ANIME ENGLISH Flashcards
peninsula
an area of land that is almost surrounded by water but is joined to a larger piece of land
fleet
a group of military ships commanded by the same person
a fleet of destroyers
Nelson destroyed the Franco-Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.
ingenuity
the ability to invent things or solve problems in clever new ways
The problem tested the ingenuity of even the most imaginative students.
Getting out of this mess was going to require a fair degree of ingenuity.
It didn’t take much ingenuity to transform the door into a table.
The children showed a lot of ingenuity.
There is always a solution, so long as you are prepared to use your ingenuity.
They adapted the available materials with great ingenuity.
We have to admire his ingenuity in redesigning the machinery.
someone who has the ingenuity to solve problems
crumble
to break or break something into very small pieces
Rice flour makes the cake less likely to crumble.
crumble something Crumble the cheese over the salad.
She crumbled the dry earth into fine powdery dust.
labor
work, especially physical work
manual labor (= work using your hands)
The price will include the labor and materials.
The company wants to keep down labor costs.
The workers voted to withdraw their labor (= to stop work as a means of protest).
a fair division of labor between men and women
once upon a time
used, especially at the beginning of stories, to mean ‘a long time ago in the past’
Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess.
weaponry
all the weapons of a particular type or belonging to a particular country or group
high-tech weaponry
US weaponry
He had a large collection of medieval and historical weaponry.
When they surrendered their weaponry was taken by the enemy.
deplorable
very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people
a deplorable incident
They were living in the most deplorable conditions.
The acting was deplorable.
We tried to forget the whole deplorable episode.
It is deplorable that… It is deplorable there is no legal protection for these children.
pose
pose something to create a threat, problem, etc. that has to be dealt with
to pose a threat/risk/challenge/danger
the threat posed by terrorism
Obesity poses real risks to health and happiness.
The task poses no special problems.
to pose a hazard/obstacle/barrier
Pollutants in the river pose a real risk to the fish.
the dangers posed by the possession of nuclear weapons
the environmental threat posed by oil spillages
pooped
very tired
I’m pooped!
devote to
to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to something
I could only devote two hours a day to the work.
The amount of time devoted to leisure is dropping.
wicked
morally bad (evil)
a wicked deed
stories about a wicked witch
It’s really wicked to leave old people without any help.
She despised herself for being selfish, even wicked.
That was a wicked thing to do!
The wicked witch casts a spell on the princess.
unwavering
not changing or becoming weaker in any way
unwavering support
fatherland
the country where a person, or their family, was born, especially when they feel very proud of it
grim
looking or sounding very serious
a grim face/look/smile
She looked grim.
with a look of grim determination on his face
He set about the task with grim concentration.
grim-faced policemen
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unpleasant and depressing
================
James had some rather grim news.
We face the grim prospect of still higher unemployment.
Despite the grim forecast, the number of deaths was slightly down on last year.
The outlook is pretty grim.
This latest attack is a grim reminder of how vulnerable our airports are to terrorist attack.
Booth paints a grim picture of life in the next century.
a grim struggle for survival
Things are looking grim for workers in the building industry.
The accident serves as a grim reminder of what drinking and driving can do.
vomit
to bring food from the stomach back out through the mouth
The smell made her want to vomit.
vomit something up He had vomited up his supper.
vomit something The injured man was vomiting blood.
trench
a long, deep hole dug in the ground in which soldiers can be protected from enemy attacks (for example in northern France and Belgium in the First World War)
life in the trenches
They had not been prepared for the horrors of trench warfare.
derail
(of a train) to leave the track; to make a train do this
The train derailed and plunged into the river.
derail something The rebels plotted to derail trains and blow up bridges.
a foregone conclusion
if you say that something is a foregone conclusion, you mean that it is a result that is certain to happen
The outcome of the vote is a foregone conclusion.
The result of the game was a foregone conclusion.
blend
to mix two or more substances together (MIX)
blend A with B Blend the flour with the milk to make a smooth paste.
blend A and B (together) Blend together the eggs, sugar and flour.
classified
(of information) officially secret and available only to particular people
classified information/documents/material
The British government is still refusing to disclose certain classified documents.
The magazine printed a controversial article based on classified material.
We are not in a position to divulge that information: it is classified.
utterly
completely
We’re so utterly different from each other.
She utterly failed to convince them.
enlistment
the act of joining the armed forces; the act of making somebody join the armed forces
his enlistment in the Royal Air Force
ream out
(North American English, informal) to criticize somebody strongly because they have done something wrong
He reamed me out in front of everyone.
compromise
an agreement made between two people or groups in which each side gives up some of the things they want so that both sides are happy at the end
After lengthy talks the two sides finally reached a compromise.
In any relationship, you have to make compromises.
a compromise solution/agreement/candidate
After much discussion, she offered a compromise.
He might be an attractive compromise candidate if both sides’ first choices are rejected.
I’m not making any more compromises.
It is best to try to seek a compromise rather than a perfect solution.
They came to a compromise over the exact amount to be paid.
They’re still trying to work out an acceptable compromise.
straight-laced
having strict or old-fashioned ideas about people’s moral behaviour
evildoer
a person who does very bad things
flee
to leave a person or place very quickly, especially because you are afraid of possible danger
She burst into tears and fled.
flee from somebody/something a camp for refugees fleeing from the war
flee to…/into… He fled to London after an argument with his family.
flee something He was caught trying to flee the country.
The driver had already fled the scene of the accident.
fiend
a very cruel or unpleasant person
on/to the verge of something/of doing something
very near to the moment when somebody does something or something happens
He was on the verge of tears.
They are on the verge of signing a new contract.
These measures brought the republic to the verge of economic collapse.
She was on the verge of a nervous breakdown when she finally sought help.
repel
repel somebody/something (formal) to successfully fight somebody who is attacking you, your country, etc. and drive them away
to repel an attack/invasion/invader
Troops repelled an attempt to infiltrate the south of the island.
(figurative) The reptile’s prickly skin repels nearly all of its predators.
in the lap of luxury
in easy, comfortable conditions, and enjoying the advantages of being rich
We spent two weeks in the hotel living in the lap of luxury.
elite
a small group of people in a society, etc. who are powerful and have a lot of influence, because they are rich, intelligent, etc.
a member of the ruling/intellectual elite
Public opinion is influenced by the small elite who control the media.
In these countries, only the elite can afford an education for their children.
He was an influential member of the ruling elite.
These people form an elite who have the power to make decisions.
a club for members of the business elite
the European Union’s technocratic elites
Cultural centres should not just be for the use of a social elite.
He came from the country’s intellectual elite.
The global elite has held meetings there since 1873.
The election result was seen as a backlash of the working class against the metropolitan liberal elite.
envision
to imagine what a situation will be like in the future, especially a situation you intend to work towards (imagine)
They envision an equal society, free of poverty and disease.
If you can envision your goals, you can achieve those goals.
attain
attain something to succeed in getting something, usually after a lot of effort
Most of our students attained five ‘A’ grades in their exams.
We only consider applicants who have attained a high level of academic achievement.
attain (a) degree/standard/level/proficiency/mastery
status
the legal position of a person, group or country
They were granted refugee status.
The party was denied legal status.
The company investigated the immigration status of its workers.
A majority voted for fully independent status for the region.
A referendum produced a massive majority in favour of fully independent status for the region.
Officers could determine their legal status.
She applied for resident status but was turned down.
The Institute has now achieved full status as part of the University.
The organization has charitable status.
They argued that the email had no signature and therefore no legal status.
They have acquired refugee status.
hospitals that have been given foundation status
In 1806 Napoleon raised Bavaria to the status of a kingdom.
They successfully applied for residency status.
vanguard
the part of an army, etc. that is at the front when moving forward to attack the enemy
The army was advancing steadily and the vanguard was already at the border.
presume
to suppose that something is true, although you do not have actual proof (assume)
They are very expensive, I presume?
‘Is he still abroad?’ ‘I presume so.’
presume (that)… I presumed (that) he understood the rules.
it is presumed that… Little is known of the youngest son; it is presumed that he died young.
presume somebody/something to be/have something I presumed him to be her husband.
I had presumed wrongly that Jenny would be there.
I presumed that he understood the rules.
They presume that a woman’s partner is supporting her financially, whether this is true or not.
fort
a building or buildings built in order to defend an area against attack
The fort finally fell after a week of intense fighting.
The fort was under attack for three days.
an Iron Age hill fort
incompetent
not having the skill or ability to do your job or a task as it should be done
an incompetent teacher
his incompetent handling of the affair
The prime minister was attacked as incompetent to lead.
I know my boss considers me incompetent.
a grossly incompetent piece of reporting
She worked for years under an incompetent manager.
gall
rude behaviour showing a lack of respect that is surprising because the person behaving badly is not embarrassed
Then they had the gall to complain!
I almost admired the utter gall of the man.
prick
an offensive word for a stupid or unpleasant man
(a penis)
==============
Don’t be such a prick!
subjugate
to defeat somebody/something; to gain control over somebody/something
be subjugated (to something) Her personal ambitions had been subjugated to (= considered less important than) the needs of her family.
a subjugated race
the strong subjugates the weak
accomplished
very good at a particular thing; having a lot of skills
an accomplished artist/actor/chef
She was an elegant and accomplished woman.
He came to New York in 1976, already accomplished in English.
Sarah had become accomplished at running the house.
a technically accomplished musician
By this time she was becoming quite an accomplished liar.
He was an accomplished linguist, fluent in French and German.
accomplishment
an impressive thing that is done or achieved after a lot of work (achievement)
It was one of the President’s greatest accomplishments.
The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.
If this works, it will be a major accomplishment.
It would be quite an accomplishment if we could get this finished in time.
The administration’s success in cutting the budget was an impressive accomplishment.
the technical accomplishments of modern medicine
resolve
a determined desire to achieve something
The difficulties in her way merely strengthened her resolve.
It was a test of his stamina and resolve.
She did not weaken in her resolve.
resolve to do something The government reiterated its resolve to uncover the truth.
internment
the act of putting somebody in prison during a war or for political reasons, although they have not been charged with a crime
the internment of suspected terrorists
the purges, deportations and internments of the 1930s
internment camps
railroad
a track with rails on which trains run
flawless
without flaws and therefore perfect (perfect)
a flawless complexion/performance
Her English is almost flawless.
deploy
deploy somebody/something to move soldiers or weapons into a position where they are ready for military action
2 000 troops were deployed in the area.
At least 5 000 missiles were deployed along the border.
Tanks were deployed effectively during the long campaign.
——————
deploy something (formal) to use something effectively
===========
to deploy arguments/resources
She rejected the arguments that had been deployed against her.
pillboxes
a small shelter for soldiers, often partly underground, from which a gun can be fired
agile
able to move quickly and easily
(nimble)
=========
a strong and agile athlete
postpone
to arrange for an event, etc. to take place at a later time or date than originally planned
(put off)
===============
postpone something The game has already been postponed three times.
postpone something until something We’ll have to postpone the meeting until next week.
postpone something to something They have agreed to postpone repayment of the loan to a future unspecified date.
postpone doing something It was an unpopular decision to postpone building the new hospital.
Ruth wrote at once, asking Maria to postpone her visit.
The event has been postponed indefinitely due to lack of interest.
The game has been postponed from Wednesday night to Friday night.
absolute
total and complete
I’ve joined a class for absolute beginners.
absolute confidence/trust/silence/truth
‘You’re wrong,’ she said with absolute certainty.
Clean water is an absolute necessity.
Around them the darkness was absolute, the silence oppressive.
——————–
used, especially in spoken English, to give emphasis to what you are saying
============
We must keep costs to an absolute minimum.
This room is an absolute disgrace.
They’re talking absolute nonsense.
He must earn an absolute fortune.
——————-
definite and without any doubt
==========
There was no absolute proof.
He taught us that the laws of physics were absolute.
The story offers no clear message, no absolute truth.
——————
not limited in any way
============
absolute power/authority
an absolute ruler/monarchy (= one with no limit to their power)
allegiance
a person’s continued support for a political party, religion, leader, etc.
to switch/transfer/change allegiance
an oath/a vow/a statement of allegiance
People of various party allegiances joined the campaign.
allegiance (to somebody/something) to pledge/swear allegiance
He affirmed his allegiance to the president.
Every day the children say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Every day the schoolchildren pledge an oath of allegiance to their country.
He is now very rich but his allegiance to his working-class origins is still strong.
He keeps everyone guessing about his true allegiance.
He owed his allegiance to the organization that had given him all his opportunities.
It is hard to keep up with the changing allegiances between the various political parties.
render
render somebody/something + adj. (formal) to cause somebody/something to be in a particular state or condition
(make)
==============
to render something harmless/useless/ineffective
Hundreds of people were rendered homeless by the earthquake.
devoid
(devoid of something) completely without something
The letter was devoid of warmth and feeling.
The land is almost devoid of vegetation.
troops
soldiers, especially in large groups
They announced the withdrawal of 12 000 troops from the area.
The president decided to send in the troops.
Russian troops
filthy
very dirty and unpleasant
filthy rags/streets
It’s filthy in here!
maggots
a creature like a small, short worm that is the young form of a fly and is found in meat and other food that is going bad.
Maggots are often used as bait to catch fish.
redeem
redeem somebody/something to make somebody/something seem less bad
The excellent acting wasn’t enough to redeem a weak plot.
The only redeeming feature of the job (= good thing about it) is the salary.
She seems to have no redeeming qualities (= good aspects of her character) at all.
In an attempt to redeem the situation, Jed offered to help sell tickets.
standby
a person or thing that can always be used if needed, for example if somebody/something else is not available or if there is an emergency
I always keep a pizza in the freezer as a standby.
a standby electricity generator
Wilson has been called into the squad as a standby.
A dark suit is a useful standby for any formal occasion.
befit
something befits somebody to be suitable and good enough for somebody/something
It was a lavish reception as befitted a visitor of her status.
He lived in the style befitting a gentleman.
at/in one fell swoop
all at the same time; in a single action, especially a sudden or violent one
If the new law is passed, it will remove press freedom in one fell swoop.
drop-dead
used before an adjective to emphasize that somebody/something is attractive in a way that is very easy to notice
a drop-dead gorgeous Hollywood star
so be it
used to show that you accept something and will not try to change it or cannot change it
If he doesn’t want to be involved, then so be it.
commence
to begin to happen; to begin something
The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon.
I will be on leave during the week commencing 15 February.
commence with something The day commenced with a welcome from the principal.
commence something She commenced her medical career in 1956.
The company commenced operations in April.
to commence bankruptcy proceedings against somebody
commence doing something We commence building next week.
commence to do something Operators commenced to build pipelines in 1862.
proceed
to continue doing something that has already been started; to continue being done
We’re not sure whether we still want to proceed with the sale.
Work is proceeding slowly.
He left detailed instructions about the best way to proceed.
I will instruct my lawyer to proceed with the preparation of draft contracts.
She decided not to proceed with the treatment.
I will remember your advice and proceed accordingly.
It will be necessary to proceed with caution.
The council must proceed on the basis of the vote.
This project cannot be allowed to proceed.
outshine
to be more impressive than somebody/something; to be better than somebody/something
He far outshone the rest of the class.
interpret
to explain the meaning of something
The students were asked to interpret the poem.
The data can be interpreted in many different ways.
These results must be interpreted cautiously.
sully
to damage or reduce the value of something
By cheating they have sullied the good name of their country.
—————
to make something dirty
=========
She wondered if she dared risk sullying the gleaming sink.
artillery
large, heavy guns which are often moved on wheels
The town is under heavy artillery fire.
artillery attacks/barrages/shells
nuclear artillery units
A stray artillery shell struck the hospital.
The army launched a heavy artillery barrage against enemy positions.
fonctional
practical and useful; with little or no decoration
Bathrooms don’t have to be purely functional.
The office was large and functional rather than welcoming.
Items such as musical instruments may be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
pierce
to make a small hole in something, or to go through something, with a sharp object
pierce something The arrow pierced his shoulder.
He pierced another hole in his belt with his knife.
to have your ears/nose, etc. pierced (= to have a small hole made in your ears/nose, etc. so that you can wear jewellery there)
pierce somebody
(figurative) She was pierced to the heart with guilt.
pierce through something The knife pierced through his coat.
The narrowed blue eyes seemed to pierce right through her.
cretin
a very stupid person
Why did you do that, you cretin?
treaty
a formal agreement between two or more countries
the Treaty of Rome
a peace treaty
to draw up/sign/ratify a treaty
Under the terms of the treaty, La Rochelle was ceded to the English.
courageous
showing courage (brave) =========== a very courageous decision I hope people will be courageous enough to speak out against this injustice.
jubilation
a feeling of great happiness because of a success
There were scenes of jubilation among her supporters.
her jubilation at reaching the final
flaw
a mistake in something that means that it is not correct or does not work correctly
(defect, fault)
==============
The argument is full of fundamental flaws.
flaw in something The report reveals fatal flaws in security at the airport.
There is still a basic flaw in your selection procedure.
Flaws have appeared in the new version of the software.
It took me a long time to find the flaw in her logic.
Engineers have detected serious design flaws.
defect
a fault in something or in the way it has been made that means that it is not perfect
a speech defect
a defect in the glass
Goods with slight defects are sold at half price.
The photograph shows slight defects due to age.
The book contains serious defects.
He has a congenital heart defect.
Congenital defects occurred in 30% of babies born in areas where the weapons were used.
The child had a mild heart defect.
There is evidence that air pollution can cause birth defects.
The drug is widely known to cause birth defects.
Over-breeding in pedigree dogs can cause major genetic defects in puppies.
This is a physical defect that cannot be cured.
The builders agreed to remedy the structural defects.
A structural defect meant that the bridge could not be opened in time for the Millennium celebrations.
The inspector found defects in the aircraft’s construction.
a fundamental defect in the product
swine
(informal) an unpleasant person
He’s an arrogant little swine!
(have) a lot, nothing, etc. going for you
(to have) many/not many advantages
You’re young, intelligent, attractive—you have a lot going for you!
marksmanship
skill in shooting
hot air
(informal) claims, promises or statements that sound impressive but have no real meaning or truth
He talks a lot of hot air.
Don’t worry about what they’re saying—it’s all hot air.
The whole debate was just so much hot air.
give somebody hell
to shout at or speak angrily to somebody
Dad will give us hell when he sees that mess.
unparalleled
used to emphasize that something is bigger, better or worse than anything else like it
It was an unparalleled opportunity to develop her career.
The book has enjoyed a success unparalleled in recent publishing history.
versatility
the ability to do many different things
She is a designer of extraordinary versatility.
localized
happening within one small area
a localized infection (= in one part of the body)
localized fighting
perseverance
the quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim despite difficulties
They showed great perseverance in the face of difficulty.
The only way to improve is through hard work and dogged perseverance.
Does she have the perseverance to finish the work?
He showed great perseverance by staying in the job.
Her perseverance was ultimately rewarded.
His perseverance with the new technique paid off.
It may take some perseverance to find the right people.
his courage and perseverance in the face of serious illness
claw
one of the sharp curved nails on the end of an animal’s or a bird’s foot ============== The cat lashed out with its claws. The lion growled and showed its claws. The tiger dug its claws into his leg.
quick-witted
able to think quickly; intelligent
a quick-witted student/response
arms
weapons, especially as used by the army, navy, etc.
arms and ammunition
The UN imposed an arms embargo on the country.
He’s the world ‘s most notorious arms dealer.
Police officers in the UK do not usually carry arms.
They banned arms sales to countries with poor human rights records.
He was trying to rebuild the country’s nuclear arms programme.
all-rounder
a person who has many different skills and abilities
entrust
to make somebody responsible for doing something or taking care of somebody =========== entrust A (to B) He entrusted the task to his nephew. The rebuilding of London’s churches was entrusted to the brilliant young architect, Christopher Wren.
pull something off
(informal) to succeed in doing something difficult
We pulled off the deal.
I never thought you’d pull it off.
insubordination
the act of refusing to obey orders or show respect for somebody who has a higher rank
(disobedience)
==================
Two officers were reported for insubordination.
barracks
a large building or group of buildings for soldiers to live in
an army barracks
The troops were ordered back to barracks.
The soldiers are searched before they are allowed to leave barracks.
Troops are being withdrawn to barracks to avoid further clashes.
purge
to remove people from an organization, often violently, because their opinions or activities are unacceptable to the people in power
purge something (of somebody) His first act as leader was to purge the party of extremists.
purge somebody (from something) He purged extremists from the party.
composed
[not usually before noun] calm and in control of your feelings
She seemed outwardly composed.
He remained perfectly composed and calm.
He was pale but composed.
He looked composed as he went about his work.
She sat with a book on her lap, apparently quite composed.
screw
to fasten one thing to another or make something tight with a screw or screws
The bookcase is screwed to the wall.
You need to screw all the parts together.
Now screw down the lid.
——————————————————–
——————————————————–
screw him, you, that, etc.
===========
(taboo, slang) an offensive way of showing that you are annoyed or do not care about somebody/something
already
(North American English, informal) used after a word or phrase to show that you are annoyed
Just stop already, no one feels sorry for you.
mountainous
having many mountains
missy
(especially North American English, informal)
used when talking to a young girl, especially to express anger
==========
Don’t you speak to me like that, missy!
tail
tail somebody to follow somebody closely, especially in order to watch where they go and what they do
A private detective had been tailing them for several weeks.
She was closely tailed by a detective.
They decided to let him go and then tail him.
touching
causing feelings of sympathy; making you feel sad or emotional
(moving)
============
It was a touching story that moved many of us to tears.
She went up to the old man and kissed him. It was very touching.
He wrote me a touching letter of thanks.
I find his devotion to her rather touching.
rebel
rebel (against somebody/something) to fight against or refuse to obey an authority, for example a government, a system, your parents, etc.
He later rebelled against his strict religious upbringing.
Most teenagers find something to rebel against.
In 1215 the barons rebelled against the king.
The colonies rebelled and declared their independence.
torso
the main part of the body, not including the head, arms or legs
hail
small balls of ice that fall like rain =========== We drove through hail and snow. The hail melted once the sun came out. We got caught in the hail. It's hailing! Rain and hail pounded on the tiled roof.
roll call
the reading of a list of names to a group of people to check who is there
Roll call will be at 7 a.m.
The guest list reads like a roll call of the nation’s heroes.
sleep like a log/baby
(informal) to sleep very well
He was so tired after all his exertions, he slept like a baby.
I usually sleep like a log.
crawl
to move forward on your hands and knees or with your body close to the ground
Our baby is just starting to crawl.
A man was crawling away from the burning wreckage.
She crawled under the fence.
sewer
an underground pipe that is used to carry sewage away from houses, factories, etc.
a sewer pipe/system
an open sewer (= a channel on the surface of the ground that is used to carry sewage)
Much of the water runs away down the sewers.
A network of sewer tunnels runs underneath the prison.
lure
lure somebody (+ adv./prep.) to persuade or trick somebody to go somewhere or to do something by promising them a reward
The child was lured into a car but managed to escape.
Young people are lured to the city by the prospect of a job and money.
Comsumers are often lured into debt by unscrupulous lenders.
He tried to lure her away from her friends.
I tried to lure the fox back with some food.
a lone wolf
a person who prefers to be alone
call it a day
(informal) to decide or agree to stop doing something
After forty years in politics I think it’s time for me to call it a day (= to retire).
noose
a circle that is tied in one end of a rope, with a knot that allows the circle to get smaller as the other end of the rope is pulled, that can be used to kill somebody by hanging them by the neck
a hangman’s noose
The noose tightened around her neck.
They tied a noose around her neck.
(figurative) His debts were a noose around his neck.
make the cut
to reach or maintain the required standard
amnesia
a medical condition in which somebody partly or completely loses their memory
bustling
full of people moving about in a busy way
a bustling city
bustling with something The market was bustling with life.
spew
to flow out quickly, or to make something flow out quickly, in large amounts
+ adv./prep. Flames spewed from the aircraft’s engine.
spew something + adv./prep. Massive chimneys were spewing out smoke.
commotion
sudden noisy and confused activity or excitement
I heard a commotion and went to see what was happening.
The crowd waiting outside was causing a commotion.
What’s all the commotion about?
The dogs set up a terrible commotion as we came near the house.
The people upstairs were making a great commotion.
She waited until the commotion died down.
There was lots of shouting and commotion.
entourage
a group of people who travel with an important person
the President and members of his immediate entourage
an entourage of adoring fans
at short notice | at a moment’s notice
(North American English also on short notice)
not long in advance; without warning or time for preparation
=============
This was the best room we could get at such short notice.
You must be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.
make somebody’s acquaintance | make the acquaintance of somebody
(formal) to meet somebody for the first time
I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs Baker.
I made the acquaintance of several musicians around that time.
I first made his acquaintance in 1992.
acquaintance
a person that you know but who is not a close friend
Claire has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
He’s just a business acquaintance.
I bumped into an old acquaintance on the train.
He was greeted as an old acquaintance.
I bumped into a casual acquaintance in town.
likewise
(formal) also
clue
a fact or a piece of evidence that helps you discover the answer to a problem
clue about something This data may provide clues about the current economic situation.
The trailer gives a few important clues about the film’s plot.
clue (as) to something Diet may hold the clue to the causes of migraine.
The text offers few clues as to his identity.
The picture contains subtle clues about the site’s history.
This research might provide an important clue about how cancer develops.
prudent
sensible and careful when you make judgements and decisions; avoiding unnecessary risks
a prudent businessman
a prudent decision/investment
It might be more prudent to get a second opinion before going ahead.
We thought it prudent to telephone first.
He had borrowed a little more than was prudent.
I think you made a prudent choice.
Most prudent employers see the benefit of having an organized workforce.
The minister had a reputation for being prudent and discreet.
What do you think is the most prudent course of action?
mere
used when you want to emphasize how small, unimportant, etc. somebody/something is
It took her a mere 20 minutes to win.
A mere 2 per cent of their budget has been spent on publicity.
He seemed so young, a mere boy.
You’ve got the job. The interview will be a mere formality.
behold
behold somebody/something to look at or see somebody/something
Her face was a joy to behold.
They beheld a bright star shining in the sky.
valiant
very brave or determined
( courageous)
————–
valiant warriors
She made a valiant attempt not to laugh.
The firefighters made valiant efforts to save them, but were beaten back by the flames.
She died last year after a valiant battle with cancer.
Despite their valiant efforts, they lost the game.
She made a valiant attempt to fix the problem.
hollow
having a hole or empty space inside =========== a hollow ball/centre/tube/tree a hollow metal cylinder The tree trunk was hollow inside. Her stomach felt hollow with fear. I felt hollow from lack of food. The experience left her feeling hollow and empty. I tapped the tin and it sounded hollow.
harsh
cruel, severe and unkind
The punishment was harsh and unfair.
The minister received some harsh criticism.
the harsh treatment of slaves
He regretted his harsh words.
We had to face up to the harsh realities of life sooner or later.
It may seem harsh to criticize him after his death.
‘She’s just totally useless!’ ‘That’s a bit harsh.’
reinstate
reinstate somebody/something (in/as something) to give back a job or position that had been taken away from somebody
He was reinstated in his post.
————————
reinstate something (in/as something) to return something to its previous position or status
(restore)
==========
There have been repeated calls to reinstate the death penalty.
Tennis has now been reinstated as an Olympic sport.
conscript (especially British English)
North American English usually draft
to order somebody by law to join the armed forces
be conscripted (into something) He was conscripted into the army in 1939.
be conscripted for something to be conscripted for military service
territory
land that is under the control of a particular country or political leader
enemy/disputed/foreign territory
occupied territories
They have refused to allow UN troops to be stationed in their territory.
The plane was shot down while overflying enemy territory.
The soldiers strayed into hostile territory.
The territory had been controlled by Azerbaijan for many years.
a town in British-occupied territory
former French territories
Their incursion into foreign territory is a clear act of aggression.
tame
tame something to make an animal, bird, etc. not afraid of people and used to living with them
Lions can never be completely tamed.
in truth
(formal) used to emphasize the true facts about a situation
She laughed and chatted but was, in truth, not having much fun.
graze
graze something (on something) to break the surface of your skin by rubbing it against something rough
I fell and grazed my knee.
He grazed his elbow on a sharp piece of rock.
spook
to frighten a person or an animal; to become frightened
be spooked (by somebody/something) We were spooked by the strange noises and lights.
spook at something The horse spooked at the siren.
implode
to collapse into the centre =========== The windows on both sides of the room had imploded. ----------------------- to fail suddenly and completely
merciless
showing no sympathy or kind treatment
(cruel)
===========
a merciless killer/attack
the merciless heat of the sun
She was subjected to the merciless criticism of her opponents.
It brought relief from the merciless summer heat.
hunch
a feeling that something is true even though you do not have any evidence to prove it
It seemed that the doctor’s hunch had been right.
My hunch is that the burglars are still in the area.
I had a hunch (that) you’d be back.
to follow/back your hunches
He decided to back his hunches with serious money.
Her hunches were confirmed the next day.
I called on a hunch to ask if he had any work for me.
I decided to follow my hunch and come and see you.
I had a hunch that she was not telling the truth.
They now have a database of information to back their hunches about customers’ preferences.
I didn’t know for certain—I was just going on a hunch.
hunch (that) I had a hunch that you might be here.
The detective’s hunch had been right.
militarism
the belief that a country should have great military strength in order to be powerful
atonement
the act of showing you are sorry for doing something wrong in the past
to make atonement for his sins
Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement
thrust
to push something/somebody suddenly or violently in a particular direction; to move quickly and suddenly in a particular direction
thrust something/somebody/yourself + adv/prep. He thrust the baby into my arms and ran off.
She thrust her hands deep into her pockets.
(figurative) He tends to thrust himself forward too much.
Her chin was thrust forward aggressively.
+ adv./prep. She thrust past him angrily and left.
He thrust a piece of paper at me.
A microphone was thrust through the curtains.
She thrust her way through the dense undergrowth.
He thrust a handkerchief out to her.
My mother thrust the newspaper back into her bag.
She suddenly thrust out her arm.
Mike thrust her towards the staircase.
endeavour (also endeavor)
an attempt to do something, especially something new or difficult
There have been great advances in the field of scientific endeavour.
endeavour to do something Please make every endeavour to arrive on time.
The manager is expected to use his or her best endeavours to promote the artist’s career.
in an endeavour to do something The public bombarded the company with complaints in an endeavour to have the price increases revoked.
Enthusiasm is a vital ingredient in all human endeavour.
He has the ability to achieve success in whatever field of endeavour he should choose.
In an endeavour to improve the service, they introduced free parking.
Learning a foreign language well can be a lifelong endeavour.
She always encourages her children in their artistic endeavours.
We will make every endeavour to obtain sufficient supplies.
We wish her every success in this endeavour.
You must make an endeavour to work harder.
the government’s honest endeavours to improve the lives of the poor
wharf
a flat structure built next to the sea or a river where boats can be tied up and goods unloaded
dock
dock (something) if a ship docks or you dock a ship, it sails into a harbour and stays there
The ferry is expected to dock at 6.
scout
a person, an aircraft, etc. sent ahead to get information about the enemy’s position, strength, etc.
The commander sent out a scout to see if the road was clear.
stand down
stand down (as something) to leave a job or position
He stood down to make way for someone younger.
swimmingly
without any problems or difficulties
We hope everything will go swimmingly.
intellects
the ability to think in a logical way and understand things, especially at an advanced level; your mind
a man of considerable intellect
She has a formidable intellect.
She uses her powerful intellect to examine the relationship between human society and nature.
A teacher recognized his outstanding intellect.
He liked to think of himself as a man of intellect and learning.
It was lack of opportunity, not lack of intellect, that excluded women from higher education.
She was a brilliant scholar with a formidable intellect.
good grief
(informal) used to express surprise or shock
Good grief! What a mess!
cut it out
(informal) used to tell somebody to stop doing or saying something annoying
I’m sick of you two arguing—just cut it out!
upstage
upstage somebody to say or do something that makes people notice you more than the person that they should be interested in
She was furious at being upstaged by her younger sister.
drunkenly
in a way that shows the effects of having drunk too much alcohol
cling
to hold on tightly to somebody/something
cling to somebody/something survivors clinging to a raft
Leaves still clung to the branches.
cling on to somebody/something She clung on to her baby.
cling on Cling on tight!
cling together They clung together, shivering with cold.
I clung closely to my mother’s arm.
She clung fiercely to him.
She clung onto my arm.
The children clung together in fear.
houses clinging precariously to sheer cliffs
She clung tightly to her baby.
Survivors clung to pieces of floating debris.
The ground mist clung closely to the bushes.
(in) broad daylight
(in) the clear light of day, when it is easy to see
The robbery occurred in broad daylight, in a crowded street.
bite me
used to say to someone that they have made you feel angry or embarrassed
corpse
a dead body, especially of a human
The corpse was barely recognizable.
march on
to move on or pass quickly
Time marches on and we still have not made a decision.
declare
to say something officially or publicly
declare something The government has declared a state of emergency.
Germany declared war on France on 1 August 1914.
The government has declared war on (= officially stated its intention to stop) illiteracy.
He will probably have to declare bankruptcy.
Neither side was able to declare victory.
She declared her intention of running for the presidency.
to declare your interest/candidacy
declare that… The court declared that strike action was illegal.
declare something/somebody + noun In the end, they were both declared winners of the tournament.
The area has been declared a national park.
declare something to be something The painting was declared to be a forgery.
declare something as something Excess weight has been declared as one of the top ten health risks in the world.
declare something/somebody + adj. I declare this bridge open.
A doctor had declared him unfit to travel.
Kenya was officially declared independent on December 12, 1963.
gather
to come together, or bring people together, in one place to form a group
A crowd soon gathered.
+ adv./prep. His supporters gathered in the main square.
Can you all gather round? I’ve got something to tell you.
The whole family gathered together at Ray’s home.
be gathered + adv./prep. They were all gathered round the TV.
A large crowd was gathered outside the studio.
The kids were gathered together in one room.
They are all gathering for a major conference.
The boys gathered around the car.
resent
to feel bitter or angry about something, especially because you feel it is unfair
resent something/somebody I deeply resented her criticism.
The children resented the new woman in their father’s life.
resent doing something He bitterly resents being treated like a child.
resent somebody doing something She resented him making all the decisions.
(formal) She resented his making all the decisions.
I resent the implication that I don’t care about my father.
I resent the insinuation that I’m only interested in the money.
She deeply resented the fact that her husband had been so successful.
merit
the quality of being good and of deserving praise or reward
(worth)
==================
a work of outstanding artistic merit
without merit The plan is entirely without merit.
on merit I want to get the job on merit.
He was awarded a certificate of merit for his piano playing.
Films are given a rating of one to five stars according to merit.
I can see no merit in excluding the child from school.
Prizes are awarded entirely on merit.
She proved her merit as a serious actress.
She was elected on personal merit.
The winners are ranked in order of merit.
There is lots of merit to the idea.
There is some merit in his argument.
large-scale
involving many people or things, especially over a wide area
Large areas of the forest will be cleared for ranching as part of a large-scale development plan.
the large-scale employment of women
The proposals include large-scale investment in agriculture and industry.
These measures would facilitate the development of large-scale business enterprises.
demolition
the act of pulling or knocking down a building
The whole row of houses is scheduled for demolition.
—————-
the act of defeating somebody easily and completely
==============
Ferguson completed the demolition with a fifth goal 13 minutes from time.
