home / skills / nweii / agent-stuff / lookup

lookup skill

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This skill explains the meaning of selected text using surrounding context, clarifying words, phrases, idioms, and cultural references for better comprehension

npx playbooks add skill nweii/agent-stuff --skill lookup

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SKILL.md

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---
name: lookup
description: "Explain the meaning of selected text using surrounding context. Identifies unclear words, phrases, idioms, or colloquialisms and provides concise definitions with cultural context and usage notes."
disable-model-invocation: true
argument-hint: [key-text]
metadata:
  author: nweii
  version: "1.0.1"
---

# Lookup

Explain the meaning of $ARGUMENTS, using surrounding context to provide clear understanding.

## What to Explain

Identify what needs explanation:

- Specific word, phrase, or idiom within a sentence
- The entire selection if unclear as a whole
- Multiple elements that work together
- Colloquialisms or cultural references

## Approach

- Focus on unclear or interesting elements
- For full sentences, identify which parts are likely confusing
- Keep explanations concise but thorough for real understanding
- Include cultural context, usage notes, or origins when they add clarity
- Search if needed for current information or uncertain details

## Output

Provide focused explanation directly without preamble.

Overview

This skill explains the meaning of selected text using its surrounding context. It identifies unclear words, phrases, idioms, or cultural references and delivers concise, practical definitions with usage notes and relevant cultural background. The goal is quick clarity so readers can act on or communicate the selection accurately.

How this skill works

The skill inspects the selected text and nearby sentences to determine which elements are ambiguous or likely to confuse the reader. It isolates specific words, phrases, or the whole selection, then provides short, focused explanations that include meaning, typical usage, and any relevant cultural or historical context. When necessary, it notes register, connotation, and alternatives to clarify intent.

When to use it

When a single word or phrase in a document feels unclear or out of place
To decode idioms, slang, or colloquialisms in cross-cultural communication
When a sentence’s overall meaning is ambiguous and needs parsing
To prepare clearer translations or rewrite content for different audiences
During editing or proofreading to confirm tone and register

Best practices

Provide the smallest focused explanation that resolves the confusion
Always use surrounding sentences to infer intended meaning before defining
Mention register (formal/informal), connotation (positive/negative/neutral), and common alternatives
Include brief cultural or historical context only when it changes interpretation
Avoid long etymologies unless origin directly affects current meaning

Example use cases

Explaining a regional idiom in a marketing copy so it won’t offend international audiences
Clarifying technical shorthand or jargon inside team documentation
Decoding a celebrity quote with cultural references for a news summary
Helping translators choose the right target-language equivalent by noting register
Resolving ambiguous phrasing in legal or policy text during a review

FAQ

Do explanations include origin or etymology?

Only when the origin materially affects current meaning; otherwise explanations stay concise and usage-focused.

Will the skill rewrite the sentence?

No—its primary role is to explain meaning. It can suggest clearer alternatives when relevant, but it won’t rewrite unless asked.