Brainscape Bot Deck Flashcards
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vindictive
adjective
having or showing a wish to harm someone because you think that they harmed you; unwilling to forgive:
In the movie “Cape Fear”, a lawyer’s family is threatened by a __________ former prisoner.
She was immature, spiteful, even __________ at times.
doleful
adjective
very sad:
a _______ expression
a _______ expression/look
feeble
adjective
weak and without energy, strength, or power:
He was a ______, helpless old man.
The little lamp gave only a ______ light.
Opposition to the plan was rather ______.
a ______ joke/excuse
a ______ joke
He’s pretty ______, and has to use a cane to get around.
weak: She was too tired and weak to finish the race.
______: Many of the pensioners were so ______ they had to be stretchered onto the ship.
puny: He was puny as a child.
weedy: UK I was just this weedy guy who always had his head in a book.
frail: A frail, grey-haired lady walked slowly down the street.
vigorous
adjective
very forceful or energetic:
a ________ debate
There has been ________ opposition to the proposals for a new road.
He takes plenty of ________ exercise.
Cutting the bush back in the autumn will help promote ________ growth in the spring.
recollect
verb
to remember something:
[ I ] There were five young men in the car, as near as I can _________.
[ + -ing verb ] He does not _________ seeing her at the party.
[ + question word ] Do you _________ where she went?
Can you _________ his name?
As far as I can _________, his name is Edward.
[ + (that) ] She suddenly _________ed (that) she had left her jacket in the restaurant.
recall: I don’t recall arranging a time to meet.
_________: I didn’t _________ having seen him.
remind: Every time we meet he reminds me about the money he lent me.
come back to: I forgot his name but it’s just come back to me.
reminisce: We were just reminiscing about our school days.
remember: Do you remember when her birthday is?
peruse
verb
to read through something, especially in order to find the part you are interested in:
He opened a newspaper and began to ______ the personal ads.
He opened the newspaper and ______d the sports pages.
stagnate
verb
to stay the same and not grow or develop:
The electronics industry is showing signs of _______ing after 15 years of growth.
My music career had ________d.
For now, the strong currents mean water is relatively clean but when the levels subside the water will ________.
Valleys where air tends to ________ often have high levels of pollutants.
The local economy ________d when the factories closed.
The housing market ________d as rising interest rates squeezed many buyers out of the market.
While the volume of traffic soared during the past two decades, transportation funding ________d.
Michigan is struggling with high unemployment and a _______ing economy.
High costs have caused _______ion in the building industries.
heave
verb
to move something ____y using a lot of effort:
With a great _____, they rolled the boulder out of the way.
He _____d the bag onto his shoulder.
He cleared a space, ____ing boxes out of the way.
She picked up a ____y book and _____d it at him.
As the wind increased, the deck of the ship began to _____ beneath his feet.
The smell of the fish made me/my stomach _____.
They gave a great _____ and rolled the boulder out of the way.
[ T always + adv/prep ] He leaned his weight against the door and _____d it open.
[ I ] After the race she was covered in sweat, her chest ____ing.
endeavour
verb
to try to do something:
Engineers are _________ing to locate the source of the problem.
In spite of our best _________s, it has proven impossible to contact her.
Crossing the North Pole on foot was an amazing feat of human _________.
artistic _________
try: I’ll try to call her again.
attempt: I have never attempted to run a marathon.
_________: UK Engineers are _________ing to locate the source of the problem.
seek: They sought to reassure the public.
battle: He was battling to fix the roof in the rain.
strive: With limited resources, they are striving to make the school a better one.
hallowed
adjective
very respected and praised because of great importance or great age:
________ traditions
Can atheists be buried in ________ ground?
________ icons such as Marilyn Monroe and James Dean
adjourn
verb
to have a pause or rest during a formal meeting or trial:
The meeting was _______ed until Tuesday.
Shall we _______ for lunch?
[ T ] They _______ed the meeting until after lunch.
[ C ] There was a two-day _______ment in the trial.
_______ for sth The meeting _______ed for lunch.
_______ a case/hearing/trial/inquest/meeting The district judge _______ed the case for 16 weeks to allow time for experts to give evidence.
extrapolate
verb
to guess or think about what might happen using information that is already known:
You can’t really ___________ a trend from such a small sample.
Speaking about global warming, she said that time periods of 15 and even 30 years are too brief to ___________ changes in climate patterns.
___________ (sth) from sth We as economists tend to just predict the future by __________ing from the past.
___________ trends/patterns/risks
___________ figures/data/numbers
perceive
verb
to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about something:
Women’s magazines are often ________d to be superficial.
Bill ________d a tiny figure in the distance.
I ________d a note of unhappiness in her voice.
Perceiving that he wasn’t happy with the arrangements, I tried to book a different hotel.
The way people ________ the real world is strongly influenced by the language they speak.
In those days, crime wasn’t even ________d as a problem.
I ________d something moving in the shadows.
How do the French ________ the British?
spot: We managed to spot a leopard.
catch sight of: We looked for the bird and caught sight of it just as it flew off.
see: I can see for miles from up here.
notice: I noticed a crack in the ceiling.
________: Bill ________d a tiny figure in the distance.
observe: A teacher observed her climbing over the gate.
gruel
noun
a cheap simple food made, especially in the past, by boiling oats with water or milk
wayward
adjective
doing only what you want and often changing your behaviour in a way that is difficult to control
A _______ ball bounced into the yard.
He was a _______ kid.
usurp
verb
to take control of a position of power, especially without having the right to:
Local control is being _____ed by central government.
Some senators fear the organization will _____ congressional power.
virtual
adjective
almost a particular thing or quality:
Ten years of incompetent government had brought about the _______ collapse of the country’s economy.
In the game players simulate real life in a _______ world.
The service gives employees a personalized _______ desktop accessible from any web browser.
_______ shopping
Before a _______ meeting, all participants should test the technology and make sure they are comfortable with the major features.
Visit our website for a _______ tour of the museum.
She was a _______ unknown before this movie.
Snow brought Minneapolis to a _______ standstill yesterday.
Unemployment in this part of the country is _______ly nonexistent.
Falling orders led to the _______ ruin of her company.
The country’s first _______ business school is up and running.
Click here to take a _______ tour of homes we have for sale.
It is important to ensure that mergers of these companies do not result in a _______ monopoly in the industry.
impalpable
adjective
difficult to feel or understand:
an __________ beauty/quality
damsel
noun
a young woman who is not married
The heroine in this movie isn’t like some ______ in distress (= woman needing a man’s help) waiting to be saved.
resolve
verb
to solve or end a problem or difficulty:
to weaken/strengthen/test someone’s _______
The couple _______d their differences.
[ + that clause ] They _______d that they would never argue over money.
[ + to infinitive ] I _______d to run a mile a day.
The experience increased her _______ to change careers.
_______ a dispute/problem/conflict Lawyers could not _______ the dispute.
_______ differences Legislators are meeting this week to _______ differences in versions of the budget.
_______ to do sth They _______d to build a business for themselves.
_______ that He _______d that total expenditure will rise 3.3% in real terms in the next year.
weaken/strengthen sb’s _______ Successful people use setbacks as an opportunity to strengthen their _______.
test sb’s _______ The last three years have tested our _______.
[ + to infinitive ] The company _______d to take no further action against the thieves.
[ + adv/prep ] After hours of argument, they _______d against taking legal action.
The couple _______d their differences and made an effort to get along.
[ + that ] She _______d that she would never speak to him again.
Have you _______d the problem of transport yet?
decide: I’ve decided to move to Sweden.
set: Have you set a date for the wedding?
finalize: We’ve chosen a venue for the wedding, but we haven’t finalized the details yet.
settle: OK then, we’re going to Spain. That’s settled.
settle on/upon: Have you settled on a place to live yet?
promise: I promise that I’ll be home before dark.
guarantee: I can’t guarantee that the operation will be successful.
give (someone) your word: He gave me his word that the job would be finished on time.
assure: “Don’t worry, your car will be ready tomorrow”, the mechanic assured him.
swear: I didn’t know what happened, I swear.
pledge: We are asking people to pledge their support for our campaign.
fix: UK The price has been fixed at £10.
contort
verb
to (cause something to) twist or bend violently and unnaturally into a different shape or form:
His face _______ed with bitterness and rage.
sombre
adjective
serious, sad, and without humour or entertainment:
a ______ atmosphere/voice/face
The funeral was a ______ occasion.
I left them in a ______ mood.
He wore a ______ black suit.
serious: She had a serious look on her face.
earnest: At that time he was an earnest young environmental activist.
sober: The mood of the gathering was sober and reflective.
______: UK Since their colleague died there has been a very ______ atmosphere in the office.
solemn: The two men fell silent, their faces solemn.
minute
noun
one of the 60 parts that an hour is divided into, consisting of 60 seconds:
I won’t be a ______ (= I will be ready soon).
When you’ve got a ______, I’d like a brief word with you.
Could you take/do (= write) the ______s, Daniel?
The ______s of the last meeting were approved unanimously (= everyone agreed that they were correct).
I’ve just received a ______ from Clark authorizing the purchase of six more computers.
The chairman is ______d as having said that profits had fallen to an all-time low.
a ______ amount/quantity
I’ve never seen a man with such tiny hands - they’re ______!
The documentary showed an eye operation in ______ detail (= showing every small detail).
It takes me 20 ______s to get to work.
Just a ______ – I’m almost ready.
Just a ______ - I’ll be with you when I’ve finished this.
When you’ve got a ______, I’d like to talk to you.
She examined the contract in ______ detail (= looking at all the details of it).
The company publishes the ______s of all its meetings online.
agree/approve the ______s
It is part of her job to set the agenda for board meetings and take the ______s.
We’ve received a ______ authorizing the purchase of six more computers.
There did not appear to be any proper board ______ approving the sale.
The secretary hadn’t bothered to ______ half the meetings on the subject.
be fully/carefully/properly ______d Talks with lobbyists were fully ______d.
______ amounts/quantities
Hang on/Wait a ______ - I just have to get my bag.
It takes me 20 ______s to get to work.
The train leaves at three ______s to eight, so we’d better get there a few ______s before then.
a 20-______ bus ride
small: I live in a small town.
little: She’s a good little girl.
a little: I just want a little ice cream.
a little (bit): I was a little bit upset that she ate the last piece of cake.
tiny: His body was covered in tiny red spots.
peculiar
adjective
unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way:
She has the most ________ ideas.
What a ________ smell!
It’s ________ that they didn’t tell us they were going away.
UK The video on road accidents made me feel rather ________ (= ill).
He gets on with things in his own ________ way/manner/fashion.
They noted that special manner of walking that was ________ to her alone.
This type of building is ________ to the south of the country.
The copy editor will check type size and technical details to see if anything looks ________.
Katherine Hepburn’s way of talking was ________ to her.
strange: She’s a strange girl.
odd: I always thought there was something a bit odd about her.
bizarre: I had a really bizarre dream last night.
weird: His films are so weird that I can barely get through them.
funny: This lemonade tastes funny.
________: The chicken had a ________ smell.
lucrative
adjective
(especially of a business, job, or activity) producing a lot of money:
The merger proved to be very _________ for both companies.
The owner and general manager offered the player a _________ lifetime contract.
He gave up a _________ career as a lawyer to look after his kids.
The contest for this potentially _________ market has been intense.
extremely/highly/very _________ This business is highly _________.
a _________ business/contract/deal
She juggles motherhood with a _________ly successful career.
prosperous
adjective
successful, usually by earning a lot of money:
In a __________ country like this, no one should go hungry.
The area is becoming more and more __________.
a __________ businessman
a __________ country/economy/future
We have a world-class management team that will lead the company successfully and __________ly into the next century.
flush: He’s flush with cash.
loaded: They don’t have any money worries - they’re loaded.
well off: After years of working hard, we are now quite well off.
wealthy: Oliver’s parents are very wealthy.
rich: She’s one of the richest women in the country.
wary
adjective
not completely trusting or certain about something or someone:
I’m a little ____ of/about giving people my address when I don’t know them very well.
Teachers are often ____ of standardized tests.
delectable
adjective
looking or tasting extremely good, and giving great pleasure:
a __________ cheesecake
a __________ cake
visage
noun
the face
scrumptious
adjective
tasting extremely good:
___________ cakes
a ___________ breakfast
tantalize
verb
to make someone feel excited or attracted by an offer or a suggestion of something that is, in fact, unlikely to happen
Her paintings _________ the eye.
scrawny
adjective
unpleasantly thin, often with bones showing:
He came home after three months at college looking terribly _______.
The store had only a few _______ chickens left.
thin: She’s on a diet but I think she’s already too thin.
skinny: You should eat more. You’re much too skinny.
_______: He hated his _______ legs.
slim: He was tall, very slim, with pale, deep-set eyes.
slender: He put his arms around her slender waist.
nifty
adjective
good, pleasing, or effective:
a _____ piece of work/footwork
a _____ little gadget
What a _____ little gadget – you can use it for all kinds of things.
sopping
adjective
extremely wet:
You’re _______ wet - go and get changed.
The bottle had leaked in my bag and everything was _______.
You’re _______ wet – go put some dry clothes on.
accord
noun
(a formal) agreement:
On 31 May the two leaders signed a peace ______.
UK Before 1987, the ______ between the Labour government and the unions was a simple affair.
The project is completely in ______ with government policy.
She came of her own ______. No one asked her to come.
With one ______, the delegates walked out of the conference.
[ + two objects ] The massed crowds of supporters ______ed him a hero’s welcome.
Certainly in our society teachers don’t enjoy the respect that is ______ed to doctors and lawyers.
[ C ] Both parties signed an ______ last week in Geneva that may finally bring an end to the conflict.
[ U ] The officer acted in ______ with Florida law.
Reporters asked why the United States did not ______ full recognition to the new government.
agreement: Do we have an agreement?
gentleman’s agreement: He and his builder have a gentleman’s agreement that if there are spare materials left after working on the flat, the builder can take them home.
deal: Do we have a deal?
contract: The basketball player was signed to a multimillion-dollar contract with a new team this week.
______: The leaders of the four countries signed a peace ______.
understanding: We had an understanding that the businesses would merge, but never got that in writing.
impede
verb
to make it more difficult for something to happen or more difficult for someone to do something:
Although he’s shy, it certainly hasn’t ______d his career in any way.
Shortages of medicine were _____ing the effort to control diseases.
preposterous
adjective
very silly or stupid:
The very idea is ____________!
a ____________ suggestion
It was a ____________ idea, and no one took it seriously.
alluring
adjective
attractive or exciting:
I didn’t find the prospect of a house with no electricity very ________.
She was wearing a most ________ dress at Sam’s dinner party.
attractive: He’s an attractive, intelligent man.
appealing: She has an appealing sense of humour.
engaging: He is a very engaging conversationalist.
lovely: He’s such a lovely lad.
sweet: Your kids are so sweet.
adorable: She has an adorable little sister.
petrified
adjective
extremely frightened:
I stood _________ as the most enormous dog I’ve ever seen came bounding up to me.
She’s _________ of being on her own in the house at night.
a _________ tree/shell
As soon as they got on the stage they were _________ with fright.
afraid: She was afraid of the dark.
frightened: Don’t be frightened, my dog is quite friendly.
scared: Are you scared of spiders?
_________: He got to the top of the tree and was absolutely _________ he’d fall.
panic-stricken: She was panic-stricken when her little boy disappeared.
terrified: I’m terrified of flying.
acquisition
noun
the process of getting something:
The ___________ of huge amounts of data has helped our research enormously.
Language ___________ (= learning a language without being taught) starts at a very young age.
The museum’s latest ___________ is a four-million-dollar sculpture.
I like your earrings - are they a recent ___________? (= Did you get them recently?)
[ C ] The museum has made several recent ___________s.
[ U ] The ___________ of a new language requires a commitment of time and effort.
complete/make an ___________ Management intend to use the cash to make ___________s.
finance/fund an ___________ The company will fund the ___________ from its existing cash resources.
big/large/major ___________s If the company doesn’t make any big ___________s this year, it will hand back cash to shareholders.
a potential/proposed/recent ___________
Investment banks were changing rapidly into financial supermarkets whose business increasingly revolved around mergers and ___________s.
___________ of sth There were many additional costs related to the company’s ___________ of Walker Software.
land ___________
A spokesman confirmed that the company was in ___________ talks.
___________ of sth System changes will lead to the modification of the project and the ___________ of new resources and skills.
Hong Kong manufacturers are meeting the challenge through effective procurement and technology ___________.
purchase: I’m not in a position to make a major purchase like a car.
goods: There’s a sale on home goods this week.
shopping: Can you bring the shopping in for me?
groceries: US Thank you for bagging my groceries for me.
___________: That rare book is his latest ___________.
merchandise: The shop’s merchandise was heavily discounted.
alter
verb
to change something, usually slightly, or to cause the characteristics of something to change:
We’ve had to _____ some of our plans.
Although the cost of making phone calls is going up, the charge for connecting to the internet will not _____.
Giving up our car has radically _____ed our lifestyle.
I took the coat back to the shop to have it _____ed.
[ T ] The coat was too long, so I took it back to the store to have it _____ed.
Some things in life are not _____able.
[ C ] I had to make some _____ations in my research paper.
Just last week, the company agreed to _____ some of its business practices.
If they want to continue to have enough workers to fill their contracts, the company will have to _____ the way it does business.
Discovering new oil deposits could substantially _____ the balance between supply and demand.
It was back in 2002 that the shape of the business began to _____.
transform: The riverside area has been transformed into a shopping and sports complex.
turn into: There are plans to turn his latest book into a film.
change: She’ll always be like that - you can’t change her.
_____: We’ve had to _____ our plans.
vary: Try to vary the children’s diet a little.
convert: We’re going to convert the spare bedroom into an office.
impose
verb
to officially force a rule, tax, punishment, etc. to be obeyed or received:
I don’t want them to ______ their religious beliefs on my children.
We must ______ some kind of order on the way this office is run.
Are you sure it’s all right for me to come tonight? I don’t want to ______.
She’s always _____ing on people - asking favours and getting everyone to do things for her.
Settlers often ______d their culture on the peoples of the countries they conquered.
She’s always _____ing on people for favors.
I hope I’m not _____ing by staying another night.
______ a ban/restriction/penalty on sb/sth They are calling for the regulatory body to ______ a ban on television ads aimed at the under-12s.
to ______ a fine/tariff/tax
The council has ______d a ban on alcohol in the city parks.
Judges are _____ing increasingly heavy fines for minor driving offences.
Very high taxes have recently been ______d on cigarettes.
reprove
verb
to tell someone that you disapprove of their bad or silly behaviour:
The teacher gently _______d the boys for not paying attention.
lament
verb
to express sadness and feeling sorry about something:
The poem opens by ______ing (over) the death of a young man.
My grandmother, as usual, ______ed the decline in moral standards in today’s society.
The whole play can be interpreted as a ______ for lost youth.
He ______ed his students’ lack of interest in the classics.
Baker’s ______ was that his schedule kept him away from his family too often.
The late ______ed (= dead and remembered with love) Frank Giotto used to live here.
acquainted
adjective
knowing or being familiar with a person:
“Do you know Daphne?” “No, I’m afraid we’re not __________.”
I am not personally __________ with the gentleman in question.
Police said the thieves were obviously well __________ with the alarm system at the department store.
“Do you know Megan?” “No, we’re not __________.”
We got __________ when they gave us a ride home last night.
victuals
noun
food and drink:
“I can’t bear to see good ________ wasted,” said Martha.
feign
verb
to pretend to have a particular feeling, problem, etc. :
She responded to his remarks with _____ed amusement.
You know how everyone _____s surprise when you tell them how old you are.
The prosecution claimed that the defendant had _____ed the injury.
He _____ed sickness so he wouldn’t have to go to school.
intractable
adjective
very difficult or impossible to control, manage, or solve:
an ___________ child
___________ problems
We are facing an ___________ problem.
vociferous
adjective
Vociferous people express their opinions and complaints loudly and repeatedly in speech, and __________ demands, etc. are made repeatedly and loudly:
He protested __________ly, but to no avail.
Local activist groups have become increasingly __________ as the volume of traffic passing through the village has increased.
A __________ opponent of gay rights, he is well-known for his right-wing views.
a __________ critic of foreign policy
__________ objections
bliss
noun
perfect happiness:
Lying on a sunny beach is my idea of sheer _____.
wedded/domestic _____
Two weeks lying on a beach is my idea of absolute _____.
propitiate
verb
to please and make calm a god or person who is annoyed with you:
The radicals in the party were clearly sacked to __________ the conservative core.
In those days people might sacrifice a goat or sheep to __________ an angry god.
comply
verb
to act according to an order, set of rules, or request:
He’s been ordered to have the dog destroyed because it’s dangerous, but he refuses to ______.
There are serious penalties for failure to ______ with the regulations.
Comosa says he will ______ with the judge’s ruling.
The company said that it had always acted in _____iance with environmental laws.
______ with sth The state’s mining law requires mine operators to ______ with local land use regulations.
abide by: Players must abide by the referee’s decision.
obey: Children must obey their parents.
follow: All religions guide youths to follow the teachings of elders and parents.
______: There are serious penalties for failure to ______ with the regulations.
observe: People must observe the law.
adhere to: They failed to adhere to the terms of the agreement.
perish
verb
to die, especially in an accident or by being killed, or to be destroyed:
Without this assistance, thousands of refugees would ______ from hunger and neglect.
Sunlight has caused the rubber to ______.
He believes that Europe must create closer ties or it will ______.
Three hundred people ______ed in the earthquake.
die: My dog died last week.
die a natural/violent death: She dies a natural death at home, surrounded by loved ones.
pass away: He passed away peacefully in hospital.
pass on: I’m sorry to hear that your grandfather has passed on.
pass: US My father passed last year.
avarice
noun
an extremely strong wish to get or keep money or possessions:
Her business empire brought her wealth beyond the dreams of _______ (= an extremely large amount of money).
______ious land speculators
superfluous
adjective
more than is needed or wanted:
The report was marred by a mass of ___________ detail.
Our new mayor plans to eliminate ___________ programs.
Much of the school day is wasted on ___________ activities.
pamper
verb
to give someone special treatment, making that person as comfortable as possible and giving them whatever they want:
She ______s her dog with the finest steak and salmon.
Our children are ______ed by their grandparents.
Why not ______ yourself after a hard day with a hot bath scented with oils?
indulge
verb
to allow yourself or another person to have something enjoyable, especially more than is good for you:
The soccer fans _______d their patriotism, waving flags and singing songs.
I love champagne but I don’t often _______ myself.
We took a deliberate decision to _______ in a little nostalgia.
My aunt _______s the children dreadfully.
[ I ] When I get my first paycheck I’m going to _______ in a shopping spree.
[ T ] He _______d his passion for skiing whenever he could.
He was _______nt to his grandchildren.
thwart
verb
to stop something from happening or someone from doing something:
Our holiday plans were ______ed by the airline pilots’ strike
The city council ______ed his reform efforts.
prevent: Vaccination will prevent the spread of the disease.
avoid: Label the boxes to avoid confusion.
stop: This should stop any further trouble.
avert: We had to act quickly to avert disaster.
prohibit: Behavioural problems in the classroom prohibit learning.
check: Children are being vaccinated in an attempt to check the spread of the disease.
hearken
verb
to listen
convulsion
noun
a sudden movement of the muscles in your body that you cannot control, caused by illness or drugs:
She went into __________s and had to be rushed to hospital.
The syndrome brought on __________s.
vex
verb
to cause difficulty to someone, or to cause someone to feel angry, annoyed, or upset:
This issue looks likely to continue to ___ the government.
The question that ___es Ben the most is, “Why me?”
Rising gas prices are a ___ing problem.
portend
verb
to be a sign that something bad is likely to happen in the future:
It was a major scandal whose full exposure _______ed the end of a popular presidential reign.
It was a deeply superstitious country, where earthquakes were commonly believed to _______ the end of dynasties.
remark
verb
to give a spoken statement of an opinion or thought:
[ + (that) ] Dr Johnson once ______ed (that) “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”
[ + that ] He ______ed that she was looking thin.
Her ______s on the employment question led to a heated discussion.
The children made rude ______s about the old man.
[ + (that) clause ] She ______ed (that) she’d be home late.
[ I ] All his friends ______ed on the change in him.
I think if you read his ______s, you’ll find them very fair.
say: When I say your name, raise your hand.
utter: She barely uttered a word all morning.
they say: They say the house is haunted.
it is said: It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
state: Union members stated that they were unhappy with the proposal.
comment: The MP could not be reached for comment.
______: His controversial ______s about race were widely reported.
statement: In a statement released earlier today, the team denied allegations of cheating.
declaration: The sovereign made a formal declaration of war.
observation: She makes some interesting observations about human nature in her book.
commentary: I love that sports announcer’s commentary - it’s always so funny!
______: He ______ed that she was looking thin.
ailing
adjective
experiencing difficulty and problems:
the country’s ______ economy
Ted asked me if I could help him fix his ______ car.
He’s visiting his ______ father.
The plan was supposed to give a boost to our ______ economy.
______ company/economy/industry The ______ company shut down two of its smaller plants in an attempt to trim costs.
weak: She was too tired and weak to finish the race.
feeble: Many of the pensioners were so feeble they had to be stretchered onto the ship.
puny: He was puny as a child.
weedy: UK I was just this weedy guy who always had his head in a book.
frail: A frail, grey-haired lady walked slowly down the street.
rigid
adjective
stiff or fixed; not able to be bent or moved:
a _____ steel and concrete structure
I was _____ with (= stiff and unable to move because of) fear.
disapproving We were disappointed that they insisted on such a _____ interpretation of the rules.
_____ rules of behavior
I keep to a _____ schedule.
_____ plastic
hard: If you hit your head on a hard surface, see a doctor.
stiff: Post the picture in a stiff cardboard envelope so it doesn’t get crumpled.
_____: The sculpture was a _____ steel and concrete structure.
solid: Dry the clay until it’s solid.
firm: I prefer a firm mattress.
slight
adjective
small in amount or degree:
He was a young man of ______ build with sensitive eyes and expressive hands.
He ______ed his wife by neglecting to introduce her.
a ______ incline
She had a ______ headache.
I don’t have the ______est idea what he’s talking about.
“Does it worry you?” “Not in the ______est.”
Like most long-distance runners she is very ______.
It’s a ______ but enjoyable tale.
His terrific performance lifts this otherwise ______ film.
I felt ______ed when my boss thanked everyone but me for their hard work.
I regarded her failure to acknowledge my greeting as a ______.
He speaks with a ______ French accent.
She had a ______ cold, but wasn’t feeling too bad.
a ______ improvement
a little: I just want a little ice cream.
a little (bit): I was a little bit upset that she ate the last piece of cake.
tiny: His body was covered in tiny red spots.
ignore: The buzzing is irritating, but try to ignore it.
disregard: He disregarded the advice of his doctor and went back to work.
turn a blind eye to: Until now, the mayor has turned a blind eye to the city’s homelessness problem.
close your eyes to: The administration closed its eyes to human-rights abuses by its soldiers.
little: She’s a good little girl.
small: I live in a small town.
interloper
noun
someone who becomes involved in an activity or a social group without being asked, or enters a place without permission:
Security did not prevent an __________ from getting onto the stage at the opening ceremony.
We felt like __________s when we tried to join the game.
insensible
adjective
unconscious:
We found her lying on the floor, drunk and __________.
I think he’s largely __________ to other people’s distress.
imprecation
noun
an offensive word:
The old woman walked along the street muttering ___________s.
compelled
adjective
having to do something, because you are forced to or feel it is necessary:
[ + to infinitive ] He felt _________ to report the incident.
heed
verb
to pay attention to something, especially advice or a warning:
The airline has been criticized for failing to ____ advice/warnings about lack of safety routines.
Perhaps they should have ____ed their own advice.
The airline failed to ____ warnings about security.
Voters are dissatisfied, and Congress should take ____ (= consider this).
heedless
adjective
not giving attention to a risk or possible difficulty:
Heedless destruction of the rainforests is contributing to global warming.
Journalists had insisted on getting to the front line of the battle, ________ of the risks.
Heedless of the hurricane warnings, they took the small boat out into open water.
expostulate
verb
to express disagreement or complaint:
Walter ___________d with the waiter about the size of the bill.
saunter
verb
to walk in a slow and relaxed way, often in no particular direction:
He _______ed by, looking very pleased with himself.
I took a little _______ through the town.
It was just an idle _______ in a lovely English lane.
My cousin stood up, yawning, and _______ed away toward the door.
grieve
verb
to feel or express great sadness, especially when someone dies:
He is still _____ing for/over his wife.
[ + obj + to infinitive ] It ______s me to see all this food going to waste.
[ I ] The entire community is _____ing for the loss of the four children.
hurt: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.
hurt someone’s feelings: Don’t say anything - you’ll hurt her feelings.
upset: I’m sorry the news upset you.
wound: He had wounded her pride more than she would ever have admitted.
pain: It pains me to admit it, but there’s nothing I can do to change the situation.
______: It ______d him that he had been the cause of all the bitterness.
pliable
adjective
A _______ substance bends easily without breaking or cracking:
Some kinds of plastic become _______ if they’re heated.
He wanted a sweet, _______, obedient wife.
soft, _______ materials
A more pliant leader would compromise.
recommence
verb
to start again, or to start something again:
Courses have stopped for the summer, but will __________ in September.
They plan to __________ trading in the next few days.
commence
verb
to begin something:
Shall we let the meeting ________?
[ + -ing verb ] Unfortunately, he ________d speaking before all the guests had finished eating.
[ T ] He ________d speaking before all the guests had arrived.
We will ________ building work in August of next year.
protracted
adjective
lasting for a long time or made to last longer than necessary:
__________ negotiations
a __________ argument/discussion
Their __________ legal battle may soon be resolved.
long: He’s been gone a long time.
prolonged: She returned to work after a prolonged illness.
lengthy: Airline passengers may face lengthy delays during holiday travel.
sustained: We continue to see sustained economic growth.
extended: Standing for extended periods of time can be bad for your back.
expansive
adjective
very happy to talk to people in a friendly way:
He was in an _________ mood on the night of the party.
There was an _________ view from the window.
“All this is mine,” she said with an _________ arm gesture (= using big movements).
The seals form small groups on the _________ beaches where they breed.
sparse
adjective
small in numbers or amount, often spread over a large area:
This area is very \_\_\_\_\_\_ly settled because there isn’t much water. \_\_\_\_\_\_ attendance a \_\_\_\_\_\_ population/audience \_\_\_\_\_\_ vegetation/woodland a \_\_\_\_\_\_ beard Information coming out of the disaster area is \_\_\_\_\_\_. plants with \_\_\_\_\_\_ foliage a \_\_\_\_\_\_ vocabulary
meticulous
adjective
very careful and with great attention to every detail:
__________ly planned
Many hours of __________ preparation have gone into writing the book.
a __________ housekeeper
__________ research
She __________ly planned every decorating detail.
__________ about sth She was __________ about keeping her expense receipts properly filed.
A combination of innovation and __________ attention to detail have contributed to the luxury brand’s success.
She was used to keeping __________ records, so the documents, plus dates and times of visits and phone calls, were at hand.
__________ planning/preparation/research
methodical: I appreciated his methodical approach to the work.
__________: This book is the result of years of __________ research.
thorough: He seems like he’s not paying attention, but don’t be fooled - he’s very thorough.
careful: After careful consideration, we are unable to accept your proposal.
fastidious
adjective
giving too much attention to small details and wanting everything to be correct and perfect:
He is very __________ about how a suitcase should be packed.
They were too __________ to eat in a fast-food restaurant.
The restaurant offers elaborate food and __________ service at high prices.
attentive
adjective
listening carefully:
an _________ audience
He was very _________ to her when she was ill.
A good teacher is always _________ to their students’ needs.
an _________ audience
The children listened _________ly to the story.
immaculate
adjective
perfectly clean or tidy:
dressed in an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ white suit an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ garden He gave an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ performance as the aging hero. She was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ly dressed. My aunt’s kitchen was always \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.
ideal: The book is ideal for children aged between four and six.
clean: Are these clothes clean?
__________: The whole house was __________.
spotless: He was wearing a spotless white shirt.
spick and span: Their house is always spick and span.
pure: I love the pure mountain air.
perfect: We had the perfect summer beach holiday.
faultless: They gave a faultless performance.
flawless: She has a flawless complexion.
__________: He writes in __________ prose.
impeccable: His English is impeccable.
astute
adjective
able to understand a situation quickly and see how to take advantage of it:
He was politically ______, and was soon appointed to a number of powerful committees in Congress.
an ______ observer of human behaviour
his ______ handling of the situation
an ______ investor/businesswoman
intelligent: He seems like a very intelligent young man.
clever: I’m the cleverest kid in the class.
smart: She’s incredibly smart and a great writer.
bright: Jacob was a very bright boy.
sharp: How can we stay mentally sharp as we age?
vibrant
adjective
energetic, exciting, and full of enthusiasm:
a _______ young performer
a _______ personality
a _______ city
The hope is that this area will develop into a _______ commercial centre.
He always uses _______ colours in his paintings.
The city is youthful, _______ – an exciting place.
a _______ democracy/economy/market Ireland went from a _______ economy to virtual collapse in the space of a decade.
Any credible financial centre has to have a big futures market, so a _______ futures exchange is an absolute necessity.
Flowers of _______ colors were on each table.
exciting: Riding roller coasters is so exciting!
gripping: The book was gripping - I couldn’t put it down.
riveting: I found the movie absolutely riveting.
thrilling: It was a thrilling game in which both teams played well.
exhilarating: I find skiing absolutely exhilarating.
action-packed: We had an action-packed holiday.
vivid
adjective
Vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful, and detailed images in the mind:
He gave a very _____ and often shocking account/description of his time in prison.
He’s one of those people with a very _____ imagination - every time he hears a noise he’s convinced it’s someone breaking in.
She was wearing a _____ pink shirt.
_____ colors
_____ memories
The author _____ly describes his early life on the farm.
scrupulous
adjective
extremely honest :
The nurse told him to be __________ (= extremely careful) about keeping the wound clean.
She managed to get a copy of the report through a friend who wasn’t so __________ about sharing information.
Her report is __________ in its detail.
A __________ politician would not lie about her business interests.
driven
adjective
Someone who is ______ is so determined to achieve something or be successful that all of their behaviour is directed towards this aim:
Like most of the lawyers that I know, Rachel is ______.
The new ships, propelled by gas turbines, require less maintenance than older, steam-______ ones.
The fact remains that there are some public services that cannot be entirely market-______ (= controlled by economic forces).
He arrived every morning by chauffeur-______ car.
He is a ______ man - capable of anything.
The company’s policies are essentially cost-______.
consumer-______/market-______/product-______
The decline accelerated in late afternoon as computer-______ selling kicked in.
diesel-______/gas-______/electrically-______ vehicle
dazed
adjective
very confused and unable to think clearly:
You’re looking rather _____ - is something wrong?
a _____ expression
The driver in the accident appeared _____ but not badly hurt.
She was so happy she was in a ____.
baffled
verb
past simple and past participle of ______
She was completely _______ by his strange behaviour.
I found what he was saying completely _____ing.
mystify
verb
to confuse someone by being or doing something very strange or impossible to explain:
I was ______ied by her decision.
Most Americans are totally ______ied by the English game of cricket.
Doctors were ______ied by her high fever and headaches.
fraudulent
adjective
dishonest and illegal:
For a charge of __________ trading to succeed, dishonesty would first have to be proved.
A worrying trend for insurers has been a rise in __________ claims.
They claim that the fall in unemployment is based on a __________ manipulation of statistics.
__________ advertising
There’s been a rise in __________ insurance claims.
They thought I might try to collect insurance on a __________ claim.
deceitful: She’s deeply deceitful and not to be trusted.
devious: It was a devious plan - but would it work?
untrustworthy: He made the mistake of basing his news story on an untrustworthy source.
dishonest: The press called out the campaign’s dishonest tactics.
unnerving
adjective
making someone feel less confident and slightly frightened:
Meeting a twin brother I didn’t know I had was an _________ experience.
He has an _________ habit of repeatedly glancing over my shoulder and out of the window.
vital
adjective
necessary for the success or continued existence of something; extremely important:
A strong opposition is _____ to a healthy democracy.
She had found out some information of _____ importance.
The kidney plays a _____ role/part in the removal of waste products from the blood.
[ + that ] It’s absolutely _____ that you do exactly as I say.
[ + to infinitive ] It is _____ to get medical supplies to the area as soon as possible.
He had never felt so _____ and full of life.
The existence of a strong opposition is _____ to a healthy democracy.
The kidneys play a _____ role/part in removing waste from the blood.
[ + that clause ] It’s _____ that you respond at once.
It’s _____ly important that we get there by tomorrow.
crucial
adjective
extremely important or necessary:
a _______ decision/question
Her work has been _______ to the project’s success.
[ + that ] It is _______ that the problem is tackled immediately.
The behavior of the oceans is a _______ aspect of global warming.
The band wants to win over fans and, more _______ly, radio programmers.
cut-throat
adjective
competing in a strong and unfair way, without considering any harm caused to others:
a __________ business/market/world
Scrapping of price fixing legislation led to a __________ battle for supermarket customers.
Many firms have fallen victim to __________ competition.
frail
adjective
weak or unhealthy, or easily damaged, broken, or harmed:
a _____ old lady
I last saw him just last week and thought how old and _____ he looked.
the country’s _____ economy
He’s always in _____ health.
The shirt is old and _____, and the threads look ready to part.
weak: She was too tired and weak to finish the race.
feeble: Many of the pensioners were so feeble they had to be stretchered onto the ship.
puny: He was puny as a child.
weedy: UK I was just this weedy guy who always had his head in a book.
_____: A _____, grey-haired lady walked slowly down the street.
proficient
adjective
skilled and experienced:
It takes a couple of years of regular driving before you become __________ at it.
a __________ swimmer
He studied Chinese and became __________ in the language.
Morgan has great _________cy as a jazz saxophonist.
__________ at sth/doing sth Consumers have become more __________ at shopping online.
__________ in sth The government will help small businesses become __________ in the technologies they need to compete in the digital marketplace.
She’s __________ in two languages.
a __________ swimmer
skilful: She’s a skilful driver.
skilled: He’s a skilled mechanic.
good at: She’s very good at dealing with people.
able: She’s a very able student.
gifted: She’s a gifted musician.
talented: He’s a very talented actor.
dazzling
adjective
A ________ light is so bright that you cannot see for a short time after looking at it:
a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ white light \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ good looks a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ smile a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ performance/display A \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ smile flashed across his face.
blazing: We stepped out of the plane into blazing sunshine.
bright: A bright light was shining through the gloom.
shining: The animal’s eyes shone in the darkness.
brilliant: The moon shed a brilliant light over the ocean.
intense: The intense light reflecting off snow at high altitudes can damage your eyes.
stupefied
adjective
unable to think clearly, usually because someone is extremely tired or bored, or has taken drugs:
Stupefied by tiredness, she just sat in front of the fire.
As they slept in a _________ state, someone stole all their belongings.
We were so _________ by the news that we all sat in silence for a long time.
She was _________ to learn that he didn’t know how to make his bed.
vapid
adjective
showing no intelligence or imagination:
He’s attractive, but _____.
a _____ reality TV show
dilapidated
adjective
old and in poor condition:
The hotel we stayed in was really ___________.
a ___________ old car/shed
We still use the ___________ barn for storing tools.
inhibit
verb
to prevent someone from doing something by making them feel nervous or embarrassed :
Some workers were _______ed (from speaking) by the presence of their managers.
This drug _______s the growth of tumours.
The merger of the two corporations was not allowed because it would _______ open competition.
Some states have a rule that _______s lawyers from talking about their cases outside the courtroom.
_______ competition/growth/innovation Authorities fear that fewer, bigger airlines will _______ competition.
initiate
verb
to cause something to begin:
________ proceedings/an action against sb/sth The bank ________d legal proceedings against a former employee for fraud.
The automaker ________d a programme to improve the recyclability of its automobiles at the end of their useful life.
Each culture had a special ritual to ________ boys into manhood.
Who ________d the violence?
At the age of eleven, Harry was ________d into the art of golf by his father.
The peace talks were ________d by a special envoy.
congregation
noun
a group of people who have come together in a religious building for worship and prayer:
The priest asked the ____________ to kneel.
a ____________ of 300 members
audience: The audience went wild after every song she sang.
viewer: The show attracts millions of viewers every week.
listener: Listeners tune in regularly for his cheery banter.
crowd: Those New Yorkers can be a tough crowd to please.
house: It’s a full house tonight.
spectator: The spectators cheered when the balloon went up.
flounder
verb
to experience great difficulties or be completely unable to decide what to do or say next:
He lost the next page of his speech and ________ed around/about for a few seconds.
Although his business was a success, his marriage was ________ing.
Richardson resigned as chairman, leaving the company ________ing.
She ________ed around in the water.
His business was flourishing, but his marriage was ________ing.
Stock markets all over the world are ________ing due to the current recession.
In spite of a slight increase in exports, the economy continues to ________.
a ________ing stock market/economy/business
He lost the next page of his speech and ________ed for a few seconds.
mind-numbing
adjective
extremely boring:
a ____________ task
transgression
noun
the act or process of breaking a law or moral rule, or an example of this:
Who is supposed to have committed these _____________s?
Adolescence is a period marked by fascination with the _____________ of rules.
[ C ] It is hard to keep the _____________s of famous people out of the news.
He __________ed the military code of honor and paid a heavy penalty.
profligate
adjective
spending money or using something in a way that wastes it and is not wise:
He is a drunkard and a __________.
__________ spending
Corporate bodies are more corrupt and __________ than individuals because they have more power to do mischief.
She continues to put up with her husband’s __________ behaviour.
She is well-known for her __________ spending habits.
The __________ use of antibiotics has led to the evolution of resistant bacteria.
tabloid
adjective
(of or relating to) a type of popular newspaper with small pages that has many pictures and short, simple reports:
the _______ press
a _______ newspaper
The _______s often attract readers with sensational headlines.
fume
verb
to be very angry, sometimes without expressing it:
I saw her a week after they’d had the argument and she was still fuming.
The whole episode left me fuming at the injustice of it all.
Days after the argument, he was still fuming.
angry: It does no good to get angry at him - it won’t change the situation at all.
mad: Are you mad at me?
sore: US He’s still sore about the way things turned out.
annoyed: He was annoyed with her for being late.
irritated: I was irritated that he didn’t thank me.
livid
adjective
extremely angry:
He was _____ when he found out.
He had a long, _____ scar across his cheek.
The rude letter from his mother-in-law made him _____.
There was a _____ bruise on her upper arm where she had fallen.
angry: It does no good to get angry at him - it won’t change the situation at all.
mad: Are you mad at me?
sore: US He’s still sore about the way things turned out.
annoyed: He was annoyed with her for being late.
irritated: I was irritated that he didn’t thank me.
astounded
adjective
very surprised or shocked:
[ + to infinitive ] I was _________ to hear that Tina had left.
exquisite
adjective
very beautiful and delicate:
an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ piece of china Look at this \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ painting. She has \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ taste. a vase of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ workmanship \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ joy The pain was quite \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A good comedian needs to have an \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ sense of timing. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Chinese embroideries the most \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ French cuisine Their house is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ly furnished.
beautiful: I’ve never seen a more beautiful view in my life.
attractive: Her husband is really attractive.
good-looking: I think they’re very good-looking.
handsome: He’s so handsome.
pretty: Your daughter is very pretty.
gorgeous: You look gorgeous in that dress!
radiant
adjective
obviously very happy, or very beautiful:
He gave a _______ smile when he heard her news.
a _______ heater
the _______ heat of the sun
The bride looked _______ on her wedding day.
Plants absorb _______ energy from sunlight.
sermon
noun
a part of a Christian church ceremony in which a priest gives a talk on a religious or moral subject, often based on something written in the Bible:
The Reverend William Cronshaw delivered/preached the ______.
Today’s ______ was on the importance of compassion.
I really don’t think it’s a politician’s job to go delivering ______s on public morality.
palatial
adjective
A ________ house is very large and beautiful.
They lived in a ________ apartment.
flimsy
adjective
very thin, or easily broken or destroyed:
You won’t be warm enough in that ______ dress.
We spent the night in a ______ wooden hut.
a ______ cardboard box
When I asked him why he was late, he gave me some ______ excuse about having car trouble.
a ______ dress
a ______ building
They convicted the defendant on very ______ evidence.
weak: If trees do not get enough water they become weak.
strong: Steel is a very strong material.
______: There was only a ______ inflatable raft between him and the raging river
rickety: We climbed up the rickety wooden stairs.
fragile: Some objects are too fragile to be moved between the museums.
delicate: She carefully wrapped up the delicate glass ornaments.
grimy
adjective
dirty:
The child’s face was _____ and streaked with tears.
dirty: This shirt is dirty.
filthy: Wash your hands before dinner - they’re filthy!
scruffy: He’s the typical scruffy student.
messy: Ben’s bedroom is always really messy.
_____: Don’t wipe your _____ hands on that clean towel!
candid
adjective
honest and telling the truth, especially about something difficult or painful:
The two presidents have had ______ talks about the current crisis.
To be ______ with you, I think you’re making a dreadful mistake.
We had a ______ discussion about her poor job performance.
honest: The new MP was refreshingly honest with her constituents.
straight: Just be straight with her and tell her how you feel.
sincere: He’s so sincere that you know exactly where you stand with him.
truthful: Are you being truthful with me?
frank
adjective
honest, sincere, and telling the truth, even when this might be awkward or make other people uncomfortable:
To be perfectly _____, I don’t think you are as well qualified as some of the other candidates.
We appreciate your _____ness.
Senators can also send _____ed mail.
You can only acquire _____ing machines on a rental basis.
To be perfectly _____ with you, I don’t think she’s the person for the job.
The magazine, which gives _____ advice about sex and romance, is aimed at the teenage market.
There followed a _____ exchange of views.
a full and _____ discussion
honest: The new MP was refreshingly honest with her constituents.
straight: Just be straight with her and tell her how you feel.
sincere: He’s so sincere that you know exactly where you stand with him.
truthful: Are you being truthful with me?
scolding
noun
the act of speaking angrily to someone because you disapprove of their behaviour:
He gave his son a ________ for coming home so late.
She received a ________ letter.
blistering
adjective
extremely hot:
We went out in the __________ heat.
The runners set off at a __________ pace.
The vice president launched a __________ attack on Senate Republicans.
__________ remarks/sarcasm
hot: It’s so hot outside!
scorching: We’re due for another scorching summer day.
__________: We’ve had __________ heat this week.
sweltering: She won the race despite the sweltering heat.
scorching
adjective
very hot:
a _________ summer day
It was _________ hot inside the greenhouse.
I don’t want to be outside in this _________ heat.
It was _________ hot at the beach.
blistering: We’ve had blistering heat this week.
sweltering: She won the race despite the sweltering heat.
hot: It’s so hot outside!
_________: We’re due for another _________ summer day.
ravenous
adjective
extremely hungry:
a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ appetite for cash a stage star who was \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ for attention We were \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ after hiking all day. Growing boys have \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ appetites. I'm \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ - where's supper?
remarkable
adjective
unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth mentioning:
Nelson Mandela was a truly __________ man.
Meeting you here in Rome is a __________ coincidence.
The 20th century was __________ for its inventions.
He’s a __________ young man.
They were _________y calm after the crash.
hefty
adjective
large in amount, size, force, etc.:
a _____ bill/fine
Her salary will go up by a _____ 13 percent.
a _____ book containing a lot of information
a _____ fine/bonus
a _____ steak dinner
a _____, pink-faced baby
a _____ 15.9%/30%/54%, etc. One of the market’s star performers announced a _____ $10bn share buyback programme.
_____ returns/dividends They promised investors _____ returns.
a _____ fee/fine/premium Avoid a _____ fine by posting your completed tax return by the end of this month.
_____ increases/losses/rises
a _____ debt/profit/discount
_____ bonuses/commissions/penalties
big: They live in a big house in the country.
large: A large number of people were crowded into the room.
great: The party was a great success.
enormous: They bought an enormous house in the suburbs.
riveting
adjective
extremely interesting:
It was a ________ story.
a ________ TV show
exciting: Riding roller coasters is so exciting!
gripping: The book was gripping - I couldn’t put it down.
thrilling: It was a thrilling game in which both teams played well.
exhilarating: I find skiing absolutely exhilarating.
action-packed: We had an action-packed holiday.
interesting: She’s such an interesting person.
absorbing: It was a very absorbing film.
gripping: I found the book absolutely gripping - I couldn’t put it down.
________: The performance was ________.
compelling: It was a compelling story.
fascinating: The history of the place was absolutely fascinating.
________: I found the movie absolutely ________.
blaring
verb
present participle of blare
The loudspeakers blared across the square.
The radio was _______ (out) martial music.
the blare of trumpets
fortunate
adjective
lucky:
[ + to infinitive ] You’re very _________ to have found such a nice house.
He was _________ in his choice of assistant.
[ + that ] It was _________ that they had set out early because the traffic was terrible.
a _________ choice
[ + to infinitive ] You’re _________ to have found such a pleasant house.
[ + that clause ] It was _________ that you left in time.
Fortunately we were already home when it started to snow.
lucky: Two lucky winners will be treated to an all-expenses paid trip to the Bahamas!
_________: It was _________ that he wasn’t injured in the accident.
it’s a good thing: It’s a good thing we bought travel insurance for our trip since it was cancelled.
it’s a good job: UK It’s a good job they didn’t go camping this weekend - the weather’s been awful.
luck out: US The Giants really lucked out in last night’s game.
the cutting edge
noun
the most modern stage of development in a particular type of work or activity:
a company at ________________ of mobile communications technology
cutting-edge design/technology
His research is at ________________ of new therapies for cancer.
Employees need to develop the necessary skills to maintain a cutting edge in technological advance.
We want to be at ________________ of this technology.
Video games companies are always on ________________ in terms of the graphics.
cutting-edge companies/designs/products
modern: The building was made using modern construction techniques.
up to date: The hospital has some of the most up-to-date equipment in the country.
latest: She always wears the latest fashions.
cutting-edge: Computers have brought cutting-edge technology into the classroom.
high-tech: Divers with high-tech equipment discovered the wreck of the ship.
decrepit
adjective
in very bad condition because of being old, or not having been cared for, or having been used a lot:
The town had two ________ fire trucks that were constantly breaking down.
Most of the buildings were old and ________.
A ________ old man sat on a park bench.
excruciating
adjective
extremely painful:
an ____________ headache
His confession, when it came, was ____________.
____________ boredom
an ____________ pain in the lower back
painful: Her ankle was still painful if she put weight on it.
sore: My feet are sore from walking around all day.
tender: The glands in my neck feel really tender.
sensitive: My face was bright red and sensitive to the touch.
____________: His injury caused ____________ headaches.
impoverished
adjective
very poor:
an ____________ young actor
He warned that the breakdown of the family unit would lead to an ____________ society.
an ____________ family
poor: Her family was poor and didn’t own a computer.
penniless: At the time, I was a penniless student.
____________: Benefits should be targeted at the most ____________ families.
deprived: Deprived areas will be hardest hit by the cuts.
disadvantaged: The scheme was set up to help disadvantaged children.
upbeat
adjective
full of hope, happiness, and good feelings:
Live music and a parade set an ______ mood for the official opening.
The mood is ______ at Shaw’s campaign headquarters tonight.
High wheat prices have created an ______ atmosphere in farming communities throughout the region.
The company was ______ at its annual meeting, saying turnover and profit are higher than at this time last year.
______ about sth She was feeling ______ about her new job.
vivacious
adjective
A _________ person, especially a woman or girl, is attractively energetic and enthusiastic:
He brought along his wife, a _________ blonde, some 20 years his junior.
Judy Garland was bright and _________, with a vibrant singing voice.
arduous
adjective
difficult, needing a lot of effort and energy:
an _______ climb/task/journey
In those days, a trip to the West was an _______ journey.
weighty
adjective
heavy:
They discussed _______ topics like arms control, the Middle East, and the federal budget deficit.
_______ matters/issues
I don’t want to carry this bag around all afternoon - it’s pretty _______.
superb
adjective
of excellent quality; very great:
He is a ______ dancer.
Taylor scored a ______ goal at the end of the first half.
______ seafood
The cast is ______, especially Philip Bosco.
a ______ly illustrated book
squalid
adjective
(of places) extremely dirty and unpleasant, often because of lack of money:
Many prisons, even today, are overcrowded and _______ places.
It’s the usual _______ rock star tale of drugs, sex, and overdoses.
The _______ apartment was her first home in the city.
He lived in dreadful _____or despite having a small fortune in the bank.
grimy: Don’t wipe your grimy hands on that clean towel!
messy: Ben’s bedroom is always really messy.
scruffy: He’s the typical scruffy student.
filthy: Wash your hands before dinner - they’re filthy!
dirty: This shirt is dirty.
arid
adjective
very dry and without enough rain for plants:
The desert is so ____ that nothing can grow there.
After several ____ years, the company has started to become successful.
I found his writing extremely ____.
an ____ region
parched
adjective
(especially of earth or crops) dried out because of too much heat and not enough rain:
_______ earth/fields/corn
It was the height of summer and the land was _______ and brown.
I must get a drink - I’m absolutely _______!
My lips were _______.
enlightening
adjective
giving you more information and understanding of something:
That was a very ____________ programme.
The instruction manual that came with my new computer wasn’t very ____________ about how to operate it.
mortified
adjective
very embarrassed:
[ + to infinitive ] She was absolutely _________ to hear her son swearing at the teacher.
embarrassed: I was too embarrassed to admit I was wrong.
abashed: She looked at the floor, abashed.
shamefaced: He stood shamefaced at the door, looking at the vase he had just knocked to the ground.
sheepish: She startled, then gave him a sheepish smile as she picked up her dropped papers.
ashamed: He was ashamed that he had been caught stealing.
zealous
adjective
enthusiastic and eager:
a _______ supporter of the government’s policies
He thought the reporters were too _______ in their attempts to get into the event.
keen
adjective
very interested, eager, or wanting (to do) something very much:
They were very ____ to start work as soon as possible.
Joan wanted to go to a movie but I wasn’t ____ (= I didn’t want to go).
She’s a ____ tennis player.
She’s ____ on (playing) tennis.
UK My son’s mad ____ on cycling.
He’s rather ____ on a girl in his school (= he is very attracted to her).
Many people are taking a ____ interest (= a very great interest) in the result of the vote.
a ____ north wind
a ____ knife/blade
a ____ interest in painting
a ____ eye for detail
a ____ sense of smell
Theresa isn’t too ____ on pets.
Some firms are diversifying their businesses in response to ____ competition.
Superstores may offer ____ prices that small-town shops cannot match.
A ____ member of two local investment clubs, he runs portfolios of shares for both himself and his wife.
a ____ interest in sth Among the foundation’s donors are corporations with a ____ interest in issues before the legislature.
____ on sth Like every banker these days, he is ____ on managing other people’s wealth.
____ to do sth The company is ____ to expand beyond the UK.
a ____ sense of smell
elated
adjective
extremely happy and excited, often because something has happened or been achieved:
The prince was reported to be ______ at/by the birth of his daughter.
He was ______ by the news that he had won a full scholarship.
glad: I was so glad to see her.
pleased: He was pleased that she had come back.
happy: I’m much happier in my new job.
cheerful: She’s always very cheerful.
in a good mood: You’re in a good mood this morning!
eager
adjective
wanting very much to do or have something, especially something interesting or enjoyable:
the children’s _____ faces
[ + to infinitive ] She sounded very _____ to meet you.
They crowded around the spokesperson, _____ for any news.
Lots of _____ volunteers responded to the appeal for help.
_____: She was _____ to help.
excited: The children were very excited to go to the zoo.
avid: He took an avid interest in the project.
enthusiastic: He was very enthusiastic about the idea of moving to Spain.
be dying for/to do: I’m dying for a glass of water
raring to: I’ve bought all the paint and I’m raring to get started on the decorating.
exorbitant
adjective
Exorbitant prices, demands, etc. are much too large:
an __________ price/fee/rate
The bill for dinner was __________.
The hotel charges were __________.
The interest charged on most credit cards is __________.
pricey: The restaurants in town are a bit pricey.
exclusive: They have an apartment in an exclusive part of town.
costly: They made several costly mistakes, including spending $60 million on shoddy machinery.
dear: UK I find the veg too dear in that supermarket.
expensive: He thinks he’s special with his expensive suits and fancy shoes.
just
adverb
now, very soon, or very recently:
It’s ____ amazing how powerful the new computers are.
I ____ wanted to ask you if you’re free this afternoon.
We arrived at the airport ____ in time to catch the plane.
This dress (only) ____ fits.
“Can you see the stage?” “Yes, only ____/____ about.”
I’ve ____ about finished painting the living room.
It’s ____ possible that we might be going away that weekend.
It’s ____ dreadful what happened to her.
The judge’s sentence was perfectly ____ in the circumstances.
I don’t really think he had ____ cause to complain.
He ____ left – if you run, you can catch him.
It was ____ past (= very soon after) midnight.
a ____ verdict
We got the children off to school ____ as the bus was about to leave.
The doctor will see you in ____ a minute/moment/second (= very soon).
Beth looks ____ like her mother.
[ + question word ] It was ____ what I expected.
I’ll ____ check my e-mail, then we can go for coffee.
I ____ called to wish you a happy birthday.
We’ll ____ have to wait and see what happens.
He ____ won’t listen to me.
We arrived at the airport ____ in time to catch the plane.
Matthew weighed ____ (= slightly) over seven pounds at birth.
“Are you finished yet?” “Just about.”
You look ____ wonderful!
We’re ____ about to begin (= We will begin very soon).
Can I ____ borrow the scissors for a second?
It’s ____ too expensive.
He ____ won’t do as he’s told.
Just because you’re older than me doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do.
“Where are you, Jim?” “I’m ____ coming.”
I’ll ____ finish this, then we can go.
He’d ____ got into the bath when the phone rang.
The children arrived at school ____ as (= at the same moment as) the bell was ringing.
The doctor will be with you in ____ a minute/moment/second (= very soon).
It’s ____ after/past (UK also gone) ten o’clock.
Who was that at the door ____ now?
John’s in the bath ____ now - can he call you back?
This carpet would be ____ right for the dining room.
The twins look ____ like each other.
You’ve got ____ as many toys as your brother.
Thank you, it’s ____ what I’ve always wanted.
I can’t help you ____ now/yet.
Just then, the lights went out.
I can ____ imagine Sophie as a police officer.
informal approving That dress is ____ you (= suits you very well).
“Would you like another drink?” “OK, ____ one more.”
It was ____ a joke.
His daughter’s ____ a baby/____ a few weeks old.
We’ll ____ have to (= the only thing we can do is) wait and see what happens.
She lives ____ down the road (= very near).
Things turned out ____ as I expected.
distant
adjective
far away:
a _______ relative/cousin
At some point in the _______ future I would like to have my own house.
They plan to have children in the not-too-_______ future.
She seemed cold and _______.
She dreamed of traveling to _______ lands.
We could hear the sound of _______ thunder.
She could hear the _______ sound of fireworks exploding.
a _______ country
unfriendly: The crowd was unfriendly and dangerous.
cool: She was very cool towards his new wife.
cold: She’s a cold, heartless woman.
icy: He gave me an icy stare.
glacial: Her reception of him was glacial.
swift
adjective
happening or moving quickly or within a short time, especially in a smooth and easy way:
The police took _____ action against the rioters.
The gazelle is one of the _____est and most graceful of animals.
A _____ current carried him downstream.
Public reaction has been _____ and negative.
The sky was _____ly becoming dark.
Thank you for your _____ reply.
fast: I tried to catch him, but he was too fast for me.
quick: I tried to catch him, but he was too quick for me.
prompt: A prompt reply would be very much appreciated.
speedy: Everyone is hoping for a speedy resolution to the conflict.
_____: The teacher’s _____ action saved his life.
vexing
adjective
annoying, worrying, or causing problems :
The shortage of qualified teachers remains a ______ problem.
hysterical
adjective
unable to control your feelings or behaviour because you are extremely frightened, angry, excited, etc.:
Calm down, you’re getting __________.
The police were accused of __________ over-reaction.
__________ laughter (= uncontrolled laughter)
His last film was __________.
Calm down, you’re getting __________.
She broke into __________ laughter (= laughter that is uncontrollable).
infml That joke was __________ (= extremely amusing).
Gillian was laughing/crying __________ly.
funny: She told me a funny story about Max.
amusing: I gave her an article that I thought she would find amusing.
humorous: She wrote a humorous account of her teenage years.
hilarious: It’s the most hilarious comedy on television.
__________: I’ve just read his autobiography - it’s absolutely __________.
hilarious
adjective
extremely funny and causing a lot of laughter:
He didn’t like the film at all - I thought it was _________.
Her jokes are absolutely _________.
funny: She told me a funny story about Max.
amusing: I gave her an article that I thought she would find amusing.
humorous: She wrote a humorous account of her teenage years.
_________: It’s the most _________ comedy on television.
hysterical: I’ve just read his autobiography - it’s absolutely hysterical.
electrifying
adjective
very exciting:
an ____________ performance
obviate
verb
to remove a difficulty, especially so that action to deal with it becomes unnecessary:
A peaceful solution would _______ the need to send a UN military force.
divest
verb
to sell something, especially a business or a part of a business:
The company is ______ing its less profitable business operations.
She has ______ed herself of (= sold) some of her share-holdings.
He had encouraged the state to ______ such holdings.
The company has ______ed itself of some of its money-losing operations.
The company will be ______ing some assets that no longer fit its profile.
We have made a decision to ______ from the hotel and casinos business to focus more on drinks sales.
sell: Are you selling your car?
retail: The company makes and retails moderately priced sportswear.
deal in: They mainly deal in rare books.
______: US The investors ______ed themselves of the company’s stock.
sell off: The company is selling off the less profitable parts of its business.
aver
verb
to say that something is certainly true:
[ + that ] She ____red that he was guilty.
[ + speech ] “He’s guilty, I tell you,” she ____red.
The lawyer ____red her client’s innocence.
strident
adjective
A ________ sound is loud, unpleasant, and rough:
People are put off by his ________ voice.
a ________ newspaper article
They are becoming increasingly ________ in their criticism of government economic policy.
________ criticism
a ________ voice
rustle
verb
If things such as paper or leaves ______, or if you ______ them, they move about and make a soft, dry sound:
We heard the ______ of her dress.
[ U ] the _____ing of papers on the desk
[ T ] A sudden breeze ______d the leaves.
He ______d his papers (= noisily moved them about) to hide his embarrassment.
The leaves ______d in the breeze.
assertion
noun
a statement that you strongly believe is true:
I certainly don’t agree with his _________ that men are better drivers than women.
hauteur
noun
a formal and unfriendly way of behaving that suggests that the person thinks they are better than other people
undergo
verb
to experience something that is unpleasant or something that involves a change:
She _____went an operation on a tumour in her left lung last year.
Playing board games is _______ing a revival in popularity.
He recently _____went heart bypass surgery.
punctilious
adjective
very careful to behave correctly or to give attention to details:
He was always ___________ in his manners.
juxtapose
verb
to put things that are not similar next to each other:
The exhibition _________s Picasso’s early drawings with some of his later works.
The exhibition _________s architectural drawings with photographs of the buildings as constructed.
[ C ] The ________ition of the original painting with the fake clearly showed up the differences.
dissension
noun
arguments and disagreement, especially in an organization, group, political party, etc.:
There are signs of __________ within the ruling political party.
There was a good deal of __________ within women’s rights organizations about setting political goals.
indigenous
adjective
naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving from another place:
Are there any species of frog __________ to the area?
So who are the __________ people of this land?
The Navajos are among the __________ people of North America.
__________ firms
The most profitable __________ business is cocoa growing.
__________ tourism
Are there any species of frog __________ to the area?
blare
verb
to make an unpleasantly loud noise:
The loudspeakers _____d across the square.
The radio was ____ing (out) martial music.
the _____ of trumpets
Music _____d from a radio.
The siren’s _____ was deafening.
exult
verb
to express great pleasure or happiness, especially at someone else’s defeat or failure:
They _____ed at/over their victory.
She seems to _____ in her power.
He _____ed in the publicity he received.
He was _____ant at the news of his team’s victory.
vestige
noun
a small part or amount of something larger, stronger, or more important that still exists from something that existed in the past:
These old buildings are the last _______s of a colonial past.
There is now no _______ of hope that the missing children will be found alive.
Vestiges of ancient settlements can be seen in the caves.
laudable
adjective
(of actions and behaviour) deserving praise, even if there is little or no success:
a ________ goal/ambition
The recycling programme is ________, but does it save much money?
transpire
verb
If it _________s that something has happened, this previously secret or unknown fact becomes known:
[ + that ] It may yet _________ that ministers knew more than they are admitting at the moment.
As it later _________d, she had known him at school.
No one is willing to predict what may _________ at the peace conference.
A lot has _________d since we last spoke.
meretricious
adjective
seeming attractive but really false or of little value:
He claims that a lot of journalism is ____________ and superficial.
tangible
adjective
real and not imaginary; able to be shown, touched, or experienced:
We need ________ evidence if we’re going to take legal action.
Other ________ benefits include an increase in salary and shorter working hours.
Drivers will see ________ improvements on major roadways.
________ evidence/proof/signs We can now see ________ evidence of economic renewal and growth.
a ________ achievement/benefit/effect Rewards can include financial payments, promotions, and other ________ benefits.
________ improvement/progress/results They hope the meeting will achieve ________ results.
A key difference between ________ cash and almost any other form of money lies in traceability.
________ goods/products The company buys and sells services as well as ________ goods.
The summit will bring the area some useful publicity and, more _______y, a huge building boom.
Quality standards for ________s like food are easier to assess than for in________s such as service or waiting times.
The price of precious metals and other ________s should appreciate over the following years.
receptacle
noun
a container used for storing or putting objects in:
Residents are given four separate __________s for their rubbish.
a trash __________
commotion
noun
a sudden, short period of noise, confusion, or excited movement:
His arrival caused quite a _________.
He looked up to see what all the _________ was about.
[ C ] There was a _________ outside the embassy.
jovial
adjective
(of a person) friendly and in a good mood, or (of a situation) enjoyable because of being friendly and pleasant:
He seemed a very ______ guy.
a ______ time/evening/chat
a ______ smile
friendly: I like his sister - she’s so friendly.
nice: Her boyfriend is really nice.
amiable: She was perfectly amiable.
genial: Our genial host led us to our room.
congenial: He’s very congenial and so quite likeable.
corpulent
adjective
fat:
a _________ gentleman
a _________ man
fat: He’s got fatter as he’s got older.
overweight: She used to be overweight.
obese: More and more children are becoming obese.
plump: He’s got rather plump since I last saw him.
chubby: Look at the baby’s chubby little legs.
discontent
noun
a feeling of wanting better treatment or an improved situation:
Discontent among junior ranks was rapidly spreading.
There was widespread __________ at/about/over/with the plan.
Mexican-American leaders expressed __________ with the administration.
Discontented with her job, Cassandra often talked of leaving.
buoyancy
noun
the quality of being able to float:
We tested the boat for ________.
He swam with an inflatable ________ device.
The ________ of the oil market is likely to encourage price growth.
He was a man of remarkable ________.
We tested different materials for ________.
Costs have been pushed up by the ________ of the public sector.
The news failed to give ________ to the company’s shares.
There is continued ________ in the property market.
fractious
adjective
easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining:
a _________ child
_________ relationships
the _________ nature of politics
wistful
adjective
sad and thinking about something that is impossible or in the past:
She spoke _______ly of their early years together.
a _______ smile
I thought about those days in Spain and grew _______.
She cast a _______ glance at the bridal gowns in the window.
savor
verb
to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible:
He wanted to _____ his time with Henrietta and their grown children.
It was the first chocolate he’d tasted for over a year, so he _____ed every mouthful.
enjoy yourself: He’s enjoying himself at his job.
like: I like hiking a lot.
love: After working in the garden, I love a good soak in the tub.
relish: Jonathan always relishes a challenge.
lap up: He lapped up all the attention they gave him.
enjoy: Enjoy your meal!
confer
verb
to exchange ideas on a particular subject, often in order to reach a decision on what action to take:
I need some time to ______ with my lawyer.
An honorary doctorate was ______red on him by Columbia University.
I need to ______ with my lawyer.
The US Constitution ______s certain powers on the president.
______ about sth They were in constant contact, ______ring about every aspect of the construction project.
______ with sb We asked for some time to ______ with our advisers.
talk: A group of men were talking in the street.
say: I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
chat: We were just chatting about the party.
have a chat: We had a little chat over the garden wall.
chatter: They spent the morning chattering away.
give: Give me that dirty plate.
offer: Your doctor should be able to offer advice.
provide: This booklet provides useful information about local services.
supply: The lake supplies the whole town with water.
donate: Four hundred dollars has been donated to the school book fund.
speak: Could I speak to you privately?
elation
noun
a state of extreme happiness or excitement:
There’s a sense of _______ at having completed a race of such length.
florid
adjective
with too much decoration or detail:
a \_\_\_\_\_\_ architectural style \_\_\_\_\_\_ prose/rhetoric a \_\_\_\_\_\_ complexion a \_\_\_\_\_\_ complexion a \_\_\_\_\_\_ architectural style \_\_\_\_\_\_ prose/speech
prey
verb
to hurt or deceive a group of people, especially people who are weak or can easily be hurt or deceived:
It’s particularly contemptible that these sort of people ____ on the elderly.
He would attack at night, ____ing on lone women in their twenties or thirties.
privy
adjective
to be told information that is not told to many people:
Only top management was _____ to (= knew about) the proposed merger.
I was never _____ to conversations between top management.
scamper
verb
When small children and animals _______, they run with small quick steps:
The children _______ed off into the garden.
The kitten _______ed around the kitchen, chasing a ball.
run: She saw him running down the street.
sprint: I had to sprint to catch the bus.
jog: “What do you do to keep fit?” “I jog and go swimming.”
race: He raced up the stairs to answer the phone.
rush: Everyone rushed to the door when the alarm went off.
dash: He dashed out the door after the dog.
gaudy
adjective
unpleasantly bright in colour or decoration:
_____ plastic flowers
He was wearing a _____ Hawaiian shirt.
erroneous
adjective
wrong or false:
an _________ belief/impression
an _________ assumption
wrong: That’s the wrong answer. Read the question again.
incorrect: The information on the website is incorrect.
_________: No one could explain how the _________ information had got into the report.
inaccurate: Their estimation of the cost was wildly (=extremely) inaccurate.
rowdy
adjective
noisy and possibly violent:
a _____ party
_____ behaviour
The theater was full of _____ teenagers throwing popcorn and yelling.
vacuous
adjective
not expressing or showing intelligent thought or purpose:
a _______ remark/question/expression/smile
To seem real to your readers, your characters must not be _______, but complex human beings with ordinary difficulties and goals.
tortuous
adjective
with many turns and changes of direction; not direct or simple:
He took a ________ route through back streets.
The path to peace seems at last to be clear, although it may be a long and ________ one.
His so-called shortcut turned out to be ________ and slow.
levity
noun
humour or lack of seriousness, especially during a serious occasion:
a moment of ______
a brief moment of ______ amid the solemn proceedings
unobtrusive
adjective
not noticeable; seeming to fit in well with the things around:
Make-up this season is ___________ and natural-looking.
A good waiter is efficient and ___________.
jaunty
adjective
showing that you are happy and confident:
He scampered _____ily down the stairs.
a ______ grin/step
When he came back his hat was at a ______ angle and he was smiling.
distraught
adjective
extremely worried, nervous, or upset:
We were all __________ over the loss of our homes in the flood.
The missing child’s __________ parents made an emotional appeal for information on TV.
sad: She’s been sad ever since her cat died.
unhappy: She’d had a very unhappy childhood.
miserable: I just woke up feeling miserable.
upset: They’d had an argument and he was still upset about it.
broken-hearted: She was broken-hearted when her partner left.
revel
verb
to dance, drink, sing, etc. at a party or in public, especially in a noisy way
enmity
noun
a feeling of hate:
She denied any personal ______ towards him.
Bitter historical _____ies underlie the present violence.
idolatry
noun
very great admiration or respect for someone, often too great:
Newton was revered to the point of ________.
Father Brown considers the notes and flowers left near the statue to be close to ________.
The youngster makes no attempt to conceal his ________ of his team-mate.
apt
adjective
suitable or right for a particular situation:
She’s in her eighties now and ___ to be a little forgetful.
We have some particularly ___ students in the class this year.
Chris’s ___ comments summed up our opinions.
This old roof is ___ to leak when it rains.
He was very tall and was ___ly called “Stretch.”
The kitchen roof is ___ to (= likely to) leak when it rains.
an ___ comment/description
suitable: This film contains language that is not suitable for children.
appropriate: Is this film appropriate for young children?
___: “Unusual”, yes, that’s a very ___ description.
fitting: The promotion was a fitting reward for all his hard work.
gruesome
adjective
extremely unpleasant and shocking, and usually dealing with death or injury:
The newspaper article included a ________ description of the murder.
The movie was pretty ________.
scurry
verb
to move quickly, with small, short steps:
The mouse _____ied across the floor.
We paused between showers to listen for the flap of wings or the ______ of creatures.
The next few weeks were the usual ______ of activity.
That remark went unnoticed in the ______ of the radio studio.
Mice _____ied around the attic.
The noise of the explosion sent everyone ______ing back into their homes.
run: She saw him running down the street.
sprint: I had to sprint to catch the bus.
jog: “What do you do to keep fit?” “I jog and go swimming.”
race: He raced up the stairs to answer the phone.
rush: Everyone rushed to the door when the alarm went off.
dash: He dashed out the door after the dog.
redolent
adjective
smelling strongly of something or having qualities (especially smells) that make you think of something else:
The album is a heartfelt cry, ________ of a time before radio and television.
The mountain air was ________ with the scent of pine needles.
rash
noun
a lot of small red spots on the skin:
I’ve got an itchy ____ all over my chest.
If you stay in the sun too long you’ll get (a) heat ____.
UK He came out/up in a ____ after he fell in a patch of nettles.
There has been a ____ of robberies/accidents/complaints in the last two months.
That was a ____ decision - you didn’t think about the costs involved.
[ + to infinitive ] I think it was a bit ____ of them to get married when they’d only known each other for a few weeks.
It was ____ of them to get married so quickly.
an itchy ____
There’s been a ____ of robberies in the valley.
a ____ statement
careless: That was careless of you.
sloppy: Spelling mistakes always look sloppy in a formal letter.
slapdash: His work is always hurried and slapdash.
____: That was a ____ decision - you didn’t think about the costs involved.
thoughtless: The Prime Minister made a thoughtless remark about the environment.
portentous
adjective
too serious and trying to be very important:
The problem with the book is that it sometimes descends into __________ philosophizing.
The report contains numerous __________ references to a future environmental calamity.
emanate
verb
to express a quality or feeling through the way that you look and behave:
Her face _______d sadness.
[ I always + adv/prep ] Angry voices _______d from the next room.
angst
noun
strong worry and unhappiness, especially about personal problems:
All my children went through a period of late-adolescent _____.
The boy’s mysterious disappearance has caused _____ and guilt for the family.
culminate
verb
If an event or series of events _________s in something, it ends with it, having developed until it reaches this point:
My arguments with the boss got worse and worse, and finally _________d in my resignation.
Their many years of research have finally _________d in a cure for the disease.
[ I ] Secret negotiations _________d in the historic peace accord.
[ T ] The discovery _________d many years of research.
promiscuous
adjective
(of a person) having a lot of different sexual partners or sexual relationships, or (of sexual habits) involving a lot of different partners:
I suppose I was quite ___________ in my youth.
It’s a fallacy that gay men are more ___________ than heterosexuals.
consort
verb
to spend a lot of time in the company of a particular group of people, especially people whose character is not approved of:
They claimed he had been _______ing with drug dealers.
She warned him against _______ing with suspicious characters.
stringent
adjective
having a very severe effect, or being extremely limiting:
Drugs are the most _________ly regulated of all consumer goods.
_________ cost-cutting/cuts Prices are now falling slightly after _________ budget-deficit cuts.
Stringent cost management is counterproductive when it interferes with a firm’s ability to grow.
The most _________ laws in the world are useless unless there is the will to enforce them.
We need to introduce more _________ security measures such as identity cards.
Stringent safety regulations were introduced after the accident.
Already low living standards have been worsened by _________ economic reforms.
Members of the organization have to be willing to abide by the _________ rules.
The city has _________ fire-safety standards.
Stringent security measures have been introduced at all airports.
Regulators are forcing issuers to adopt more _________ criteria.
_________ rules/regulations/laws
_________ conditions/requirements
_________ checks/controls/tests
firm: I was always very firm with my children.
take a hard line on: The school takes a hard line on bullying.
authoritarian: The country was under the rule of an authoritarian leader.
_________: Stringent safety regulations were introduced after the accident.
strict: Her parents were very strict.
concomitant
noun
something that happens with something else and is connected with it:
Loss of memory is a natural ___________ of old age.
Any increase in students means a ___________ increase in money for the university.
hereditary
adjective
(of characteristics or diseases) passed from the genes of a parent to a child, or (of titles and positions in society) passed from parent to a child as a right:
a __________ disease
Depression is often __________.
It is a __________ title, so Mark Howard will become Sir Mark Howard on his father’s death.
envision
verb
to imagine or expect that something is a likely or desirable possibility in the future:
The company ________s adding at least five stores next year.
He ________ed a partnership between business and government.
pallid
adjective
very pale, in a way that looks unhealthy and not attractive:
Next to his tanned face, hers seemed ______ and unhealthy.
This is a ______ production of what should be a great ballet.
He looked ______ and bloated a few years ago.
indelible
adjective
An _________ mark or substance is impossible to remove by washing or in any other way:
fig. His performance of Hamlet left an _________ impression on all who saw it.
an _________ mark
In his 20 years working for the company, Joe Pearson made an _________ impression on it.
_________ ink
The blood had left an _________ mark on her shirt.
I have an _________ memory of that meeting with Anastasia.
frolic
verb
to play and behave in a happy way:
A group of suntanned children were ______king on the beach.
a harmless ______
It was all fun and ______s until it began to pour down with rain.
A group of children were ______king on the beach.
Some people think of skiing as a wintertime ______.
romp
verb
to play in a rough, excited, and noisy way:
The children ____ed happily around/about in the garden.
The puppy and children ____ed together in the yard.
The unbeaten Charlottesville Crackers ____ed past the Beantown Beanies 68-26.
The film is a comic ____.
Nothing could stop his ____ to the nomination.
The newspaper headline was “Bishop Caught In Sex Romp!”
bootlegger
noun
someone who makes, copies, or sells something illegally:
His father was a __________ who bought liquor cheap in Nebraska and sold it at twice the price to Indians in South Dakota.
The band has spoken out against merchandise __________s currently operating outside their gigs.
euphemism
noun
a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word:
“Senior citizen” is a _________ for “old person”.
The article made so much use of _________ that often its meaning was unclear.
[ C ] The phrase “left to pursue other interests” is a _________ for “fired.”
________tic words for “dead”
stroll
verb
to walk in a slow relaxed way, especially for pleasure:
We could ______ along the beach after dinner.
An elderly couple ______ed hand in hand in the park.
After dinner, we went for a ______ along the beach.
We could ______ into town if you like.
Sometimes he would take a ______ before dinner.
The whole family was enjoying a leisurely ______ in the sunshine.
walk: The baby has just learned to walk.
stride: She strode purposefully up to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager.
march: He marched right in to the office and demanded to see the governor.
______: We ______ed along the beach.
wander: She wandered from room to room, not sure of what she was looking for.
amble: She ambled down the street, looking in shop windows.
crawl: There’d been a bad accident on the motorway and traffic was crawling.
trundle: Lorries trundle through the narrow lanes.
creep: He crept downstairs, hardly making any noise.
trudge: They trudged wearily through the snow.
______: We spent the afternoon ______ing around Budapest.
amble: He ambled over to the window.
senile
adjective
showing poor mental ability because of old age, especially being unable to think clearly and make decisions:
He spent many years caring for his ______ mother.
I’m always losing my keys these days. I think I must be going ______.
Her children couldn’t cope with her because she’s somewhat ______.
Miller suffers from _____ity.
antecedent
noun
someone or something existing or happening before, especially as the cause or origin of something existing or happening later:
Charles Babbage’s mechanical calculating engines were the __________s of the modern computer.
Many people feel a great curiosity to find out about their __________s.
In the sentence “He picked a book off the shelf and handed it to Sally”, “book” is the __________ of “it”.
When the college was established in 1546, it inherited a hall from each of three __________ institutions.
The book dealt with the historical __________s of the Civil War.
In the sentence, “Joe threw the ball to Wendy, and Wendy threw it back,” “the ball” is the __________ of “it.”
vigil
noun
an act of staying awake, especially at night, in order to be with a person who is very ill or dying, or to make a protest, or to pray:
Supporters of the peace movement held an all-night candlelit _____ outside the cathedral.
The boy’s parents kept a long _____ in his hospital room.
A candlelight _____ on the steps of the courthouse was held to protest the verdict in this trial.
His parents kept _____ beside his bed for weeks before he died.
expend
verb
to use or spend time, effort, or money:
Managers had to ______ a lot of time dealing with the consequences of the incident.
______ money/resources/funds
______ energy/effort/time Why do firms ______ effort investing abroad, rather than staying home and producing for export?
They ______ all their energy fixing up their house.
You ______ so much effort for so little return.
Governments ______ a lot of resources on war.
contingency
noun
something that might possibly happen in the future, usually causing problems or making further arrangements necessary:
You must be able to deal with all possible __________ies.
Have you made any ___________ plans?
We must prepare for all possible __________ies.
“While it is impossible to account for every ___________, the industry historically has met demand and fully expects to do so this winter,” said the American Petroleum Institute.
The report advises a minimum fund of three months’ net income to provide a ___________ against uncertainties in the future.
In personal injury cases many attorneys work on a ___________ basis, so you will not have to pay them a fee up front.
ramification
noun
the possible results of an action:
Have you considered all the ____________s of your suggestion?
Have you considered all the ____________s of changing careers at this stage of your life?
go
verb
to begin to do something or deal with something:
What’s the best way of __ing about this?
[ + -ing verb ] How can we __ about solving this problem?
ridden
suffix
past participle of ride
It is a superstition-______ community.
She was guilt-______ when she discovered that the business had failed because of her.
harrowing
adjective
extremely upsetting because connected with suffering:
a _________ story
For many women, the _________ prospect of giving evidence in a rape case can be too much to bear.
His book tells the _________ story of how they climbed Mt. Everest.
adventitious
adjective
not expected or planned:
an ____________ event/situation
vestibule
noun
a small room just inside the outer door of a public building where you can leave your coat, etc.:
I’ll wait for you in the _________.
the nasal _________
In the school’s _________ is a sign reading, “Enter here and find a friend.”
You can hang your coat in the _________.
tangy
adjective
A _____ flavour is pleasantly strong and sharp:
a deliciously _____ lemon tart
dawn
noun
the period in the day when light from the sun begins to appear in the sky:
We woke at ____.
We left as ____ was breaking (= starting).
We left at the break of ____.
The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the ____ of a new era in European history.
We worked from ____ to dusk, seven days a week.
He left the house just as the day was ____ing.
In the late 1970s, the personal computer era was ____ing.
Gradually the truth about him ____ed.
[ + that ] It eventually ____ed that he wouldn’t be coming back.
the ____ing of the digital age
[ U ] fig. Computers mark the ____ of a new age.
Winston left his house as the day was ____ing.
leisurely
adjective
used to describe an action that is done in a relaxed way, without hurrying:
We enjoyed a _________ picnic lunch on the lawn.
slow: You’re so slow - hurry up!
_________: We took a _________ drive along the quiet coast road.
unhurried: I like the unhurried pace of life in the countryside.
gentle: Start off with a gentle jog, then gradually increase your speed.
barge
verb
to hurry somewhere or through a place in a rude and forceful way:
They _____d through the crowds.
When the doors opened she _____d her way to the front of the queue.
The man _____d (= pushed) into her and ran on without stopping.
The state operates passenger ferries and cargo _____s to the island.
The fuel was transported by _____.
We cycled along the Grand Union Canal and watched the _____s go through locks.
Her London home is a canal _____ moored at Camden Lock.
You ought to knock instead of just ____ing into my office.
bring
verb
to introduce something so that it can be seen or discussed:
The police brought forward some new evidence in the case.
The elections were brought forward by three months.
Don’t forget to _____ forward last month’s income and expenses.
_____ forward a suggestion/proposal At the meeting several excellent suggestions were brought forward by the more junior members of staff.
I’d like to _____ the meeting forward to next week.
The elections were brought forward by three months.
forlorn
adjective
alone and unhappy; left alone and not cared for:
This _______ industrial town has very high unemployment.
Their only hope now is that the outside world will intervene but it is an increasingly _______ hope.
She appeared on daytime TV in a _______ attempt to persuade the public of her innocence.
As I left little Bobby on his first day of school, he gave me such a _______ look.
She looked a _______ figure standing at the bus stop.
lonely: I’ve been lonely since my friends moved away.
lonesome: US I’m feeling lonesome.
isolated: I wouldn’t like living out in the country - I’d feel isolated from the rest of the world.
_______: The characters, a flighty heiress and her _______ suitor, are a delight.
lorn: He’s a lone, lorn creature.
desolate: After the market crash, desolate financiers left the field.
shun
verb
to avoid something:
She has ____ned publicity since she retired from acting.
After the trial he was ____ned by friends and family alike.
She ____ned publicity after she retired from the stage.
close your eyes to: The administration closed its eyes to human-rights abuses by its soldiers.
turn a blind eye to: Until now, the mayor has turned a blind eye to the city’s homelessness problem.
disregard: He disregarded the advice of his doctor and went back to work.
avoid: Have you been trying to avoid me?
steer clear of: I suggest steering clear of yellow snow.
keep/stay clear of: Keep clear of her - she’s got flu.
stay away from: The experience was so bad that she stayed away from men for two years.
____: The best companies are run by people who ____ the limelight.
____: You’ll be ____ned and totally isolated if you don’t join in.
avoid: Have you been trying to avoid me?
steer clear of: I suggest steering clear of yellow snow.
keep/stay clear of: Keep clear of her - she’s got flu.
stay away from: The experience was so bad that she stayed away from men for two years.
____: The best companies are run by people who ____ the limelight.
____: You’ll be ____ned and totally isolated if you don’t join in.
ignore: The buzzing is irritating, but try to ignore it.
execrate
verb
to have or show feelings of hate towards someone or something:
I ________ any policy that interferes with the rights and freedoms of others.
sanguine
adjective
(of someone or someone’s character) positive and hoping for good things:
They are less ________ about the prospects for peace.
The sun lit up her hair, bringing out tremendous ________ red and amber highlights.
Some people expect the economy to continue to improve, but others are less ________.
denominate
verb
to express an amount of money in a particular currency (= units of money):
Oil sales were __________d in US dollars.
__________ sth in dollars/euros, etc. Foreign sales are __________d in US dollars.
fugitive
noun
a person who is running away or hiding from the police or a dangerous situation:
Thousands of ________s are fleeing from the war-torn area.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were ________s from justice (= they ran away to avoid being tried in court).
a ________ impression
Fugitive families who have fled the fighting in the cities are now trying to survive in the mountains.
Three men escaped from the prison and were being sought as ________s.
incessant
adjective
never stopping, especially in an annoying or unpleasant way:
_________ rain/noise/complaints
The region endured weeks of _________ rain.
Bob talks _________ly about their new baby.
vocation
noun
a type of work that you feel you are suited to doing and to which you should give all your time and energy, or the feeling that a type of work suits you in this way:
I feel I’ve found/missed my true ________.
Most teachers regard their profession as a ________, not just a job.
It wasn’t until “The North American Review” published his story that he embraced writing as a ________.
find/miss your ________ I feel I’ve found my true ________.
To work in medicine, you should have a ________ for it.
To work in medicine, you should have a ________ for it.
presumptiondispositionmaladytarry
noun
the act of believing that something is true without having any proof:
___________ that The decision was based on the ___________ that the information that they had been given was correct.
The ___________ of innocence is central to American law.
There is no scientific evidence to support such ___________s.
[ + that ] The decision is based on the ___________ that all information must be freely available.
There is no scientific evidence to support such ___________s.
What ___________, to assume that I’d pay for everyone!
Every defendant is entitled to the ___________ of innocence unless they are proven guilty.
noun
the particular type of character that a person naturally has:
We have no control over the ___________ of the funds in that account.
Not more than 30% of a Fund’s gross income can be derived from gains from the sale or other ___________ of securities held for less than three months.
This describes the principal issues raised in the review and states the Regulation Board’s ___________ of the proceeding.
Payment of expenses incurred in advance of the final ___________ of this lawsuit shall be conditional upon receipt of a detailed itemization.
a cheerful ___________
a ___________ to deceive
She is of a nervous/cheerful/sunny ___________.
noun
a disease:
All the rose bushes seem to be suffering from the same mysterious ______.
Apathy is one of the _____ies of modern society.
She’s suffering from a variety of _____ies, including dizziness, weakness, and headaches.
verb
to stay somewhere for longer than expected and delay leaving
The boy ____ied awhile.
ruerecurrentresignationcalamitycredulous
verb
to feel sorry about an event and wish it had not happened
She gave him a ___ful smile.
adjective
happening again many times:
The patient has a two-month history of _________ episodes of pancreatitis.
The ‘what ifs’ of history is a _________ theme in her writing.
noun
the act of telling your employer that you are leaving your job:
There have been calls for his ___________.
They received the news with ___________.
[ U ] a letter of ___________
[ C ] Protesters took to the streets in massive numbers to demand the president’s ___________.
She received the disappointing news with ___________.
give in/hand in/offer your ___________ I resolved to hand in my ___________ on Tuesday.
accept sb’s ___________ If you say you’re leaving, I won’t accept your ___________.
The cuts triggered a wave of ___________s.
a ___________ letter/letter of ___________
An experienced investor would accept these minor disappointments with ___________.
I handed in/gave in/sent in my ___________ this morning.
recognition: There was no recognition of having done anything wrong.
___________: She sighed in weary ___________.
acceptance: The idea was slow to find general acceptance.
acknowledgment: We still await an acknowledgment of the fact that our case was handled improperly.
noun
a serious accident or bad event causing damage or suffering:
A series of _______ies ruined them - floods, a failed harvest, and the death of a son.
The factory closings were a ________ for the whole city.
adjective
too willing to believe what you are told and so easily deceived
judiciousrepine
adjective
having or showing reason and good judgment in making decisions:
We should make _________ use of the resources available to us.
The law allows for the _________ use of force in some situations.
Spend your money a little more _________ly.
verb
to feel sad or complain about something, especially a bad situation:
She was alone and unloved, but she did not ______.
disposition
noun
the particular type of character that a person naturally has:
We have no control over the ___________ of the funds in that account.
Not more than 30% of a Fund’s gross income can be derived from gains from the sale or other ___________ of securities held for less than three months.
This describes the principal issues raised in the review and states the Regulation Board’s ___________ of the proceeding.
Payment of expenses incurred in advance of the final ___________ of this lawsuit shall be conditional upon receipt of a detailed itemization.
a cheerful ___________
a ___________ to deceive
She is of a nervous/cheerful/sunny ___________.
malady
noun
a disease:
All the rose bushes seem to be suffering from the same mysterious ______.
Apathy is one of the _____ies of modern society.
She’s suffering from a variety of _____ies, including dizziness, weakness, and headaches.
