Books_2

Question 1

Come up short

Answer 1

To fail to win or achieve something - We’ve been to the state tournament four times, but we’ve come up short every time.

Question 2

Pander to [sb]/[sth]

Answer 2

To indulge [sb]/[sth] // Essere compiacente con, assecondare - Some newspapers feel they have to pander to the prejudices of their readers.

Question 3

Curtail [sth] (v)

Answer 3

Accorciare / limitare, ridurre

• We curtailed our vacation when the weather changed.
• The students’ freedoms were curtailed because of their noise

Question 4

Scores of [sth]

Answer 4

Un mucchio di, un sacco di

Question 5

Nought

Answer 5

Zero (UK)

Question 6

Rung (n)

Answer 6

Step of a ladder // Piolo

Question 7

Doldrums

Answer 7

Tristezza, malinconia, depressione // crisi / depressione economica

• Brett has been feeling in the doldrums since his favorite team lost the championship.
• The country’s economy is in the doldrums now, but it should improve as the seasons change.

Question 8

Lumber [sb] with [sth]

Answer 8

Burden with something unpleasant // Rifilare [qlcs] a [qlcn], addossare [qlcs] a [qlcn]

As usual, they lumbered me with the task of organizing everything

Question 9

Fluff [sth]

Answer 9

To get something wrong // Sbagliare, cannare

The actor fluffed his lines several times during the performance.

Question 10

See [sb] off

Answer 10

Chase away or dismiss // say farewall to [sb]

Question 11

Lackadaisical

Answer 11

Not showing enough interest in something or not putting enough effort into it⇒ Apathetic // Apatico, indolente, svogliato

David has a rather lackadaisical approach to his work.

Question 12

Rickety

Answer 12

Traballante, instabile, pericolante - Bob was cautious about sitting in the rickety chair, afraid that it would collapse under him

Question 13

Scuttle [sth]

Answer 13

1. Sink ship on purpose
2. Cause [sth] to fail on purpose - John was fired when it was discovered that he had scuttled the project.

Question 14

Drum up [sth]

Answer 14

Destare, stimolare - The company ran lots of TV commercials to drum up interest in their product.

Question 15

Rife (adj)

Answer 15

Abundant, widespread - Poverty is rife in this part of the city.

Question 16

Sway // sway [sth/sb]

Answer 16

1. Ondeggiare, oscillare
2. opinion, beliefs: influence - Jessica was sure she was right, but in the end, Dawn’s arguments swayed her and she changed her mind

Question 17

Haggle over [sth]

Answer 17

To bargain for [sth] - The buyer and seller were haggling over the price of the house for a week.

Question 18

Have a knack for doing [sth]

Answer 18

To have a talent or skill for [sth]

Question 19

Bent on doing [sth]

Answer 19

Determined to do [sth] - That cousin of yours is bent on doing as much damage as he can.

Question 20

Rallying cry

Answer 20

Slogan, motto, grido di battaglia - ‘Land and Liberty’ was the rallying cry of revolutionary Mexico.

Question 21

Clampdown (n)

Answer 21

Enforcement of a restriction // Stretta, giro di vite, provvedimento restrittivo - The governor has ordered a clampdown on illegal immigration.

Question 22

Bombastic

Answer 22

Overblown, pretentious // Magniloquente, ampolloso - The dictator gave a bombastic speech to the masses

Question 23

In the thick of it // in the thick of things

Answer 23

1. Sul più bello
2. In azione - Tarzan was always in the thick of things when there was trouble in the jungle.

Question 24

Underwriter

Answer 24

Insurance company/agent

Question 25

**Gloss over [sth]**

Answer 25

Sorvolare su - *She glossed over the details of her divorce.*

Question 26

**Rebuke (n, v)**

Answer 26

Criticize, scold

Question 27

**Double down**

Answer 27

Raddoppiare la puntata / ribadire, insistere // Become more stubborn * *When criticized for his views, he **doubled down** and his remarks caused more outrage.* * *When the interviewer questioned her, she **doubled down on** her support for the President.*

Question 28

**Earmark (v)**

Answer 28

To set aside for a purpose // destinare, riservare - *We have earmarked the chairs in the corner for tomorrow's ceremony.*

Question 29

**Drubbing (n)**

Answer 29

Bastonata

Question 30

**Upend [sth]/[sb]**

Answer 30

Overturn, defeat // change drastically * *The knights wanted to upend the king and take over the throne.* * *After the fire, the principal upended the school's crisis plans.*

Question 31

**Stymie [sth]**

Answer 31

Thwart // ostacolare, intralciare, boicottare - *Investigators have been stymied by uncooperative witnesses.*

Question 32

**Mettle (n)**

Answer 32

1. Strength of character // temperamento, tempra 2. Coraggio, fegato

Question 33

**Eke out something**

Answer 33

1. **To obtain or win something only with difficulty or great effort** - *The company expects to eke out a small profit this year* 2. **To use something slowly or carefully because you only have a small amount of it** - *They had to eke out their food rations so they would last a whole week.*

Question 34

**Muddle (n)**

Answer 34

Pasticcio, confusione

Question 35

**Hew [sth]**

Answer 35

To shape, carve // Intagliare - *The carpenter hewed the piece of wood skillfully.*

Question 36

**In the throes of [sth]**

Answer 36

In the midst of, especially of a difficult struggle - *The country was in the throes of economic collapse.*

Question 37

**Faff (n)**

Answer 37

Fuss, bother // seccatura

Question 38

**Hobble [sth]**

Answer 38

1. Restrict 2. Azzoppare, mutilare

Question 39

**Salvo**

Answer 39

Verbal outburst // Sfogo

Question 40

**Squall (n, v)**

Answer 40

1. Rainstorm // sudden wind 2. Cry, scream

Question 41

**Unfettered**

Answer 41

Not restricted // Illimitato - *The research team was granted unfettered access to the laboratory*

Question 42

**Be loath to do [sth]**

Answer 42

To be reluctant to do [sth] - *Sarah was loath to tell her mother what had happened.*

Question 43

**Splinter (v)**

Answer 43

Break into splinters // Scheggiarsi, frantumarsi

Question 44

**Behest**

Answer 44

Strong request, command

Question 45

**Be poised to do [sth]**

Answer 45

Ready for // Essere in procinto di, essere sul punto di - *He stood on the edge of the roof, poised to jump.*

Question 46

**Be on the ropes**

Answer 46

To be in a very bad situation, in which you are likely to be defeated. - *Behind the apparent success, the company was on the ropes.*

Question 47

**Brimming with [sth]**

Answer 47

Full of // Colmo di

Question 48

**No mean feat**

Answer 48

A considerably great, difficult, or noteworthy achievement or outcome - *They sold 1 million cards in the first year of business – no mean feat, given the problems many businesses are facing.*

Question 49

Weary (adj)

Answer 49

Tired // sfinito, esausto

Question 50

Arrears (n)

Answer 50

Overdue payments // arretrati