Chapter 1 Part 2 Flashcards
half moon (n)
the shape of the moon when only half of it is showing
buckle (v)
to become bent or curved because of heat or pressure, or to make something bend or curve in this way:
The steel pillars began to buckle.
spectacles(n)
glasses that help you see
crooked (adj)
bent, twisted, or not in a straight line
OPP straight
rummage (v)
(rummage around/ about) to search for something by moving things around in a careless or hurried way
amuse (v)
to make someone laugh or smile:
He made funny faces to amuse the children.
The question seemed to amuse him in some way.
mutter (v)
to speak in a low voice, especially because you are annoyed about something, or you do not want people to hear you
flicker (v)
to burn or shine with an unsteady light that goes on and off quickly:
The overhead lights flickered momentarily.
pinprick (n)
a very small area or dot of something:
pinprick of
a pinprick of light
beady eyes
small round and bright, and noticing a lot of things:
His beady eyes darted around the room.
distinctly (adv)
1 clearly
OPP indistinctly
Speak clearly and distinctly.
He distinctly remembered the day his father left.
2 very:
Paul was left feeling distinctly foolish.
distinctly uncomfortable/ uneasy/ unhappy etc
3 used to say that something has a particular quality or character that is easy to recognize:
dishes with a distinctly Jewish flavor
ruffle (v)
to offend or upset someone slightly:
Louise’s sharp comments had ruffled his pride.
ruffle somebody’s feathers (=offend someone)
feast (n)
1 a large meal where a lot of people celebrate a special occasion➔ banquet:
a wedding feast
The king promised to hold a great feast for all his people.
2 a very good large meal:
all the ingredients for a spaghetti feast
midnight feast (=a meal eaten secretly at night by children)
3 an occasion when there are a lot of enjoyable things to see or do:
feast for
Next week’s film festival should be a real feast for cinema-goers.
The play is also a visual feast.
4 a day or period when there is a religious celebration:
the feast day of St. Francis
flock (n)
a group of sheep, goats, or birds:
flock of
a flock of small birds
irritable (adj)
getting annoyed quickly or easily
SYN crabby,
bad-tempered
Jo was tired, irritable, and depressed.
downright (adj/adv)
used to emphasize that something is completely bad or untrue:
Jed’s downright lazy.
It’s downright disgusting!
sidelong/ sideways glance
sidelong/ sideways glance
She couldn’t resist a sidelong glance (=a look that is not direct) at him.
lemon/fruit/chocolate drop
a sweet that tastes of lemon etc
flinch (v)
to move your face or body away from someone or something because you are in pain, frightened, or upset
exasperated (adj)
very annoyed and upset:
exasperated with
He was becoming exasperated with the child.
an exasperated look.
earmuffs (n)
two pieces of material joined by a band over the top of your head, which you wear to keep your ears warm
shoot somebody a look/glance (also shoot a glance at somebody)
to look at someone quickly, especially so that other people do not see, to show them how you feel
piercing (adj)
someone with piercing eyes is looking at you and seems to know what you are thinking
press on
(also press ahead) phrasal verb to continue doing something, especially working, in a determined way:
We’ll talk about your suggestion later – now let’s just press on.
bow your head
to bend your neck so that you are looking at the ground, especially because you want to show respect for God, or because you are embarrassed or upset:
She bowed her head and prayed.
Phil stood, his head bowed in shame.
gasp (v)
to breathe in suddenly in a way that can be heard, especially because you are surprised or in pain:
gasp in/ with
Ollie gasped with pain and slumped forward.
gasp at
The audience gasped at the splendour of the costumes.
‘My leg!’ he gasped. ‘I think it’s broken!’
reach out to somebody
to show people that you are interested in them and want to listen to them:
So far, his administration has failed to reach out to hard line Republicans.
pat (v)
to lightly touch someone or something several times with your hand flat, especially to give comfort➔ stroke:
He patted the dog affectionately.
glum (adj)
if someone is glum, they feel unhappy and do not talk a lot
SYN gloomy
Anna looked glum.
After dinner, Kate lapsed into a glum silence.
falter (v)
to speak in a voice that sounds weak and uncertain, and keeps stopping:
Laurie’s voice faltered as she tried to thank him.
astound (v)
to make someone very surprised or shocked
SYN astonish
The judge’s decision astounded everyone.
lace (n)
a fine cloth made with patterns of many very small holes:
a handkerchief trimmed with lace
lace curtains
dab (v)
to touch something lightly several times, usually with something such as a cloth:
She dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.
dab at
He dabbed at his bleeding lip.
a faint hope/possibility/chance etc
a very small or slight hope etc:
a faint hope that they might be alive
swallow (v)
to make some of the liquid in your mouth go down your throat because you are frightened or nervous:
Leo swallowed hard and walked into the room.
She swallowed nervously before beginning.
somebody’s heart is in the right place
used to say that someone is really a kind person and has the right feelings about something important:
I don’t think his idea will work, though his heart’s in the right place.
grudge (v)
to do or give something very unwillingly:
grudge doing something
I really grudge paying for poor service.
rumble (v)
to make a series of long low sounds, especially a long distance away from you:
We could hear thunder rumbling in the distance.
astride (adv)
with one leg on each side of something:
a photograph of my mother sitting astride a horse
tangle (v)
to become twisted together, or make something become twisted together, in an untidy mass:
My hair tangles easily.
His parachute became tangled in the wheels of the plane.
bushy (adj)
bushy hair or fur grows thickly:
a bushy tail
swarm (v)
if people swarm somewhere, they go there as a large uncontrolled crowd:
Photographers were swarming around the princess.
tuft (n)
a bunch of hair, feathers, grass etc growing or held closely together at their base:
tuft of
tufts of grass
jet-black (adj)
very dark black:
jet-black hair
bolt of lighning
lightning that appears as a white line in the sky:
There’s not much left of his house after it was struck by a bolt of lightning.
handy (adj)
useful:
It’s quite a handy little tool.
It’s very handy having a light above your desk.
Take your swimming trunks with you – they might come in handy (=be useful).
get something over (also get something over with)
to do and finish something difficult that you have to do:
I’ll be in touch once I’ve got my exams over.
I can’t wait to get the interview over with.
