cultural literacy 36 Flashcards
ponce
pansy; campily effeminate young man
biddable
docile, obedient
codpiece
(15th and 16th the crotch portion of a man’s tights or breeches; (obsl.) penis
corker
someone or something astonishing or excellent
totty
beautiful women collectively; an individual beautiful woman
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. ”
Horatio making a pronouncement on Hamlet’s death at the end of Hamlet
Gammer Gurton’s Needle
a bufoonish comedy of the 16th century, authorship uncertain but often attributed to John Still
“getting a first”
achieving a First Class Honours Degree at a British University
First Class Honours Degree
the highest academic distinction you can receive on an undergraduate degree in the UK, typically requiring an average of 70% or higher across your studies; rough equivalent of graduating with honors in the U.S.
IRT
Interborough Rapid Transit company, the division of NY Subway system with numbered lines
Amiri Baraka
a.k.a. Leroi Jones, African-American poet
“They make a desert and call it peace.”
Tacitus on the militarism of empires
hustings
literally the spots from which speeches are made and so, by extension, the political campaign trail
pylon
tall post or tower holding up wires
in sb’s wheelhouse
in line with sb’s interests, sb’s cup of tea
Nakatomi Plaza
the fictional name given to the actual building 2121 Avenue of the Stars
Fox Plaza
former name of 2121 Avenue of the Stars
completionist
a video game player who attempts to do everything that is possible in a game
two administrative divisions in France below the level of entire nation
region, department
arondissement, canton, commune
three ways of dividing a department (in France) in different contexts
