B's Flashcards
Backfire
To produce an unexpected and unwanted result. the literal meaning refers to an engine, gun, etc., exploding backwards or discharging gases, flame, debris, etc., backwards, thus possibly causing injury.
The company’s new efficiency measures backfired when workers protested and staged a walkout, thus stopping production completely.
Balance
The remaining part or leftover amount. This is related to the idea of a bank balance - a balance is what you have left after deductions.
The publishing division accounted for 25% of the profits, and the film division for the balance. This means that the film division provided 75% of the profits.
Baldly
Plainly, explicitly. (This is the same word as in “losing one’s hair.”) To say something baldly is to be blunt. People are sometimes shocked or offended when things are said too bluntly or baldly.
Her students were shocked when she baldly stated, “If you don’t work harder, you will fail my class.”
Balloon
Swell or puff out; increase rapidly. Also, in finance, a balloon payment is a single payment at the end of a loan or mortgage term that is much larger than the other payments.
During the dot-com bubble, the university’s investments ballooned to three times times their former value.
When he won the award, his chest ballooned with pride.
Befall
Happen to (used with something bad). The past tense is befell.
Disaster befell the company once again when the CEO was thrown from a horse.
Belie
Contradict or misrepresent.
The actress’s public persona as a perky “girl next door” belied her private penchant for abusing her assistants and demanding that her trailer be filled with ridiculous luxury goods.
The data belie the accepted theory - either we’ve made a mistake, or we have an amazing new discovery on our hands!
Benevolent
Expressing goodwill, helping others or charity.
Benign
Harmless; kind or beneficent; not cancerous.
He was relieved when the biopsy results came back informing him that the growth was benign.
He’s a benign fellow. I’m sure working with him will be perfectly pleasant, and he won’t disrupt the existing team.
Blight
Disease that kills plants rapidly, or any cause of decay or destruction (noun); ruin or cause to wither (verb)
Many potato farmers have fallen into poverty as a result of blight killing their crops.
Gang violence is a blight on our school system, causing innocent students to fear even attending classes. In fact, violence has blighted our town.
Blunt
To dull, weaken, or make less effective.
The new therapy has severe side effects, but they can be blunted somewhat with anti-nausea medication and painkillers.
Blur
To make blurry, unclear, indistinct.
In Japan, company titles are taken very seriously and roles are sharply defined, whereas in the United States - especially in smaller firms - roles are often blurred as everyone is expected to pitch in on a variety of projects.
Bogus
Fake, fraudulent.
The back of this bodybuilding magazine is full of ads for bogus products - this one promises 22-inch biceps just from wearing magnetic armbands!
Bolster
Strengthen or support.
The general requested reinforcements to bolster the defensive line set up at the border.
Some people believe that self-affirmation exercises are an effective way to bolster self-esteem and even performance.
Broad
Wide, large; in the open (“in broad daylight”); obvious, clear; liberal, tolerant; covering wide scope of things. (“Broad” is also mildly derogatory term for women, in case you’re confused - of course no one would ever be called a broad on the GRE).
The panel was given broad discretionary powers. (The panel can do whatever it wants.)
Brook
Suffer or tolerate. Often used with the word no. You could say The dictator will not brook dissent, but a more common usage would be The dictator will brook no dissent.
