Books_1

Question 1

Overweening

Answer 1

Arrogant // Presuntuoso - The overweening players behaved poorly after winning the game

Question 2

Heart-throb (n)

Answer 2

Attractive or idolized person // persona amata - Milly was so excited to meet her heartthrob that she fainted.

Question 3

Gadfly (n)

Answer 3

Someone who is always annoying or criticizing other people / petulante, assillante - My annoying neighbor is nothing but a gadfly who likes to run to the apartment manager with constant complaints.

Question 4

Deft (adj)

Answer 4

1. Clever - The writer is known for his deft use of dialog.
2. Physically skillful - With a deft hand, Alicia quickly mended the sock.

Question 5

Tawny

Answer 5

Yellowish-brown color // fulvo

Question 6

Brawl (n)

Answer 6

Fist-fight - Police were called to break up the brawl at the club.

Question 7

Lambast [sb]

Answer 7

To attack verbally - My boss lambasted me today for a small error on my report.

Question 8

Chafe at/against/under

Answer 8

To feel or express annoyance in response to something, to feel impatient or annoyed // irritare, infastidire

1. Some hunters are chafing under the new restrictions.
2. Bruce chafed at the idea that the new hire he was training made more money than him.

Question 9

For all that

Answer 9

Per quanto

Question 10

Nous

Answer 10

Intelligence and the ability to make good practical decisions => common sense

Question 11

Harp on about [sth]

Answer 11

Talk incessantly about [sth] // Battere sullo stesso tasto - My grandfather harps on about the war all the time.

Question 12

Balm (n)

Answer 12

Ointment, something soothing // unguento

Question 13

Bridle at [sth] / [sb]

Answer 13

To show that one has been offended, displeased, or angered by someone or something. - Of course I bridled at his condescending tone—I’m the president of a major corporation! - The senator bridled at the reporter’s question.

Question 14

Sleaze (n)

Answer 14

Immorality // Malcostume, squallore

Question 15

Tar with the same brush

Answer 15

To think that somebody has the same bad qualities as others in a similar surrounding. to characterize someone with the same undesirable attribute as another // fare di tutta l’erba un fascio

Question 16

Boon

Answer 16

Gift, blessing // Manna

Question 17

In a bind

Answer 17

In a particularly difficult or awkward situation, especially one that is not easy to resolve or escape // in un ginepraio - With his car wrecked and no way to get to work he really found himself in a bind.

Question 18

Whip [sth] up

Answer 18

To generate, stir up - The conjuror whipped a rabbit out of his hat. - The tabloids are whipping up a fuss about immigration

Question 19

Come to a screeching halt

Answer 19

To end abruptly

Question 20

Trumped-up

Answer 20

Fabricated, made-up

Question 21

Gruff (adj)

Answer 21

Rude, burbero - Phil appears to be gruff, but he’s really kind-hearted.

Question 22

Beachhead

Answer 22

A first achievement that opens the way for further developments; foothold // testa di ponte - the town became a beachhead in the campaign to ban smoking outdoors.

Question 23

Onslaught

Answer 23

A violent attack

Question 24

Bloat (v)

Answer 24

To swell or expand

Question 25

Surcease (n)

Answer 25

Tregua

Question 26

Crop up

Answer 26

To appear suddenly // Saltare o spuntare fuori

Question 27

Pour scorn on [sb] / [sth]

Answer 27

To speak with contempt or mockery of [sb] / [sth]

Question 28

Schmooze (v)

Answer 28

To talk in a friendly way about unimportant things at a social event, especially because you want to gain an advantage for yourself later - Politicians spent much of their time schmoozing with contributors.

Question 29

Linger (v)

Answer 29

To be slow in leaving or going away (it: trattenersi, indulgiare)

Question 30

Baleful

Answer 30

Threatening evil, menacing (it: malevolo, minaccioso) - My mother had a baleful look in her eye when she discovered what I had done.

Question 31

Put [sth] right

Answer 31

To rectify // Rimediare a qlcs

Question 32

Not to put too fine a point on it

Answer 32

To speak plainly and bluntly - The dishes we tried tasted, not to put too fine a point on it, like gasoline.

Question 33

Put paid to [sth]

Answer 33

To terminate, to cancel (plans or expectations), to stop something once and for all - Bad exam results put paid to his hopes of a university place.

Question 34

Lay into [sb]/[sth]

Answer 34

To attack someone physically or with words - Outside the club, two men were laying into each other.

Question 35

Last-ditch (adj)

Answer 35

Final or desperate - The negotiators made a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement.

Question 36

Tantalizingly

Answer 36

Tempting // allettante, stuzzicante

Question 37

Dearth (n)

Answer 37

Lack // Scarsità, carenza - There was a dearth of creativity in the class.

Question 38

Blunder (n, v)

Answer 38

Clumsy mistake - Tilly was humiliated by her blunder at work.

Question 39

Badger [sb]

Answer 39

Assillare, infastidire, disturbare, importunare - Jane keeps badgering me about going camping with her

Question 40

Brittle (adj)

Answer 40

Hard but breaks easily // Fragile, volubile

Question 41

Rub up against [sb] / [sth]

Answer 41

1. To come into conflict with someone or something
2. Literally, to press against someone or something and rub on them or it.

Question 42

Make inroads into [sth]

Answer 42

1. To have an important effect or influence on something - Repairs to the house had made deep inroads into their savings.
2. To make some progress towards achieving something difficult - Doctors are making great inroads in the fight against cancer.

Question 43

News outlets

Answer 43

Organi di stampa, notiziari, testate

Question 44

Play up [sth]

Answer 44

Sottolineare⇒, enfatizzare⇒, mettere in luce, mettere in evidenza

Question 45

Play down [sth]

Answer 45

Sminuire, minimize

Question 46

Bristle at [sth]

Answer 46

To show sudden displeasure or anger at some provocation.

Question 47

Pyrrhic

Answer 47

(Of a victory) won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor

Question 48

Dragoon [sb] into doing [sth]

Answer 48

To force, pressurize

Question 49

Rinky-dink (adj)

Answer 49

Dozzinale, mediocre

Question 50

Raillery (n)

Answer 50

Teasing banter // canzonatura, presa in giro