1 Flashcards
guess at
to try to imagine something when you have little knowledge or experience of it. There are no photographs of him, so we can only guess at what he looked like.
tie in
When ideas or statements agree or are closely connected. The plan does not quite tie in with the aspirations of the club’s owners.
presume
to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain. I presume (that) they’re not coming, since they haven’t replied to the invitation.
pugnacious
wanting to start an argument or fight, or expressing an argument or opinion very forcefully. . I found him pugnacious and arrogant.
not mince (your) words
to say what you mean clearly and directly, even if you upset people by doing this. The report does not mince words, describing the situation as “ludicrous”.
one for the books
a surprising or unexpected event. Well, that’s one for the books - I never thought he’d get the job.
toss and turn
to move around restlessly while sleeping or trying to sleep. I was tossing and turning all night.
steadfast
staying the same for a long time and not changing quickly or unexpectedly. A steadfast friend/ally
categorically
in a way that is without any doubt or possibility of being changed. He categorically refused to take part in the project.
staunch
always loyal in supporting a person, organization, or set of beliefs or opinions. He’s a staunch friend and ally
contempt
a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or something. At school she had complete contempt for all her teachers.
ditch
to get rid of something or someone that is no longer wanted. Did you know that Sarah ditched her boyfriend last week?
paucity
the fact that there is too little of something. There is a paucity of information on the ingredients of many cosmetics.
dearth
an amount or supply that is not large enough. There’s a dearth of new homes in the region
clamber
to climb up, across, or into somewhere with difficulty, using the hands and the feet. They clambered over/up the rocks.
soar
to rise very quickly to a high level. House prices soared a further 20 percent.
to have a large amount of something, or to be full of something: br—- with sth
bristle with sth. The helicopter hovered above them bristling with machine guns.
phase out
to remove or stop using something gradually or in stages. The airline is planning to phase out the aircraft at the end of this year.
boast about
to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done or what you own. Parents enjoy boasting about their children’s achievements.
hint at
to say sth indirectly. He’s hinted at the possibility of moving to Canada.
account for
to give explanation for sth
allow for
to consider someone or something when you are planning something. We have to allow for the possibility of the project being delayed.
earmark
to keep or intend something for a particular purpose. Five billion dollars of this year’s budget is already earmarked for hospital improvements.
bar
something that prevents a particular event or development from happening / to prevent something or someone from doing something or going somewhere, or to not allow something. A lack of formal education is no bar to becoming rich. (or) The centre of the town was barred to football supporters.
stem from
to start or develop as the result of something. Her problems stem from her difficult childhood.
refrain from
to avoid doing or stop yourself from doing something. The sign on the wall said “Please refrain from smoking.”.
exempt from
to excuse someone or something from a duty, payment, etc. Small businesses have been exempted from the tax increase.
absorbed in / engrossed in
very interested in something and not paying attention to anything else / giving all your attention to something. She was so engrossed in the book that she forgot the cookies in the oven.
confide in
to share your feelings and secrets with someone because you trust them not to tell other people. She’s nice, but I don’t feel I can confide in her.
take notice
to give attention to something. I asked him to drive more slowly, but he didn’t take any notice.
elaborate on
to explain with more details. The congresswoman said she was resigning, but refused to elaborate on her reasons for doing so.
to apply oneself
To work hard at sth, directing your abilities and efforts in a determined way so that you succeed. You can solve any problem if you apply yourself.
“The doctor ——– me to a specialist”
refered. First see your pediatrician, who may refer you to a pediatric allergist.
to be resigned to
to make yourself accept something unpleasant that cannot be changed. She seems resigned to losing the race.
see to
to make sure sth is done. Please see to it that no one comes in without identification.
resort to
to do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any other way of achieving something. I had to resort to violence to get my money back.
subject someone/something to something
to cause someone or something to experience something, esp. something unpleasant. I hate being subjected to boring lectures.
acquaint someone with something
to give someone information about something. The museum offers workshops to acquaint children with the world of radio.
clutter
a state of being untidy. Sorry about the clutter in the kitchen.
ingratiate yourself with sb
to make someone like you by praising or trying to please them. He’s always trying to ingratiate himself with his boss.
meet with sth
to experience something, usually something unpleasant. I heard she’d met with an accident.
plead
to make an urgent, emotional statement or request for something. He was on his knees, pleading for mercy.
plead ignorance
to say that you do not know about something. He pleaded ignorance when they found the package in his suitcase.
tamper with
to touch or make changes to something that you should not, usually without enough knowledge of how it works or when you are trying to damage it. Tampering with pipelines could result in ruptures or fires.
drop dead
to die suddenly and unexpectedly
To drop a line
to write someone a letter, especially a short informal one. Just drop me a line when you decide on a date.
drop off
to start to sleep. I must have dropped off during the show, because I don’t remember how it ended.
speak up
to speak in a louder voice. Could you speak up? We can’t hear at the back.
speak up for someone/something
to express support for a person or idea. There is no one in the capital speaking up for this part of Ohio.
speak out
to say in public what you think about something. He spoke out against the school’s admissions policy.
add up
to seem reasonable or likely. Watson claimed he was at home at the time of the murder, but police said his story didn’t add up.
ask about sb.
to inquire about sb. Tell your father I was asking about him.
back down
to yield in an argument. Eventually, Roberto backed down and apologized.
bargain for
to expect or be prepared for something. We hadn’t bargained for such a long wait.
bear sth out.
to confirm the truth. His version of events just isn’t borne out by the facts. (or) If you tell them what happened I will bear you out
break down.
to lose control of emotions. When we gave her the bad news, she broke down and cried.
break off.
to stop talking. He broke off to open the door
break up
to come to an end. The party broke up at 3AM.
bring sth about.
to cause sth to happen. He brought about his company’s collapse by his reckless spending.
bring sth off.
to succeed in doing something difficult. It was an important event, and she’s managed to bring it off wonderfully.
bring sth on
to cause the onset of a illness / to cause trouble to oneself. The loud music brought on another one of his headaches.
