ponting is confident the Australians are now ready for a tilt at the only major silverware to elude them -- the Champions Trophy.