Advanced English Vocabulary Set 8 Flashcards
He is a millionaire ________ who refuses to give interviews.
a person who lives alone and avoids going outside or talking to other people
recluse
I have to say that last question ________ me.
to confuse someone so much that they do not know what to do
flummoxed
Did I hurt you? - I thought I saw you ______.
to show pain briefly and suddenly in the face， often moving the head back at the same time
wince
I’m the first to admit that I’m an _________ cider drinker—I drink four pints a day.
stubbornly established by habit
inveterate
Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew， but his mother __________ it with a few biting words.
to reject， refuse to accept
repudiated
The governor was _________ for using state funds improperly.
to be formally charged with a serious crime in a special government court
impeached
We are not just an ________ of chemicals or a mindless machine.
a group of things collected together
assemblage
Nationalist ________ has increased in the area since the bombing.
a thought， opinion or idea based on a feeling about a situation， or a way of thinking about something
sentiment
He tends to ______ at people when he’s got a headache.
to speak quickly， usually in an annoyed way
snap
I wanted to speak to her， but she gave me the _____-____.
a clear refusal to be friendly or to listen; rude dismissal
brush-off
He _________ between accepting and refusing.
to be uncertain or unsteady in movement or decision
wavered
Even seeming _________ words can be offensive if used in the wrong context.
not at all harmful or controversial
innocuous
I enjoy listening to their witty ________.
quick， amusing answers in conversation
repartee
His _________ personality makes him difficult to work with.
frequently trying to tell other people what to do without regard for their ideas or feelings
overbearing
We had a good _________ over a bottle of wine.
a long and pleasant conversation between friends
chinwag
According to witnesses， the _________ between the two men started inside the restaurant.
a loud argument or disagreement
altercation
My mother is always _________ over something.
to be continually worried or dissatisfied about small or unnecessary things
fretting
How much __________ does he pay to his children and ex-wife?
money that a person has been ordered by a court to pay regularly to their former partner
maintenance
They can’t manufacture the device till they’ve ironed out all the production ________.
a small fault in the operation
glitches
His _______ research resulted in him failing his PhD.
of poor quality
shoddy
A hospital chief executive has ________ rumours that people will lose their jobs.
to say or do something to stop something from continuing
quashed
There is a _________ of opinion on the benefits of technology.
a difference between two or more things
divergence
Her parents finally __________ and allowed her to go.
to change your attitude and become less strict or cruel
relented
Billionaire Howard Hughes’s reclusive behavior during his final years can easily be called ________.
odd， eccentric
erratic
He’s a very kind and _________ young man.
willing to consider new ideas or listen to someone else’s opinions
receptive
She was tired of his cheap ______.
an unkind remark intended to make someone seem silly
jibes
During the communist regime government had __________ produced that cast a positive light on often unfair government policy.
a short cinema film of recent event
newsreels
___-__-___-______-_____ is provided by 24 hour channels like Sky News or CNN.
news having or including the most recent information possible
Up-to-the-minute-news
The author of a very famous article published in the New York Times was paid high ________.
a payment made to a writer
royalty
For John books are a form of ________.
an activity， a form of entertainment， etc. that helps you avoid or forget unpleasant or boring things
escapism
The firm is threatened with ________.
the permanent closing， e.g. of a business
closure
People are convicted that all criminals should get a ___________ for their deeds.
severe punishment that is deserved
retribution
The room was painted in ________ colours.
dark and dull
sombre
Yesterday all the petty criminals were _________!
to decide officially that someone is not guilty of a crime
acquitted
People say that a famous and dangerous _________ rules this part of our city.
member of an organised criminal group
mobster
Certain scenes in action films are too violent and __________.
unnecessary
gratuitous
At the party， Carl tried to talk to Suzanne， but she gave him ___ ______ ______.
to ignore someone deliberately
the cold shoulder
In many countries you can’t get anything done without _______ the ______ of officials.
to bribe somebody
greasing the palms
The drunk kept on _______ ______ at her.
to try insistently to pick sb up
making passes
Knowing that song ______ you. It was popular in the 1950s.
tells your age; when you were born
dates
I knew you and Mike would ____ it _____ straight away.
to immediately have a good relationship with sb when you meet them for the first time
hit it off
They created a _____ ____ to bribe influential officials.
a fund of money used for illegal purposes
slush fund
He’s ____ ______ that Ming is the man who talked to him.
very certain
dead certain
At 77 he is ______ and _____， getting up at six every morning to walk three miles.
healthy and strong
hale and hearty
I don’t have very much patience with all this legal ____-_______.
to argue about whether details that are not important are correct
hair-splitting
I don’t care how much skill he has. If he can’t play under pressure he’s a ____ _____.
not competitive， not viable
dead duck
The form must be signed by your ____ of _____.
your closest living relative
next of kin
Enemy forces are within a ______ ______ of the city.
a very small distance or amount
a hair’s breadth
Tom was 54 and not married which meant he was a ________ ________.
a man who is not likely to get married
confirmed bachelor
He adores the girl - he wouldn’t _____ a _____ on her ______.
to hurt someone
harm a hair on her head
He was expecting her to be furious but she didn’t ______ a _______.
to not show any emotion when you are told something bad or when something bad happens
turn a hair
She was immaculate as ever， ___ a ____ out of ______.
with a very tidy appearance
not a hair out of place
Harry usually keeps the kids occupied so they don’t ____ in my _____ while I’m cooking.
to annoy sb， esp. by being near them for a long period
get in my hair
The thought of jumping out of an aeroplane makes my _____ _____ on _____.
to make someone feel very frightened
hair stand on end
The last scheme you came up with was really ___ the ______.
worthless
for the birds
The backup quarterback was called into the game， but he got _____ _____ and refused to go in.
to be too fearful to undertake or complete an action
cold feet
After the trial McVeigh was _________ and sentenced to death.
to prove or announce that someone is guilty of a crime
convicted
Many people think that censorship __________ on their freedom.
to limit
infringes
Stronger legal _________ are needed to protect the consumer.
sth that is designed to protect people from harm， risk or danger
safeguards
I can’t stand him - he’s such an old ______.
a person who complains a lot
grouch
In many countries ______-____ wives have the same rights as official ones.
person living with his/her partner for a long time but not married to him/her
common-law
The landlord tried to cover his losses by _________ high rents from tenants.
to illegally force sb to give you money by threatening them
extorting
Stop ________ and tell me what you really think.
to try to avoid giving an answer or taking any action
hedging
He denied __________ with his wife’s best friend.
to have a sexual intercourse with sb you’re not married to
fornicating
They are __________ the town square.
to make an area into one where vehicles are not allowed to go
pedestrianizing
I told him he should stop building _____ in ___ _______ and train for a sensible profession.
extravagant hopes and plans that will never be carried out
castles in the air
_____ ___ _____ ____， she walked to work. I saw her every morning.
every day
Day in， day out
The poor frequently lack the _______ ______ the rest of us take for granted.
the basic physical things that make life pleasant — good food， warm clothing， etc
creature comforts
The broker said， It was a ____-____ ______. Stocks remain low.
very little recovery after a loss， not coming up again
dead-cat bounce
My father is convinced that this venture will fail， but then he’s always been a _______ of ______.
sb who always expects bad things to happen
prophet of doom
People of various party _________ joined the campaign.
a continued support for a political party， religion， ruler， etc
allegiance
Betsy ________ at him as she spoke.
to smile in a silly annoying way
simpered
How can we best _________ ‘King Lear’ and understand it?
to explain an idea or a work of literature in a lot of detail
explicate
Mrs. Hutchins __________ at length on the ignorance of the frontier people.
to make a long formal speech about sth
discoursed
When he said he didn’t agree with her she _________ at him and left the room.
to look at someone in an angry way
scowled
He _________ an apology and left quickly.
to say sth with a lot of pauses and repeated sounds
stammered
She’s been __________ on about the wedding for weeks.
to talk continuously about unimportant things
nattering
The refugees slept in __________ tents at the side of the road.
made to be used for a short time only when nothing better is available
makeshift
The new treatment ________ the need for surgery.
eliminate
obviates
Brook now faces probable jail after an indictment for ________.
the act or crime of stealing
larceny
