Day 35

Question 1

Absquatulate

Answer 1

to leave suddenly

Question 2

Outcry

Answer 2

a strong expression of anger and disapproval about something, made by a group of people or by the public:
- The release from prison of two of the terrorists has provoked a public outcry.

Question 3

To redeem

Answer 3

to get something back:
- She managed to save enough money to redeem her jewellery from the pawn shop.

to make something or someone seem less bad:
- A poor game was redeemed in the second half by a superb performance from Anthony Edwards.
- He was an hour late, but he redeemed himself in her eyes by giving her a huge bunch of flowers.
- She took me to see a really dull film, the only redeeming feature of which (= the only thing which prevented it from being completely bad) was the soundtrack.

Question 4

Pertain to something

Answer 4

to be connected with a particular subject, event, or situation:
- We are only interested in the parts of the proposals that pertain to local issues.

Question 5

Tupperware

Answer 5

a brand name for a type of plastic containers, usually for storing food, and usually having lids that fit tightly

Question 6

Sparingly

Answer 6

in small amounts, or without wasting any:
- There wasn’t enough coal during the war, so we had to use it sparingly.
- She created a natural look, using makeup sparingly.

Question 7

Whistleblower

Answer 7

a person who tells someone in authority about something illegal that is happening, especially in a government department or a company

Question 8

Aforementioned

Answer 8

mentioned earlier:
- The aforementioned Mr Parkes then entered the cinema.

Question 9

To tinker

Answer 9

to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt to repair or improve it:
- He spends every weekend tinkering (around) with his car.
- I wish the government would stop tinkering with the health service.

Question 10

Savage

Answer 10

extremely violent, wild, or frightening:
- a savage dog/beast
- a brutal and savage attack

Question 11

Contrarian

Answer 11

someone such as a writer or politician who likes to disagree with other people and express opinions that are unpopular:
- He is a contrarian who frequently writes controversial opinion pieces.

Question 12

Constrain

Answer 12

to control and limit something:
- The country’s progress was constrained by a leader who refused to look forward.

Question 13

Bonkers

Answer 13

silly or stupid:
- She must be bonkers to do that.

Question 14

Attorney

Answer 14

lawyer

Question 15

Retribution

Answer 15

deserved and severe punishment:
- They fled because they feared retribution for the genocide.
- She was asked whether a civilian government should seek retribution against military officers involved in human rights abuses.
- Many saw her death as divine retribution (= punishment by God) for her crimes.

Question 16

Sinister

Answer 16

making you feel that something bad or evil might happen:
- The ruined house had a sinister appearance.
- A sinister-looking man sat in the corner of the room.

Question 17

Astonishing

Answer 17

very surprising:
- Her first novel enjoyed an astonishing success.
- [ + to infinitive ] It’s astonishing to think that only a few years ago he was a completely unknown actor.

Question 18

To gravitate

Answer 18

to be attracted to or move toward something:
- People tend to gravitate to the beaches here.
- They gravitated towards familiar and simple activities, to ‘defaults ‘ like watching television or visiting shopping malls.
- Therefore, in practice, economic power gravitates back to the centre.

Question 19

Attain

Answer 19

to reach or succeed in getting something:
- He has attained the highest grade in his music exams.
- We need to identify the best ways of attaining our objectives/goals.
- India attained independence in 1947, after decades of struggle.

Question 20

Refuge

Answer 20

(a place that gives) protection or shelter from danger, trouble, unhappiness, etc.:
- These people are seeking/taking refuge from persecution.
- The climbers slept in a mountain refuge.
- She had fled from her violent husband to a women’s refuge.

Question 21

Suffocate

Answer 21

to (cause someone to) die because of not having enough oxygen:
- The report said that the victims had suffocated in the fumes.
- She suffocated him by holding a pillow over his head.

Question 22

Foolproof

Answer 22

(of a plan or machine) so simple and easy to understand that it is unable to go wrong or be used wrongly:
- I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a foolproof system for making money.
- This new recipe is supposed to be foolproof.

Question 23

Seduce

Answer 23

to persuade or cause someone to do something that they would not usually consider doing by being very attractive and difficult to refuse:
- I wouldn’t normally stay in a hotel like this, but I was seduced by the fabulous location.
- They were seduced into buying the washing machine by the offer of a free flight.

Question 24

Enchantress

Answer 24

a woman with magical powers

Question 25

To Kneel

Answer 25

to go down into, or stay in, a position where one or both knees are on the ground:
- She knelt (down) beside the child.
- He knelt in front of the altar and prayed.