Chapter 8 Flashcards
Spill the beans
Meaning: to reveal something that was meant to be a secret.
Examples: We had everything organized for Bruce’s surprise party, but Kate accidentally spilled the beans to him at work.
Come on, spill the beans! Whose fault was it?
So who spilled the beans about her affair with David?
Rub it in
Meaning: to keep reminding one of one’s failures; to nag someone about something.
Examples: You deserve it! Why do you have to rub in everything I do wrong?
“You know that this means you won’t get to qualify for the state championships, right?”
B: “Sheesh, no need to rub it in, Dave.” Yes, I know you’re going to Japan with the money you won in the lottery—you don’t need to rub it in!
Bang one’s head against a brick wall
Meaning: to do, say, or ask for something repeatedly but to be unable to change a situation.
Examples: Some people are never going to agree with you on this, so it’s no use beating your head against a wall trying to convince everyone.
I keep asking her not to park there, but it’s like banging my head against a brick wall.
I’ve been beating my head against the wall trying to understand this math equation.
Thrive
Meaning: To grow vigorously; flourish. To be successful or make steady progress; prosper.
Examples: Industries such as water, telecoms, and insurance have been thriving.
Children thrive when given plenty of love and attention. This type of plant thrives in cool conditions.
Lift a finger
Meaning: make the slightest effort to do something, especially to help someone.
Examples: I clean every weekend, and you never lift a finger to help!
I know you’re watching TV, but can you perhaps lift a finger and help me bring in these grocery bags?
If the public does not care much for the interests of the press, it will not lift a finger to save a politician from sexual embarrassment.
Overwhelm
Meaning: 1. to defeat someone or something by using a lot of force. To be too much to deal with 2. to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion.
Examples: They were overwhelmed with/by grief when their baby died.
Government troops have overwhelmed the rebels and seized control of the capital.
They were overwhelmed with/by grief when their baby died.
I was overwhelmed by all the flowers and letters of support I received.
Plight
Meaning: an unpleasant condition, especially a serious, sad, or difficult one.
Examples: Few of us can be unmoved by the plight of the refugees.
My problems aren’t much compared with the plight of the storm victims.
We must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty.
Teething problem
Meaning: Problems encountered during the initial part of a process.
Examples: Our supply line issues are just teething problems.
Once we get the process streamlined, we’ll be fine. Some teething troubles aside, the new computer system works well.
There are bound to be teething problems in a new marriage.
Show someone the ropes
Meaning: To explain or demonstrate to one how to do or perform a task or activity.
Examples: I know there’s a lot to take in, but your partner has been here for over 10 years and will show you the ropes.
This class is intense! You’re expected to know how to do everything from day one, without anyone showing you the ropes.
Lynn spent an afternoon showing the new girl the ropes.
Grim
Meaning: worrying/worried, without hope, serious or sad.
Examples: I divined from his grim expression that the news was not good.
Experts have been giving grim predictions for the future of the company. Later Mr. Ashby left the court, grim-faced and silent.
Harassment
Meaning: (noun) behaviour that annoys or upsets someone like threats, offensive remarks, or physical attacks.
Examples: They face daily harassment and assault on the streets.
The company investigated claims of workplace harassment and racial discrimination.
The UN cannot tolerate the continuing harassment of peacekeeping soldiers.
In hindsight/ retrospect
Meaning: Looking backward, reflecting on the past. Reconsidering the past with the knowledge one now has. (antonym: foresight)
Examples: In retrospect, we shouldn’t have invested so heavily in one sector, but there’s no way we could have known about some of the risks.
In hindsight we all wish that at various times in our lives we would have made different choices.
Also problematic is that research indicates that, in hindsight, people consistently exaggerate what could have been anticipated in foresight.
Viable
Meaning: capable of success or continuing effectiveness; practicable.
Examples: So obviously, the government will have to think of ways and means to ensure that these accounts, once they come in, become commercially viable accounts.
He envisions two possibly viable paths: splitting and resistance. Shutting the border is “not a viable solution.
Strapped for cash
Meaning: Without any or very much money at the moment; broke temporarily.
Examples: My brother always complains that he’s strapped for cash, but it’s no surprise when he won’t go find a job!
Would you mind covering the cost of dinner? I’m a little strapped for cash at the moment.
Four in 10 social housing tenants on benefits skip meals because they’re so strapped for cash.
Plausible
Meaning: 1. likely to be true. 2. someone who is plausible seems to be honest and sincere, even though they may not be.
Examples: A bomb was the only plausible explanation for the crash.
The story was plausible but that didn’t necessarily mean it was true.
Yeskeliar was precisely chosen because he was such an accomplished and plausible liar.
He smiled grimly and replied: “‘Yes, he is a plausible rascal, but if you should happen to meet him again, I advise you to keep your pockets buttoned.
Untoward
Meaning: unexpected and inappropriate or inconvenient.
Examples: Both tried to behave as if nothing untoward had happened.
Unless anything untoward happens we should arrive just before midday.
Unfortunately, such responses may run afoul of modern laws that aim to constrain untoward behavior.
Another young journalist made a few untoward remarks about Richard.
Be doomed to
Meaning: likely to have an unfortunate and inescapable outcome; ill-fated.
Examples: Financial markets are neither rational nor efficient, and any investment strategy that ignores that fact is doomed to failure.
Those intentions defy prediction and the individual who tries to do so is doomed to lose.
Jolene knew she was already doomed to suffer heartache if she chose to remain with Reynard.
Embellish
Meaning: to add or change some details of a story, usually to make it more interesting or exciting.
Examples: He couldn’t resist embellishing the story of his accident a little.
He sometimes had to embellish the facts in order to, as he saw it, highlight the truth. There were claims the candidate had embellished his war record.
Hamper
Meaning: to prevent someone doing something easily.
Examples: Fierce storms have been hampering rescue efforts and there is now little chance of finding more survivors.
I tried to run away but I was hampered by my long dress. the investigation was hampered by their lack of cooperation.
Linger
Meaning: 1. to take a long time to leave or disappear. 2. to spend a long time over (something).
Examples: The smell from the fire still lingered days later.
It’s impossible to forget such horrific events - they linger (on) in the memory forever.
Time will be extremely tight in this exam, so don’t linger over questions you can’t figure out.
With how frantic life is these days, I think it’s important to linger over things we enjoy, such as good food or drinks.
Alleged
Meaning: said or thought by some people to be the stated bad or illegal thing, although you have no proof.
Examples: The place where the alleged offences were committed.
It took 15 years for the alleged criminals to prove their innocence.
Race-related violence has often been spurred by false rumors, generally pointing to alleged conspiracies by one group against another.
