001 Flashcards
fabulous
1) very good; excellent:
She looked absolutely fabulous in her dress.
They’ve got a fabulous apartment in the centre of Paris
We had a fabulous time at the party.
2) extremely large
Much of his fabulous wealth was acquird dishonestly.
Leak
Water was leaking from the pipe.
Oil leaked out of the car.
Make sure the bucket doesn’t leak.
He leaked the names to the press.
beside
Come and sit here beside me.
Our school was built right beside a river.
sore
painful and uncomfortable because of injury, infection, or too much use:
All the dust has made my eyes sore.
I’ve got a sore back.
My feet were sore with all the walking.
commotion
a sudden, short period of noise, confusion, or excitd movement:
His arrival caused quite a commotion.
I noticed a commotion in the middle of the plane with all of the flight attendants.
apparently
1) used to say that smth seems to be true, although it is not certain:
Apparently it’s going to rain today.
I heard a rumour that she’s leaving, but apparently it’s not true.
The train is delayed apparently due to leaves on the line.
2) usd when the real situation is different from what you thought it was:
She looks about ten, but apparently she’s 14.
whammy
a magical spell or power that causes someone to have difficult or unpleasant time; curse:
He put the whammy on me.
They have suffered the double whammy of national insurance and council tax hikes.
shady
1) dark due to lack of sunlight:
We sat on the shady grass for our picnic.
2) dishonest or illegal:
He was involved in shady deals in the past.
by accident
without intending to, or without being intended:
I deleted the file by accident.
I found her letter by accident as I was looking through my files.
on the contrary
I didn’t mean to imply that the city was an ugly or dangerous place. On the contrary, I think it is extremely pleasant.
The crime problem has not disappeared. On the contrary, it seems to be becoming worse again.
from the front vs. from the rear
from the front - спереди
from the rear - сзади
comply
to obey an order, rule or request:
The state’s mining law requires mine operators to comply with local land use regulations.
There are serious penalties for failure to comply with the regulations.
The builders have not complied with the architect’s instructions.
barely
They have barely enough (= no more than what is needed) to pay the rent this month.
She was barely 15 (= only just 15) when she won her first championship.
The dark line of the mountains was barely visible against the night sky.
attest
to show, say, or prove that smth exists or is true:
As his career attests, he is a world-class tnnis player.
The will needs to be attested by three witnesses.
spectacular
very exciting to look at:
a spectacular view
He scored a spectacular goal in the second half.
There was a spectacular sunset last night.
fancy
1) to want to have or do smth:
● Do you fancy a drink this evening?
● I didn’t fancy swimming in that water.
2) to be sexually attracted to someone:
● She knew he fancied her, but preferred to keep their relationship platonic.
3) If you fancy that something is the case, you think or suppose that it is so:
● He fancies himself as a bit of a singer.
praise
to express admiration for or approval of a person smth done:
He should be praised for his honesty.
My parents always praised me when I did well at school.
chores
a housework: cleaning, washing dishes, taking out trash, wiping down tables and surfaces, etc.
affair
As a leader, he’s been criticized for his inexperience in foreign affairs.
He’s always interfering in (= trying to influence) other people’s affairs.
What I do in my spare time is my affair (= only involves me).
strive
to try very hard to do something or to make something happen, especially for a long time or against difficulties:
♦ We must strive to narrow the gap between rich and poor.
♦ We are constantly striving to improve our service.
♦ We strive for perfection but sometimes have to accept something less.
seek
1) to try to find or get smth, especially smth that is not a physical object:
Are you actively seeking jobs?
He had actively sought a pardon from the president.
Legal advice should be sought before you take any further action.
admirable
deserving respect or approval:
The police did an admirable job in keeping the fans calm.
budge
to move or cause someone or something to move:
The demonstrators would not budge from the governor’s office.
I’ve tried moving the desk but it won’t budge.
abolish
to put an end to something, such as an organization, rule, or custom:
♦ I think bullfighting should be abolished.
♦ The government is planning to abolish subsidies to farmers.
♦ In Britain, national service was abolished in 1962.
hang out
to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone:
♦ Who is he hanging out with these days?
♦ They spent the whole day hanging out by the pool.
♦ Haven’t you got anything better to do than hang out at the shopping centre?
insular
interested only in your own country or group and not willing to accept different or foreign ideas or people:
Isolation produces a large number of strong insular variants, which in some cases develop into separate serotypes.
carry over
to use or do something at a later time than planned:
The performance has had to be carried over to/till next week because the repairs to the theatre aren’t finished yet.
tender
1) gentle, loving, or kind:
a tender look/smile
What you need is some tender loving care.
2) (of meat or vegetables) easy to cut or chew:
tender steak
exceed
to be greater than a number or amount:
♦ The final cost should not exceed $5,000.
♦ The success of our campaign has exceeded our expectations.
♦ Drivers who exceed the speed limit can expect to be fined heavily.
bland
not having a strong taste or character or not showing any interest or energy:
The soup is very bland, it could use more herbs and spices.
A complex sensation may seem bland or boring if listened to carelessly.
diverse
1) including many different types of people or things:
New York is a very culturally diverse city.
There is a diverse range of opinion on the issue.
2) very different from each other:
We hold very diverse views on the topic.
dreadful
1) of very low quality or very unpleasant:
The food was bad and the service was dreadful.
I’m sorry, the house is a dreadful mess.
2) causing fear, shock, or suffering:
The news report was so dreadful that I just had to switch it off.
We lost our beloved father to this dreadful disease.
hangover
a feeling of illness after drinking too much alcohol:
I had a terrible hangover the next morning.
fatigue
extreme tiredness:
The doctor said he was suffering from fatigue and work-related stress.
Driver fatigue is the main cause of impairment other than that caused by substances taken by the driver.
itinerary
a detailed plan or route of a journey:
The tour operator will arrange transport and plan your itinerary.
ashamed
feeling guilty or embarrassed about something you have done or about a quality in your character:
♦ She ought to be thoroughly ashamed of herself - talking to her mother like that!
♦ I was ashamed that I’d made so little effort.
♦ He was ashamed to admit to his mistake.
grocery store
a shop that sells food and small things that are often needed in the home:
The bread was just from a local grocery store and nothing special.
Grocery stores and gas stations all used to be closed on Sundays.
frown on/upon something
to disapprove of something:
Smoking is frowned upon in many societies.
ramification
the possible results of an action:
Have you considered all the ramifications of your suggestion?
stand out
1) to be very noticeable:
The black lettering really stands out on that orange background.
2) to be much better than other similar things or people:
We had lots of good applicants for the job, but one stood out from the rest.
urgency
the quality of being very important and needing attention immediately:
It now is a matter of urgency that aid reaches the famine area.
She didn’t understand the urgency of the situation.
odd
strange or unexpected:
♦ The skirt and jacket looked a little odd together.
♦ It’s odd that no one’s seen him.
Something in the cupboard smells odd.
♦ I find him really odd - I can’t figure him out at all.
distinct
1) clearly noticeable; that certainly exists:
There’s a distinct smell of cigarettes in here.
There’s a distinct possibility of rain today.
2) clearly separate and different:
The two languages are quite distinct from each other.
The dogs are of distinct breeds.
decipher
to discover the meaning of something written badly or in a difficult or hidden way:
♦ Can you decipher the writing on this envelope?
♦ The symbolic messages encoded in the distribution of these items are difficult to decipher.
♦ The question then was how to decipher the creative mathematical genius in the brain.
narrow
having a small distance from one side to the other, especially in comparison with the length:
♦ a narrow bridge/passage/gap
♦ a narrow face
♦ They had a narrow escape when their car crashed.
♦ The boats all have to pass through this narrow channel.
relive
to remember clearly an experience that happened in the past:
♦ Whenever I smell burning, I relive the final moments of the crash.
♦ She and I like to reminisce and relive the good-old days.
reject
1) to refuse to accept, use, or believe something or someone:
♦ The appeal was rejected by the court.
♦ Coin-operated machines in England reject euros.
♦ I applied for a job as a mechanic in a local garage, but I was rejected (= I was not offered the job).
♦ Modernism seeks to find new forms of expression and rejects traditional or accepted ideas.
2) to not give someone the love and attention they want and are expecting from you:
When she was sent to boarding school, she felt as though her parents had rejected her.
aware
knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience of a particular thing:
● I wasn’t even aware that he was ill.
● Were you aware of the risks at the time?
● I suddenly became aware of (= started to notice) him looking at me.
read out
to read something and say the words aloud so that other people can hear:
He read her letter out to the rest of the family.
It’s sometimes helpful to read out what you’ve written.
cherish
1) to love, protect, and care for someone or something that is important to you:
Although I cherish my children, I do allow them their independence.
Freedom of speech is a cherished (= carefully protected) right in this country.
2) to keep hopes, memories, or ideas in your mind because they are important to you and bring you pleasure:
I cherish the memories of the time we spent together.
decent
socially acceptable or good:
It was very decent (= kind) of you to help.
All I need is a roof over my head and a decent meal.
The law obliges companies to pay decent wages to their employees.
acceptable, satisfactory, or reasonable:
The makers of the film will want to see a decent return on their investment.
We get good benefits, and the pay is decent.
harbor
an area of water next to the coast, often protected from the sea by a thick wall, where ships and boats can shelter:
He has a house down by the harbor.
Our hotel room overlooked a pretty little fishing harbor.
behind
at the back (of):
● The police officer was hidden out of sight behind a tree.
● The guard dog was snarling and snapping behind the fence.
● After the third lap, she was way behind the other runners.
rebel
a person who is opposed to the political system in their country and tries to change it using force:
The rebels took over the capital and set up a new government.
toil
hard work, especially work that makes you feel physically tired:
Lindi has achieved her comfortable life only after years of hard toil.
Well, after a day’s toil in the office I like to relax a little.
defect
1) to leave a country, political party, etc., especially in order to join an opposing one:
When the national hockey team visited the US, half the players defected.
2) to leave a company, stop buying from a business, etc., especially in order to start working for or buying from one of their competitors:
The company is paying out millions in incentive bonuses to stop its best people from defecting.
Internet providers struggled to prevent angry customers defecting.
come off
to give a particular impression:
● He was competitive without coming off as aggressive.
● Ultimately, the film comes off as a little pretentious.
● I didn’t want to come off like I was feeling sorry for myself.
appreciative
showing that you understand how good something is, or are grateful for something:
I’m very appreciative of all the support you’ve given me.
An appreciative audience wildly applauded the performance.
resemble
to look like or be like someone or something:
You resemble your mother very closely.
After the earthquake, the city resembled a battlefield.
That actor really resembles my brother-in-law.
antecedent
1) (noun) someone or something existing or happening before, especially as the cause or origin of something existing or happening later:
Charles Babbage’s mechanical calculating engines were the antecedents of the modern computer.
Many people feel a great curiosity to find out about their antecedents.
2) (adjective) previous:
When the college was established in 1546, it inherited a hall from each of three antecedent institutions.
reimburse
to pay back money to someone who has spent it for you or lost it because of you:
The airline reimbursed me for the amount they had overcharged me.
She was reimbursed by the gas company for the damage to her house.
distinguish
1) to notice or understand the difference between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another:
He’s colour-blind and can’t distinguish (the difference) between red and green easily.
I sometimes have difficulty distinguishing Spanish from Portuguese.
It’s not the beauty so much as the range of his voice that distinguishes him from other tenors.
The male bird displays several characteristics which distinguish him from the female.
It can be difficult to distinguish between poisonous and edible mushrooms.
2) to see, hear, or experience something, esp. with difficulty:
In the dark, I could barely distinguish the shape of a person.
3) distinguish yourself - to do something so well that you are admired and praised for it:
He distinguished himself as a writer at a very early age.
At school, she distinguished herself as an outstanding debater.
thoughtful
1) carefully considering things:
He has a thoughtful approach to his work.
2) kind and always thinking about how you can help other people:
☺ Thank you for calling when I was ill - it was very thoughtful of you.
☺ She’s a very thoughtful person.
☺ It was very thoughtful of her to bring a cake.
reside
to live, have your home, or stay in a place:
The family now resides in southern France.
Some people who work in the city reside in neighbouring towns.
butcher
1) (noun) a person who sells meat in a shop:
The butcher prepared a rack of pork.
2) (verb) to kill or cut up an animal for meat:
He raises pigs and butchers his own meat.
The truck was transporting freshly butchered chickens.
3) to kill people in a very violent way or in large numbers:
He butchered a few people.
wrap
to cover or surround something with paper, cloth, or other material:
- She wrapped the present and tied it with ribbon.
- Wrap the chicken in foil and cook it for two hours.
- She came downstairs after her shower, wrapped in a towel.
- He wrapped a towel around his shoulders.
delight
1) (noun) a feeling of great pleasure, satisfaction, or happiness:
- Her face had a look of pure delight.
- The children squealed in delight when they saw all the presents under the Christmas tree.
- I read your letter with great delight.
- His delight at seeing her again was obvious.
- He seems to take great delight in (= enjoys) teasing his sister.
2) (verb) to give someone great pleasure or satisfaction:
The songs of countrypeople and of sailors delight me.
parcel
an object or collection of objects wrapped in paper, especially so that it can be sent by post:
- The parcel was wrapped in plain brown paper.
- The parcel was clearly labelled ‘Fragile’.
- There were several parcels waiting for her in the post room.
disciple
a person who believes in the ideas and principles of someone famous and tries to live the way that person does or did:
In that model a master trained his disciples according to his own criteria.
an ardent disciple of Gandhi
carve
to make something by cutting into a hard material, especially wood or stone, or to cut into a hard material in order to make something:
- Some of the tunnels in the cliff are natural, some were carved out (= cut into the rock).
- The statue is carved out of olive wood.
- This totem pole is carved from a single tree trunk.
- He carved her name on a tree.
- He carved the wood to resemble a small bird.
notable
important and deserving attention, because of being very good or interesting:
- This attractive building is particularly notable for its woodland setting.
- The renaissance was notable for the spread of learning outside the university.
patrimony
the valuable objects, buildings, ideas, etc. that a society gets from the people who have lived in the past:
The Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the Embassy works in coordination with Peruvian institutions to protect and promote Peru’s cultural patrimony.
slump
1) (of prices, values, or sales) to fall suddenly:
- The value of property has slumped.
- Car sales have slumped dramatically over the past year.
2) to sit or fall heavily and suddenly:
- She slumped into the chair, exhausted.
- He slumped to the floor in a faint.
bunk
one of two beds attached together, one on top of the other:
- I had the lower bunk, and my older brother had the upper bunk.
- Can I sleep in the top bunk?
- The twins sleep in bunk beds.
grip
1) (verb) to hold very tightly:
- The baby gripped my finger with her tiny hand.
- I was terrified when he suddenly gripped my throat in his hands.
2) (noun) control over something or someone:
- Rebels have tightened their grip on the city.
- The Mafia has relaxed its grip on local businesses.
crave
if you crave something, or crave for it, you want to have it very much:
Many young children crave attention.
We welcome and crave your involvement, participation and views.
kettle
a container for boiling water, that has a lid, handle, and spout and is made from plastic or metal.
consistent
1) someone who is consistent always behaves in the same way over time, has the same attitudes towards people or things, or achieves the same level of success in something:
- Her work is sometimes good, but the problem is she’s not consistent.
- There has been a consistent improvement in her attitude.
2) in agreement or harmony:
- This result is consistent with the findings of Garnett & Tobin.
- New goals are not always consistent with the existing policies.
disruption
the action of preventing something, especially a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected:
- The strike is expected to cause delays and disruption to flights from Britain.
- The accident brought widespread disruption on the roads.
- It would cause a tremendous disruption to our work schedule to install a different computer system.
dread
1) (verb) if you dread something which may happen, you feel very anxious and unhappy about it because you think it will be unpleasant or upsetting:
- He’s dreading the exam - he’s sure he’s going to fail.
- I dread to think what they say about me behind my back.
- Although I was absolutely dreading telling Dad, he was actually very understanding when I told him.
2) (noun) a feeling of great anxiety and fear about something that may happen:
- The prospect of working full-time fills me with dread.
- A feeling of dread crept over me as I approached the door.
controversial
causing disagreement or discussion:
- Immigration is a controversial issue in many countries.
- Her controversial speech was punctuated with noisy interjections from the audience.
- The book was very controversial.
sentiment
a thought, opinion, or idea based on a feeling about a situation, or a way of thinking about something:
- I don’t think she shares my sentiments.
- I must agree with the sentiments expressed by the previous speaker.
- That sentiment is echoed north of the border.
- The area has become a hotbed of anti-government sentiment.
roast
1) (verb) to cook food in an oven or over a fire:
- Just roast the chicken in the oven and baste it in oil and lemon.
- I roasted the vegetables with some olive oil.
2) (adjective) Roast meat or vegetables have been cooked in an oven or over a fire:
- roast beef/chicken/potatoes
intend
1) if you intend to do something, you have decided or planned to do it:
- We intend to go to Australia next year.
- Somehow I offended him, which wasn’t what I’d intended.
2) if something is intended for a particular purpose, it has been planned to fulfil that purpose:
- The course is intended for intermediate-level students.
- It was intended as a compliment, honestly!
- Columns are usually intended in architecture to add grandeur and status.
nonetheless
despite what has just been said or done:
- There are serious problems in our country. Nonetheless, we feel this is a good time to return.
- There was still a long way to go. Nonetheless, some progress had been made.
persuade
to make someone do or believe something by giving them a good reason to do it or by talking to that person and making them believe it:
- If she doesn’t want to go, nothing you can say will persuade her.
- My partner persuaded me to come.
- He is trying to persuade local and foreign businesses to invest in the project.
- Using a bunch of bananas, the zoo-keeper persuaded the monkey back into its cage.
- It was the lack of privacy that eventually persuaded us to move after Ben was born.
- We had managed to persuade them that it was worth working with us.
- Clever salesmanship can persuade you to buy things you don’t really want.
- We only need one more player for this game - can you persuade your sister to join in?
fraud
is the crime of gaining money or financial benefits by a trick or by lying:
- credit card fraud
- Convicted of tax fraud, he was sentenced to two years in prison.
bulk
(noun) something or someone that is very large:
- It was a document of surprising bulk.
- Despite his bulk, he moved lightly on his feet.
- We buy a lot of our groceries in bulk (= in large quantities) to save money.
in bulk = in very large amounts:
- Wholesalers who order in bulk will receive an additional 15% discount.
- She’d buy clothes in bulk from Dhaka and sell them at a profit of 50 cents each.
sum (something/someone) up
if you sum something or someone up, you describe it/him as briefly as possible:
- The best way of summing up the situation in our office is to say that it is “absolute chaos”.
- Obree summed his weekend up in one word: ‘Disastrous’.
- He’s a small man with a big ego - that about sums him up.
- The oral report should sum up the main points of the written essay.
- When the judge summed up, it was clear he wanted a guilty verdict.
throughout
in every part, or during the whole period of time:
- People throughout the country are out of work.
- The school has been repainted throughout.
- Movie music can be made memorable because its themes are repeated throughout the film.
- He stayed by her side throughout her long illness.
- She’s been leading throughout the race, but it now looks as if she’s tiring.
- The foundation now runs projects throughout Africa, the Caribbean and South East Asia.
- (as adverb) The route is well sign-posted throughout.
discontent
is the feeling that you have when you are not satisfied with your situation:
- Discontent among junior ranks was rapidly spreading.
- Surveys showed widespread discontent among the populace with regards to the economy.
- Mexican-American leaders expressed discontent with the administration.
- She voiced her discontent about the plan.
whatsoever
is used after a negative phrase in order to emphasize a negative statement:
- He has no respect for authority whatsoever.
- My school did nothing whatsoever in the way of athletics.
- She had no interest whatsoever in photographing me.
aloud
in a voice loud enough to be heard:
- He read her letter aloud to the rest of the family.
- It would be a useful exercise for you to say the speech aloud several times.
- I wondered aloud whether it would be worth the wait.
acclamation
public approval and praise:
- The news was greeted with considerable popular acclamation.
- I am certain that the whole of my constituency greets this project with acclamation.
dash
to go somewhere quickly:
- The dog ran off, and she dashed after him.
- I’ve been dashing around all day.
- We dashed for the train, but it was already pulling away from the platform.
- I’m sorry, but I’ve got to dash or I’ll be late collecting the children from school.
the act of running somewhere very quickly:
- a 160-mile dash to hospital
- As soon as the rain dies down I’m going to make a dash for it (= run somewhere very fast).
- We made a mad dash for the train.
a small amount of something added to or mixed with something else:
- Add some butter and a dash of salt.
neither…nor
● I can neither speak Spanish nor understand it.
● He likes neither apples nor oranges.
● You neither know how to sing nor how to dance.
errand
An errand is a short trip that you make in order to do a job for someone, for example when you go to a shop to buy something for them:
∙ He would clean, do errands, and babysit for their 7-year-old daughter.
∙ She used to spend a lot of time running errands for elderly and disabled people in the neighbourhood.
amend
If you amend something that has been written such as a law, or something that is said, you change it in order to improve it or make it more accurate:
∙ MPs were urged to amend the law to prevent another oil tanker disaster.
∙ In line 20, the word “men” should be amended (= changed) to “people”.
∙ Until the constitution is amended, the power to appoint ministers will remain with the president.
accuse
If you accuse someone of doing something wrong or dishonest, you say or tell them that you believe that they did it:
∙ He was accusing my mum of having an affair with another man.
∙ “It wasn’t my fault.” “Don’t worry, I’m not accusing you.”
∙ Are you accusing me of lying?
∙ He was accused of statutory rape.
intention
An intention is an idea or plan of what you are going to do:
∙ It wasn’t my intention to exclude her from the list - I just forgot her.
∙ It has always been my declared intention to sail round the world.
∙ Unfortunately, his good intentions never seemed to last long.
∙ I have no intention of selling this house.
condemn
1) to criticize something or someone strongly:
☼ The terrorist action has been condemned as an act of barbarism and cowardice.
☼ The film was condemned for its sexism.
☼ She was the only politician to condemn the proposed law on moral grounds.
☼ The Opposition has condemned the government’s proposed tax increases.
2) to severely punish someone who has committed a crime, or to force someone to suffer:
● He was condemned to life imprisonment.
● Illness condemned her to spend her remaining days in a home.
● Mark was condemned to do most of the work.
● He felt condemned to being alone.
imprisonment
Imprisonment is the state of being imprisoned:
● She was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment.
● 15 months of his imprisonment was spent in the King County jail.
snap
1) If something snaps or if you snap it, it breaks suddenly, usually with a sharp cracking noise:
● You’ll snap that ruler if you bend it too far.
● He put too much pressure on the door handle and it snapped.
● The brake pedal had just snapped off.
● She gripped the pipe with both hands, trying to snap it in half.
● (as a noun) He shut the book with a snap and stood up.
2) If you snap something into a particular position, or if it snaps into that position, it moves quickly into that position, with a sharp sound:
▪ He snapped the notebook shut.
▪ She snapped her book shut and got up to leave.
3) If an animal snaps, it tries to bite someone:
The guard dog was snarling and snapping behind the fence.
thereupon
Thereupon means happening immediately after something else has happened and usually as a result of it:
◌ Immediately thereupon, he ate his first American hamburger.
◌ Ursula had refused to marry Attila the Hun, who thereupon ordered one of his archers to shoot her.
contrive
to arrange a situation or event, or arrange for something to happen, using clever planning:
◌ Couldn’t you contrive a meeting between them? I think they’d really like each other.
◌ Somehow she contrived to get tickets for the concert.
spare
1) (adjective) You use spare to describe something that is the same as things that you are already using, but that you do not need yet and are keeping ready in case another one is needed:
◌ If possible keep a spare pair of glasses accessible in case your main pair is broken or lost.
◌ Don’t forget to take a few spare batteries.
◌ He could have taken a spare key.
◌ (as a noun) Give me the trunk key and I’ll get the spare.
spare time - time when you are not working:
I like to paint in my spare time.
2) (verb) If you have something such as time, money, or space to spare, you have some extra time, money, or space that you have not used or that you do not need:
◦ Could you spare me £20?
◦ You got here with ninety seconds to spare.
◦ Miranda has drive and energy to spare and has now taken on an even bigger challenge.
commute
1) to make the same journey regularly between work and home:
It’s exhausting commuting from Brighton to London every day.
2) to change a punishment to one that is less severe:
Her sentence was commuted from death to life imprisonment.
hapless
A hapless person is unlucky:
◊ Many children are hapless victims of this war.
◊ hapless victims of the earthquake
superficial
1) If you describe someone as superficial, you disapprove of them because they do not think deeply, and have little understanding of anything serious or important:
► He’s fun to be with, but he’s very superficial.
► This guy is a superficial yuppie with no intellect whatsoever.
not complete and involving only the most obvious things:
► That article was written at a very superficial level.
► The documentary’s treatment/analysis of the issues was very superficial.
appearing to be true or real until examind more closely:
There are superficial similarities between the two cars, but really they’re very different in terms of performance.
2) Superficial injuries are not very serious, and affect only the surface of the body. You can also describe damage to an object as superficial:
The explosion caused superficial damage to the fortified house.
subsequent
happening after something else:
● The mistakes were corrected in a subsequent edition of the book.
● In subsequent years he said he regretted his actions.
eventually
in the end, especially after a long time or a lot of effort, problems, etc.:
● Although she had been ill for a long time, it still came as a shock when she eventually died.
● The flight eventually got away six hours late.
● After a long search, they eventually found the missing papers.
● Keep trying and you’ll find a job eventually.
● Her parents eventually relented and let her go to the party.
familiar
If someone or something is familiar to you, you recognize them or know them well:
● The house looked strangely familiar, though she knew she’d never been there before.
● The street was familiar to me.
● He talked of other cultures as if they were more familiar to him than his own.
If you are familiar with something, you know or understand it well:
● Nick is quite familiar with Central Television. He worked there for 25 years.
● I’m sorry, I’m not familiar with your poetry.
2) If someone you do not know well behaves in a familiar way towards you, they treat you very informally in a way that you might find offensive:
● The driver of that taxi-cab seemed to me familiar to the point of impertinence.
● He doesn’t like to be too familiar with his staff.
shaggy
Shaggy hair or fur is long, untidy and unkempt:
His gray hair was shaggy.
garret
a very small, uncomfortable room at the top of a house:
The first two storeys were built in the 1890s, while the second two were added in 1949-50, including some garret rooms.
wretched
1) unpleasant or of low quality:
The people live in wretched conditions, with no running water.
You describe someone as wretched when you feel sorry for them because they are in an unpleasant situation or have suffered unpleasant experiences:
These wretched people had seen their homes going up in flames.
You use wretched to describe someone or something that you dislike or feel angry with:
- Of course this wretched woman was unforgivably irresponsible.
- Reality started to hit about four months after we had bought the wretched place.
2) feeling very ill or very unhappy:
I think I must be coming down with flu - I’ve been feeling wretched all day.
invariably
= always, constantly:
● Ranch meals are invariably big and healthy.
● There’s no point in rushing – she’s invariably late.
● Invariably, he keeps the refrigerator well stocked.
● High blood pressure is almost invariably accompanied by high blood cholesterol.
scowl
When someone scowls, an angry or hostile expression appears on their face:
● When I asked the boss for a day off, he just scowled and told me to get back to work.
● He scowled, and slammed the door behind him.
● The boy scowled at her and reluctantly followed her back into school.
Scowl is also a noun:
● She was clearly annoyed, as you could tell from the scowl on her face.
● He had a bald head, a huge belly, and a menacing scowl.
cowardly
(as an adjective) (of a person) not at all brave and too eager to avoid danger, difficulty, or pain :
● He was too cowardly to give the order.
● These are not cowardly people, but they are cautious.
(of an action) showing that someone is not at all brave and is too eager to avoid danger, difficulty, or pain:
● They are guilty of a cowardly failure to address the problem.
● Their failure to ask tough questions and hold their leaders to account is cowardly in the extreme.
cowardice
the behaviour of someone who is not at all brave and tries to avoid danger (covardly behaviour):
● Cowardice prevented me from doing what I knew I should do.
● You can accuse me of cowardice, but I still wouldn’t fight in a war.
abject
showing no pride or respect for yourself:
● He is almost abject in his respect for his boss.
● He sounded abject and eager to please.
extreme and without hope:
● They live in abject poverty.
● My experiment was an abject failure.
