Day 40 Flashcards
Poignant
causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness:
- The photograph awakens poignant memories of happier days.
- It is especially poignant that he died on the day before the wedding.
Expelled
to force someone to leave a school, organization, or country:
- The new government has expelled all foreign diplomats.
- My brother was expelled from school for bad behaviour.
To gloat
to feel or express great pleasure or satisfaction because of your own success or good luck, or someone else’s failure or bad luck:
- She’s continually gloating over/about her new job.
- I know I shouldn’t gloat, but it really serves him right.
- His enemies were quick to gloat at his humiliation.
- [ + speech ] “This is our fourth victory in a row,” he gloated.
Dissect
to examine or consider something in detail:
- He’s the kind of person who watches a movie and then dissects it for hours.
Deviousness
the quality of being dishonest or tricking people, but often also being clever and successful:
- This is a movie that explores the deviousness of human nature.
- Lucy’s deviousness hurt Lem deeply.
To rub off
If a quality or characteristic that someone has rubs off, other people begin to have it because they have been with that person and learned it from them:
- His enthusiasm is starting to rub off on the rest of us.
Fencing
the sport of fighting with long, thin swords:
- a fencing tournament/mask
Whimsically
in a whimsical way (= unusual and strange in a way that might be funny or annoying):
- He was whimsically charming and especially warm with children.
- It is a refreshingly quirky adult fairy tale set in a whimsically surreal world.
Snood
a type of scarf consisting of a wide ring of material, that is worn around the neck - and that can be pulled up to cover the head
To scrub up
When a doctor scrubs up or scrubs in, he or she washes his or her hands and arms very carefully before performing a medical operation.
Needy
poor and not having enough food, clothes, etc.:
- The proceeds from the sale go to help needy people in the area.
Ominous
suggesting that something unpleasant is likely to happen:
- There was an ominous silence when I asked whether my contract was going to be renewed.
- The engine had been making an ominous sound all the way from my parents’ house.
- ominous dark clouds
Explicit
clear and exact:
- I gave her very explicit directions how to get here.
- She was very explicit about (= said very clearly and exactly) what she thought was wrong with the plans.
- I wasn’t aware that I would be paying - you certainly didn’t make it explicit (= state it clearly).
Expulsion
(the act of) forcing someone, or being forced, to leave a school, organization, or country:
- They threatened him with expulsion from school.
- This is the second expulsion of a club member this year.
Contrition
a very sorry or guilty feeling about something bad you have done, or the act of showing that you feel like this:
- He feels no contrition for what he did.
- Those involved in the crime have failed to express contrition.
Menace
something that is likely to cause harm:
- Drunk drivers are a menace to everyone.
- Dogs running loose are a public menace.
the menace of industrial pollution
a dangerous quality that makes you think someone is going to do something bad:
- He had a slight air of menace which made me uneasy.
- He spoke with a hint of menace.
Stake
have a stake in something
_ If you have a stake in something, it is important to you because you have a personal interest or involvement in it:
- Employers have a stake in the training of their staff.
Infraction
an occasion when someone breaks a rule or law:
- Any attempt to influence the judges will be seen as an infraction of the rules.
Intimidate
an occasion when someone breaks a rule or law:
- Any attempt to influence the judges will be seen as an infraction of the rules.
Outmaneuver
to cleverly get an advantage over someone, especially a competitor:
- In the negotiations, he outmaneuvered his rivals by offering a higher price.
Mayhem
a situation in which there is little or no order or control:
- With 20 kids running around and only two adults to supervise, it was complete mayhem.
Nifty
good, pleasing, or effective:
- a nifty piece of work/footwork
- a nifty little gadget
Stash
to store or hide something, especially a large amount:
- The stolen pictures were stashed (away) in a warehouse.
- He needed a place to stash some cash.
Lay sb low
to cause someone to be unable to do what they usually do:
- A kidney infection laid her low for a couple of months.
Disown
to make it known that you no longer have any connection with someone that you were closely connected with:
- It’s a story set in the last century about a girl whose parents disowned her when she married a foreigner.
Frantic
almost out of control because of extreme emotion, such as worry:
- Where on earth have you been? We’ve been frantic with worry.
