C1 and C2 vocabulary

Question 1

besotted
adjective
UK /bɪˈsɒt.ɪd/ US /bɪˈsɑː.t̬ɪd/

Answer 1

completely in love with someone and always thinking of them :
He was so completely besotted with her that he couldn’t see how badly she treated him.

Question 2

have (got) it bad

informal

Answer 2

to be very much in love

Question 3

wrenching
adjective
UK /ˈren.tʃɪŋ/ US /ˈren.tʃɪŋ/

Answer 3

extremely stressful:

It was the most wrenching decision of the president’s life.

Question 4

wrath
noun [ U ] formal or old-fashioned
UK /rɒθ/ US /rɑːθ/

Answer 4

extreme anger:

The people feared the wrath of God.

Question 5

withhold
verb [ T ]
UK /wɪðˈhəʊld/ US /wɪðˈhoʊld/
withheld | withheld

Answer 5

to refuse to give something or to keep back something:
to withhold information/support
During the trial, the prosecution was accused of withholding crucial evidence from the defence.
Police are withholding the dead woman’s name until her relatives have been informed.
She withheld her rent until the landlord agreed to have the repairs done.
The government is planning to withhold benefit payments from single mothers who refuse to name the father of their child.

Question 6

spree
noun [ C ]
UK /spriː/ US /spriː/

Answer 6

a short period of doing a particular, usually enjoyable, activity much more than is usual:
I went on a drinking/shopping/spending spree on Saturday.
20 people were shot dead in the city, making it the worst killing spree since the riots.
US /spri/

a short period of doing something in an extreme way without control:
a shopping/spending spree
parranda, juerga, excursión
He targeted young female hitchhikers during his killing spree

Question 7

writhe
verb [ I ]
UK /raɪð/ US /raɪð/

Answer 7

to make large twisting movements with the body:
The pain was so unbearable that he was writhing in agony.
She was writhing around/about on the ground.

informal
to experience a very difficult or unpleasant situation or emotion, such as extreme embarrassment:
He and four other senators were writhing in the glare of unfavourable publicity.

Question 8

expunge
verb [ T ] formal
UK /ɪkˈspʌndʒ/ US /ɪkˈspʌndʒ/

Answer 8

to rub off or remove information from a piece of writing:
His name has been expunged from the list of members.

to cause something to be forgotten:
She has been unable to expunge the details of the accident from her memory.

Question 9

slit
verb [ T ]
UK /slɪt/ US /slɪt/
present participle slitting | past tense and past participle

Answer 9

to make a long, straight, narrow cut in something:
He slit open the envelope with a knife.
She killed herself by slitting her wrists.
He was found the next day with his throat slit.
She was wearing one of those skirts that’s slit up the front.

Question 10

fearsome
adjective formal
UK /ˈfɪə.səm/ US /ˈfɪr.səm/

Answer 10

frightening:
a fearsome reputation
a fearsome display of violence

Question 11

what’s more

Answer 11

B2
more importantly
used to add something surprising or interesting to what you have just said:
The decorations were absolutely beautiful and what’s more, the children had made them themselves.

Question 12

shortage
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈʃɔː.tɪdʒ/ US /ˈʃɔːr.t̬ɪdʒ/

Answer 12

B2
a situation in which there is not enough of something:
There’s a shortage of food and shelter in the refugee camps.
The long hot summer has led to serious water shortages.
The government’s programme to grow cash crops for export is a double-edged sword because it has created a local food shortage.
There’s a shortage of cheap housing in the region.
Schools nationwide are experiencing a shortage of teachers.
There’s a shortage of cheap accommodation .
The government admitted that there was a petrol shortage, but warned people against panic buying.

Question 13

alas
adverb formal or humorous
UK /əˈlæs/ US /əˈlæs/

Answer 13

used to express sadness or feeling sorry about something:
I love football but, alas, I have no talent as a player.
“Will you be able to come tomorrow?” “Alas, no.”

Question 14

in a bid

Answer 14

en un intento

Question 15

blow over
— phrasal verb with blow verb
UK /bləʊ/ US /bloʊ/
blew | blown

Answer 15

When an argument blows over, it becomes gradually less important until it ends and is forgotten:
I thought that after a few days the argument would blow over.
(STORM)

When a storm blows over, it becomes gradually less strong until it ends:
The storm raged all night but by morning it had blown over.

Question 16

water sth down
— phrasal verb with water verb
UK /ˈwɔː.tər/ US /ˈwɑː.t̬ɚ/

Answer 16

to add water to a drink, usually an alcoholic drink, in order to make it less strong
to deliberately make an idea or opinion less extreme, usually so that other people will accept it:
The party has watered down its ideals in order to appeal to the centre ground.
Ex, the best thing to do is actually to stay indoors, make yourself a cup of tea (other beverages are available) and wait for this to all blow over.

Question 17

cringe
verb [ I ]
UK /krɪndʒ/ US /krɪndʒ/

Answer 17

to suddenly move away from someone or something because you are frightened

informal
to feel very embarrassed:
I cringed at the sight of my dad dancing.
To cringe is also to pull back in fear from someone or something that seems powerful and dangerous:
He cringes every time he hears the dentist’s drill.

Question 18

breezily
adverb
UK /ˈbriː.zəl.i/ US /ˈbriː.zəl.i/

Answer 18

in a happy, confident and relaxed way:
She breezily asked her ex if he was seeing anyone now.
He was chatting breezily with some local officials.

Question 19

quirk
noun [ C ]
UK /kwɜːk/ US /kwɝːk/

Answer 19

an unusual habit or part of someone’s personality, or something that is strange and unexpected:
You have to get used to other people’s quirks and foibles.
There is a quirk in the rules that allows you to invest money without paying tax.
By some strange quirk/By an odd quirk of fate (= unexpectedly), we ended up on the same train.
peculiaridad
ex, They have their own personalities, quirks, and viewpoints on life.

Question 20

screen
verb [ T ]
UK /skriːn/ US /skriːn/

Answer 20

to test or examine someone or something to discover if there is anything wrong with him, her, or it:
Women over 50 should be screened for breast cancer.
Completely unsuitable candidates were screened out (= tested and refused) at the first interview.
screen your calls

to delay your decision to answer the phone until you know who is calling you:
I always screen my calls while I’m eating dinner.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
screen verb [T] (PICTURE)

to show or broadcast a film or television programme:
The programme was not screened on British television.

Question 21

swindle
verb [ T ]
UK /ˈswɪn.dəl/ US /ˈswɪn.dəl/

Answer 21

to get money dishonestly from someone by deceiving or cheating them:
They swindled local businesses out of thousands of dollars.
The wealthy banker was ultimately convicted of swindling investors.
More examples
He accused the government of swindling taxpayers.
Henry can’t help seducing and swindling everyone he meets.
The conman swindled thousands of euros from travellers after spinning them sob stories about his dead wife.
ex, as a cult leader swindles rural, uneducated villagers out of their compensation money.

Question 22

follow-up
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈfɒl.əʊ.ʌp/ US /ˈfɑː.loʊ.ʌp/

Answer 22

a further action connected with something that happened before:
This meeting is a follow-up to the one we had last month.

Question 23

the acid test

Answer 23

the true test of the value of something:

It looks good, but will people buy it? That’s the acid test.

Question 24

clock sth up
— phrasal verb with clock verb [ T ]
UK /klɒk/ US /klɑːk/
mainly UK informal

Answer 24

to win or achieve a large number of similar things:
The Australians have clocked up three gold medals and two silvers in the swimming events.
to collect or achieve a large number of similar things:
Most store cards are just about the worst way shoppers can clock up debts.
In a couple of months she will clock up a year’s employment and will be able to take up the company’s pension deal.
Motorists who clock up more than 15,000 miles a year are more likely to be caught speeding because of the huge number of speed cameras around.
ex, to clock up more than 11.5 million admissions at home

Question 25

burgeoning
adjective
UK /ˈbɜː.dʒən.ɪŋ/ US /ˈbɝː.dʒən.ɪŋ/

Answer 25

developing quickly:

The company hoped to profit from the burgeoning communications industry.

Question 26

get it together

informal

Answer 26

to make a decision or take positive action in your life:

Blake has really got it together since I last saw him - he has started a new job and lost a lot of weight.

Question 27

hinged
adjective
UK /hɪndʒd/ US /hɪndʒd/

Answer 27

having one or more hinges (= pieces of metal that fasten the edge of a door, window, lid, etc. to something else and allow it to open or close):
a hinged lid
I opened a hinged tin box used for storing candles.

Question 28

foreseeably

Answer 28

previsiblemente

ex, could foreseeably create its own identity within the DC family with these Elseworlds and Black Label-type tales

Question 29

even so

Answer 29

aún así

Question 30

wily
adjective
UK /ˈwaɪ.li/ US /ˈwaɪ.li/

Answer 30

(of a person) intelligent, having a very good understanding of situations, possibilities, and people, and often willing to use tricks to achieve an aim:
a wily politician

Question 31

uptight
adjective informal
UK /ˌʌpˈtaɪt/ US /ˌʌpˈtaɪt/

Answer 31

worried or nervous and not able to relax:
Don’t get uptight about the exam - just do your best.
ex, Vivian and the uptight corporate raider who falls for her

Question 32

garnish
verb [ T ]
UK /ˈɡɑː.nɪʃ/ US /ˈɡɑːr.nɪʃ/

Answer 32

to decorate food with a small amount of different food:

Garnish the dish with parsley before serving.

Question 33

flush
verb
UK /flʌʃ/ US /flʌʃ/

Answer 33

flush verb (BECOME RED)

[ I ]
When you flush, you become red in the face, especially as a result of strong emotions, heat, or alcohol:
She flushed with pleasure as she accepted the prize.
The champagne had caused his face to flush.
flush verb (TOILET)

[ I or T ]
If you flush a toilet, or if a toilet flushes, its contents empty and it fills with water again:
My children never flush the toilet after them.
I can’t get the toilet to flush.
flush sth down the toilet

to get rid of something by putting it in the toilet and operating the toilet:
I tend to flush old medicines down the toilet.

Question 34

tiresome
adjective mainly UK
UK /ˈtaɪə.səm/ US /ˈtaɪr.səm/

Answer 34

annoying and making you lose patience:
I find it very tiresome doing the same job day after day.
He has the tiresome habit of finishing your sentences for you.
ex, And it’s all getting a little tiresome.

Question 35

belittle
verb [ T ]
UK /bɪˈlɪt.əl/ US /bɪˈlɪt̬.əl/

Answer 35

to make a person or an action seem as if he, she or it is not important:
Though she had spent hours fixing the computer, he belittled her efforts.
Stop belittling yourself - your work is highly valued.
Synonym
disparage

Question 36

be close to the bone

Answer 36

If something you say or write is close to the bone, it is close to the truth in a way that might offend some people.

Question 37

be on the ball

Answer 37

to be quick to understand and react to things:

I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m not really on the ball today.

Question 38

scoop sth/sb up
— phrasal verb with scoop verb [ T ]
UK /skuːp/ US /skuːp/

Answer 38

to lift something or someone with your hands or arms in a quick movement:
She scooped the children up and ran with them to safety.
I scooped up my belongings into my handbag.
ex, it doesn’t look like it’s going to scoop up any awards

Question 39

lest
conjunction literary
UK /lest/ US /lest/

Answer 39

in order to prevent any possibility that something will happen:
They were afraid to complain about the noise lest they annoyed the neighbours.
para que no, con el fin de que no,
ex, Lest we entirely forget,

Question 40

Meaning of cliffhanger in English

cliffhanger
noun [ C ]
UK /ˈklɪfˌhæŋ.ər/ US /ˈklɪfˌhæŋ.ɚ/

Answer 40

a story or a situation that is exciting because its ending or result is uncertain until it happens:
Many of Hitchcock’s films are real cliffhangers.
It looks as if the election is going to be a cliffhanger.
ex, to keep the series steadily on its feet before a season-ending cliffhanger leaves one very much wanting more.

Question 41

smitten
adjective [ after verb ]
UK /ˈsmɪt.ən/ US /ˈsmɪt̬.ən/

Answer 41

having suddenly started to like or love something or someone very much:
The story’s about a man smitten with love for his wife’s cousin.
He was so smitten by her that he promised to move to Argentina to be near her.
Synonym
infatuated
ex, with whom Barry is quickly smitten.

Question 42

distraught
adjective
UK /dɪˈstrɔːt/ US /dɪˈstrɑːt/

Answer 42

extremely worried, nervous, or upset:
The missing child’s distraught parents made an emotional appeal for information on TV.
Synonym
overwrought
ex, Cousineau tells a distraught Sally after she hits another roadblock in Episode 6.

Question 43

flatten the curve

Answer 43

to mitigate how quickly an illness is passed in a population or to slow the progression of a disease in a population.
An Israeli doctor in northern Italy says the country is close to “flattening the curve” with some new treatments appearing to be helping some COVID-19 patients,
In the “flatten the curve” image, there are distinct predictions made about the effects of two different actions—doing nothing versus social distancing.
For the next 30 to 90 days, the degree to which we can flatten the curve is the most important challenge, and we’re seeing countries, U.S. states, and smaller communities start to respond aggressively.

Question 44

rub off
— phrasal verb with rub verb [ I or T ]
UK /rʌb/ US /rʌb/
-bb-

Answer 44

If a quality or characteristic that someone has rubs off, other people begin to have it because they have been with that person and learned it from them:
His enthusiasm is starting to rub off on the rest of us.

Question 45

rub out something/someone
— phrasal verb with rub verb [ I/T ]
US /rʌb/
-bb-

Answer 45

to get rid of something, or to kill someone

Question 46

deft
adjective
UK /deft/ US /deft/

Answer 46

skilful, clever, or quick:
Her movements were deft and quick.
She answered the journalist’s questions with a deft touch.
He’s very deft at handling awkward situations.
Largely owing to this deft intertwining of popular and clerical elements, the collection, one of many such lives of saints, gained immediate and enduring popularity.
A cleverly constructed sentence, finely wrought witticism or deft turn of phrase needs nothing to clarify or punctuate.
ex, Also, the incredibly deft direction and cinematography that compliment it.

Question 47

one-liner
noun [ C ] informal
UK /ˌwʌnˈlaɪ.nər/ US /ˌwʌnˈlaɪ.nɚ/

Answer 47

a joke or a clever and funny remark or answer that is usually one sentence long:
There are some very witty one-liners in the play.
I occasionally wrote to him and got a one-liner in reply.
It is not the only example of a good one-liner in politics that carries someone a long way.
ex, Aside from being a hilarious episode full of incredible jokes and one-liners,

Question 48

rapport
noun [ S or U ]
UK /ræpˈɔːr/ US /ræpˈɔːr/

Answer 48

a good understanding of someone and an ability to communicate well with them:
We’d worked together for years and developed a close/good rapport.
She has an excellent rapport with her staff.

Question 49

flick
verb [ I + adv/prep, T ]
UK /flɪk/ US /flɪk/

Answer 49

to move or hit something with a short sudden movement:
He carefully flicked the loose hairs from the shoulders of his jacket.
She quickly flicked the crumbs off the table.
Horses flick their tails to make flies go away.
Windscreen wipers flick from side to side.
The boys ran around the swimming pool, flicking each other with their towels.
The lizard flicked out its tongue at a fly.
His eyes flicked between her and the door.
US informal or UK old-fashioned informal
a film
to make a short, sudden movement that causes something to move:
[ T ] Brina flicked her hair over her shoulder.
[ M ] He flicked the light switch on/off.
[ I always + adv/prep ] She flicked through the pages of a magazine (= turned them quickly).

Question 50

reliance
noun [ U ]
UK /rɪˈlaɪ.əns/ US /rɪˈlaɪ.əns/

Answer 50

the state of depending on or trusting in something or someone:
The region’s reliance on tourism is unwise.
You place too much reliance on her ideas and expertise.

Question 51

eerie
adjective
UK /ˈɪə.ri/ US /ˈɪr.i/

Answer 51

strange in a frightening and mysterious way:
She heard the eerie noise of the wind howling through the trees.
He had the eerie feeling that he had met this stranger before.