D_20/07/20(SE: 41-80;5lb) Flashcards
wallow
- VERB
If you say that someone is wallowing in an unpleasant situation, you are criticizing them for being deliberately unhappy.
[disapproval]
His tired mind continued to wallow in self-pity. [VERB + in]
I wanted only to wallow in my own grief. [VERB in noun] - VERB
If a person or animal wallows in water or mud, they lie or roll about in it slowly for pleasure.
Never have I had such a good excuse for wallowing in deep warm baths. [VERB + in]
Dogs love splashing in mud and hippos wallow in it. [VERB in noun]
stoic/stoical
COUNTABLE NOUN
If you say that someone is a stoic, you approve of them because they do not complain or show they are upset in bad situations.
[formal, approval]
mired
ADJECTIVE 1. made muddy or dirty The wind was brisk, the road mired in mud. 2. involved, esp in difficulties be/become mired (down) in sth
to be involved in a difficult situation, especially for a long period of time:
The peace talks are mired in bureaucracy.
curtail
VERB
If you curtail something, you reduce or limit it.
[formal]
NATO plans to curtail the number of troops being sent to the region. [VERB noun]
I told Louie that old age would curtail her activities in time. [VERB noun]
His powers will be severely curtailed. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: reduce, cut, diminish, decrease
lobby
- VERB
If you lobby someone such as a member of a government or council, you try to persuade them that a particular law should be changed or that a particular thing should be done.
Carers from all over the U.K. lobbied Parliament last week to demand a better financial deal. [VERB noun]
Gun control advocates are lobbying hard for new laws. [VERB + for]
The union has attacked the plan and threatened to lobby against it. [Vfor/against n]
It must be terribly frustrating to lobby and get absolutely nowhere. [VERB]
[Also V + against]
instigate
VERB
Someone who instigates an event causes it to happen.
Jenkinson instigated a refurbishment of the old gallery. [VERB noun]
The violence over the last forty-eight hours was instigated by ex-members of the secret police. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: provoke, start, encourage, move
obviate
VERB
To obviate something such as a problem or a need means to remove it or make it unnecessary.
[formal]
Our old-fashioned push-mower, for instance, obviates the needs for extension leads. [VERB noun]
This deferral would obviate pressure on the rouble exchange rate. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: avert, avoid, remove, prevent
lethal
- ADJECTIVE
A substance that is lethal can kill people or animals.
…a lethal dose of sleeping pills.
…chemicals lethal to fish and aquatic mammals.
Synonyms: deadly, terminal, fatal, deathly
pantheon
COUNTABLE NOUN
You can refer to a group of gods or a group of important people as a pantheon.
[written]
…the birthplace of Krishna, another god of the Hindu pantheon. [+ of]
…the Communist Party’s pantheon of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin.
plethora
SINGULAR NOUN
A plethora of something is a large amount of it, especially an amount of it that is greater than you need, want, or can cope with.
[formal]
A plethora of new operators will be allowed to enter the market. [+ of]
Synonyms: excess, surplus, glut, profusion
bon mot
COUNTABLE NOUN A bon mot is a clever, witty remark. [written] ...a cheeky bon mot. Synonyms: joke, sally, gag [informal], quip
lookout
- COUNTABLE NOUN
A lookout is a place from which you can see clearly in all directions.
Troops tried to set up a lookout post inside a refugee camp.
Synonyms: watchtower, post, tower, beacon - COUNTABLE NOUN
A lookout is someone who is watching for danger in order to warn other people about it.
shady
- ADJECTIVE
You can describe a place as shady when you like the fact that it is sheltered from bright sunlight, for example by trees or buildings.
After flowering, place the pot in a shady spot in the garden.
The rooms are admirably cool and shady after the hot brown monotony of the countryside.
Synonyms: shaded, cool, shadowy, dim - ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You can describe activities as shady when you think that they might be dishonest or illegal. You can also use shady to describe people who are involved in such activities.
[disapproval]
The company was notorious for shady deals.
Joseph watched a shady-looking bunch playing cards aboard a Mississippi steamer.
con
- VERB
If someone cons you, they persuade you to do something or believe something by telling you things that are not true.
[informal]
He claimed that the business director had conned him of £10,000. [V n + of/out of]
White conned his way into a job as a warehouseman. [VERB noun + into]
The British motorist has been conned by the government. [be VERB-ed]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: swindle, trick, cheat, rip off [slang]
alluring
ADJECTIVE
Someone or something that is alluring is very attractive.
Why are the contents of the next person’s shopping trolley always more alluring than one’s own?
…the most alluring city in South-East Asia.
Synonyms: attractive, fascinating, enchanting, seductive
contraband
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [oft NOUN noun]
Contraband refers to goods that are taken into or out of a country illegally.
The ship was found not to be carrying any contraband.
Most of the city markets were flooded with contraband goods.
Synonyms: smuggling, trafficking, black-marketing, moonshine
impasse
SINGULAR NOUN
If people are in a difficult position in which it is impossible to make any progress, you can refer to the situation as an impasse.
The company says it has reached an impasse in negotiations with the union.
Synonyms: deadlock, stalemate, standstill, dead end
stalemate
- VARIABLE NOUN
Stalemate is a situation in which neither side in an argument or contest can win or in which no progress is possible.
The President has ended the stalemate over cutting the country’s budget deficit.
He said the war had reached a stalemate and that a political accord was the only solution.
Synonyms: deadlock, draw, tie, impasse - VARIABLE NOUN
In chess, stalemate is a position in which a player cannot make any move which is allowed by the rules, so that the game ends and no one wins.
timeout
- any time taken for rest or not counted toward a work record, score, etc.
venerability
- ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A venerable person deserves respect because they are old and wise.
Her Chinese friends referred to the Empress as their venerable ancestor.
…a venerable old man with white hair.
Synonyms: respected, august, sage, revered
forte
- COUNTABLE NOUN [usually singular]
You can say that a particular activity is your forte if you are very good at it.
Originality was never his forte.
Synonyms: speciality, strength, talent, strong point
strong suit
something that one excels in
breadth
- UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
The breadth of something is the distance between its two sides.
The breadth of the whole camp was 400 paces. [+ of]
Synonyms: width, spread, beam, span - UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
The breadth of something is its quality of consisting of or involving many different things.
Older people have a tremendous breadth of experience. [+ of]
His breadth of knowledge filled me with admiration. [+ of]
draconian
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Draconian laws or measures are extremely harsh and severe.
[formal]
…draconian measures to lower U.S. healthcare costs.
…draconian censorship laws.
cloak
- COUNTABLE NOUN
A cloak is a long, loose, sleeveless piece of clothing which people used to wear over their other clothes when they went out. - VERB
To cloak something means to cover it or hide it.
[written]
…the decision to cloak major tourist attractions in unsightly hoardings. [VERB noun + in]
A fire could have been deliberately started to cloak small coordinated troop movements. [VERB noun]
The beautiful sweeping coastline was cloaked in mist. [V-ed + in]
Synonyms: cover, coat, wrap, blanket
painstaking
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A painstaking search, examination, or investigation is done extremely carefully and thoroughly.
Forensic experts carried out a painstaking search of the debris.
Synonyms: thorough, careful, meticulous, earnest
yippie
a young politically active hippie
antics
noun [ plural ]
funny, silly, or strange behaviour:
But the rock star, whose stage antics used to include smashing guitars, is older and wiser now.
The crowds were once again entertained by the number-one tennis player’s antics on and off the court.
flout
VERB
If you flout something such as a law, an order, or an accepted way of behaving, you deliberately do not obey it or follow it.
…illegal campers who persist in flouting the law. [VERB noun]
Building regulations have been habitually flouted. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: defy, scorn, spurn, scoff at
riot
- COUNTABLE NOUN
When there is a riot, a crowd of people behave violently in a public place, for example they fight, throw stones, or damage buildings and vehicles.
Twelve inmates have been killed during a riot at the prison.
Synonyms: disturbance, row, disorder, confusion
anarchism
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Anarchism is the belief that the laws and power of governments should be replaced by people working together freely.
He advocated anarchism as the answer to social problems.
Confucian
adjective
based on or believing in the ideas of the Chinese philosopher Confucius:
In Confucian tradition, 60th birthdays are particularly significant.
Confucian scholars
acculturation
NOUN Sociology
- the process of conditioning a child to the patterns or customs of a culture
- the process of becoming adapted to a new or different culture with more or less advanced patterns
- the mutual influence of different cultures in close contact
investiture
COUNTABLE NOUN
An investiture is a ceremony in which someone is given an official title.
…Edward VIII’s investiture as Prince of Wales in 1911.
Synonyms: installation, ordination, inauguration, investment
caricature
- COUNTABLE NOUN
A caricature of someone is a drawing or description of them that exaggerates their appearance or behaviour in a humorous or critical way.
The poster showed a caricature of him with a devil’s horns and tail. [+ of]
Synonyms: parody, cartoon, distortion, satire
squalid
- ADJECTIVE
A squalid place is dirty, untidy, and in bad condition.
He followed her up a rickety staircase to a squalid bedsit.
The migrants have been living in squalid conditions.
Synonyms: dirty, filthy, seedy, sleazy
defendant
COUNTABLE NOUN
A defendant is a person who has been accused of breaking the law and is being tried in court.
Synonyms: accused, respondent, appellant, litigant
juror
COUNTABLE NOUN
A juror is a member of a jury.
culpable
ADJECTIVE
If someone or their conduct is culpable, they are responsible for something wrong or bad that has happened.
[formal]
Their decision to do nothing makes them culpable.
…manslaughter resulting from culpable negligence.
Synonyms: blameworthy, wrong, guilty, to blame
accomplished
ADJECTIVE
If someone is accomplished at something, they are very good at it.
[formal]
She is an accomplished painter.
…one of the most accomplished composers of our time.
Synonyms: skilled, able, professional, expert
peril
1. VARIABLE NOUN Perils are great dangers. [formal] ...the perils of the sea. [+ of] In spite of great peril, I have survived. We are in the gravest peril.
concerted
- ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
A concerted action is done by several people or groups working together.
Martin Parry, author of the report, says it’s time for concerted action by world leaders.
Synonyms: coordinated, united, joint, combined - ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you make a concerted effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
He made a concerted effort to win me away from my steady, sweet but boring boyfriend.
stipulate
verb [ T ] formal
to say exactly how something must be or must be done:
She agreed to buy the car, but stipulated racing tyres and a turbo-powered engine.
[ + that ] The law stipulates that new cars must have seat belts for the driver and every passenger.
[ + question word ] We have signed a contract which stipulates when the project must be completed.
chagrin
noun [ U ] formal
disappointment or anger, especially when caused by a failure or mistake:
My children have never shown an interest in music, much to my chagrin.
bipartisan
ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Bipartisan means concerning or involving two different political parties or groups.
…a bipartisan approach to educational reform.
divisive
ADJECTIVE
Something that is divisive causes unfriendliness and argument between people.
Abortion has always been a divisive issue.
A referendum would be divisive.
Synonyms: disruptive, unsettling, alienating, troublesome
dialectical
adjective SOCIAL SCIENCES specialized
discovering what is true by considering opposite theories:
dialectical materialism/logic
the dialectal method of questioning established thought
unintelligible
ADJECTIVE
Unintelligible language is impossible to understand, for example because it is not written or pronounced clearly, or because its meaning is confused or complicated.
He muttered something unintelligible.
I did my best to join in, but the conversation was largely unintelligible.
…the unintelligible phrases and images of his earlier poems.
Synonyms: incomprehensible, incoherent, inarticulate, meaningless
cursive
adjective
Cursive writing is written with rounded letters that are joined together.