2 Flashcards
account for sth
to give a reason for something
all the more
even more
anathema
something which
is strongly disliked or disapproved of
at sth’s last gasp
going to soon
disappear completely
be a touch aggrieved
slightly upset or angry at
an unfair situation
be completely thrown
to feel completely
shocked or confused
be up to scratch
to be of good enough
quality
bilingual
using or able to speak two languages
brutally
in an extreme way, showing no
consideration or pity for others
buckle
a metal object used to fasten the ends
of a belt or strap
byways
facts about a subject that are known
only by a few people
come across sth/sb
to discover something or
someone by chance
consumerism
buying and selling things,
especially when this is an important part of a society’s
activities
converse
to talk with someone
crucial
extremely important or necessary
die out
to become more and more rare and then
disappear completely
do business
to buy or sell goods or services for
someone
equate sth with sth
to consider one thing to
be the same as or equal to another thing
indignant
angry because something is unfair
innate capacity/ faculty/ ability
an ability
that you were born with and not one that you have learnt
in other respects
in other ways
intuitive
based on feelings rather than facts or
proof
irreparable
irreparable damage, harm, injury,
etc. is so bad that it can never be repaired
little chance of sth
not much possibility of
something
loanword
a word taken from one language and
used in another
major factor
one of the main things that
has an effect on a situation
make a fool of yourself
to behave in a way
which is embarrassing and makes you look silly
make ends meet
to have just enough money for
the things that you need to live on
make yourself understood
to say something to
someone in a way that they understand
mother tongue
the first language that you
learn when you are a child
naturally gifted
able to do something very
well because you were born with that ability
not get very far
to not make progress
nuisance
a person, thing, or situation
that annoys you or causes problems for you
pick up sth
to start learning something or
doing something regularly without intending to
press sb for sth
to try to persuade someone to do
something
quite by chance
completely by accident
ranch
a large farm where animals are kept
remarkable
very unusual or noticeable in a way
that you admire
exaggerate sth
to make something seem
larger, better, worse, etc. than it really is
frankly absurd
ridiculous or unreasonable
fringe
the outer part of an area, group or
activity
get attuned to sth
to start to recognise or be able
to understand something
get behind the scenes
to get beyond
appearances and see things which most people don’t
usually see
get down to sth
to start doing something
seriously and with a lot of attention and effort
get stuck into sth
to start doing
something with energy and determination
get to thinking about sth
) to start thinking about
something
go about doing sth
to start to do something in a
purposeful way
handicap
something that makes it more
difficult for you to do something
have a reliance on sth
to be in a situation
when someone or something depends on someone or
something else
have an excellent command of sth
to have an
excellent knowledge of a subject, especially a language
have sth in common
to share features, interests
or experiences with someone or something else to share features, interests
or experiences with someone or something else
highly articulate
able to express ideas and
feelings in words very clearly in words
hold your own
to be as successful as other
people in a situation
immerse yourself in sth
to become completely
involved in something
revitalization
when something is given new
life or energy or becomes successful again
rudimentary
very basic
rusty
if a skill is rusty, you are no longer so good
at it because you have forgotten it
say
used in conversation to introduce an
example ‘The flavours of our company’s ice creams are
not as important as, say, the name or the colour.’
setback
a problem that makes something
happen later or more slowly than it should
settle into sth
to start to feel relaxed and
comfortable in a new situation
stand sb in good stead
to be useful to someone
study under sb
to be taught by
someone
subsidise sb/sth
if a government or other
organization subsidises something, it pays part of the
cost of it
sweep sth aside
to replace or destroy
something
switch between languages/from one language to
another v
to repeatedly change the language that
you are speaking in
tactics
planned way of doing
something in order to achieve what you want
take sb by surprise
to surprise someone
thereabouts
near the number, amount, or time
that has just been given
uninhibited
feeling free to behave in any way
that you want without worrying about other people’s
opinions
weird a
very strange
word-for-word (translate sth ~)
taking each
word separately and in the same orde
work tirelessly
to work very hard and with
great energy over a long period
