Deck 30 Flashcards
revulsion
a strong, often sudden, feeling that something is extremely unpleasant
- ‘I turned away in revulsion when they showed a close-up of the operation.’
- ‘She looked at him with revulsion.’
to thwart
to stop something from happening or someone from doing something
- ‘Our holiday plans were thwarted by the airline pilots’ strike.’
derogatory
showing strong disapproval and not showing respect
ethereal
light and delicate, especially in an unnatural way
- ‘ethereal beauty’
intricate
having a lot of small parts or details that are arranged in a complicated way and are therefore sometimes difficult to understand, solve, or produce
unflappable
not likely to get worried, nervous, or angry even in difficult situations
a luminary
a person who is famous and important in a particular area of activity
- ‘Luminaries of stage and screen (= famous actors) assembled for last night’s awards ceremony.’
to have an edge on someone
to have an advantage; to enjoy a superior or winning position
a veneer [S]
something that hides something unpleasant or unwanted
- ‘She managed to hide her corrupt dealings under a veneer of respectability.’
s2g
the acronym for “swear to God”
pos
Piece Of Shit
deliverance
the action of being rescued or set free
- ‘Prayers for deliverance.’
an aficionado [uh-fish-yuh-nah-doh]
someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about a particular subject
- ‘an aficionado of French cinema’
manure
solid waste from animals, especially horses, that is spread on the land in order to make plants grow well
a woofter
an effeminate or homosexual man
as per ushe
slang term that means ‘as per usual’
exuberance
Use exuberance to describe joyful enthusiasm and liveliness. You appreciate the natural exuberance of small children, but you prefer to enjoy it from a distance.
the ball’s in someone’s court
it is time for someone to deal with a problem or make a decision because other people have already done as much as they can
- ‘I’ve helped him in every way I can – the ball’s in his court now.’
worth its weight in gold
very valuable, important, or useful
to bedevil
to confuse, annoy, or cause problems or difficulties for someone or something
- ‘Ever since I started playing tennis, I’ve been bedevilled by back pains.’
amicable
relating to behaviour between people that is pleasant and friendly, often despite a difficult situation
an aftermath [S]
the period that follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects that it causes
- ‘Much more people died in the aftermath of the explosion.’
a maggot
a creature like a very small worm that is found in decaying meat and other foods and later develops into a fly
a sheen [S]
a soft lustre on a surface
- ‘Black crushed velvet with a slight sheen.’
spurious
false and not what it appears to be, or (of reasons and judgments) based on something that has not been correctly understood and therefore false
a fib
a small lie that does not cause any harm
- ‘Don’t believe him - he’s telling fibs again.’
boilerplate [U]
a way of writing or thinking that is not special and does not show any imagination
- ‘The lyrics are boilerplate and uninspiring.’
ornery
bad-tempered or difficult to deal with
hackneyed
A hackneyed phrase or idea has been said or used so often that it has become boring and has no meaning
flagging
becoming weaker
- ‘flagging energy/enthusiasm’
a doormat
a person who accepts being treated badly and does not complain
flared
becoming wider at one end
- ‘flared trousers’
to be privy to sth
to be told information that is not told to many people
- ‘I was never privy to conversations between top management.’
nascent
only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly
- ‘a nascent problem’
a shell game
If someone is playing a shell game, they are deliberately deceiving people, usually by changing things or pretending to change things, in order to gain an advantage.
caustic
A caustic remark or way of speaking is hurtful, critical, or intentionally unkind
a cobweb
a structure like a net of sticky silk threads made by a spider for catching insects
a predicament
an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of
to know the drill
to be familiar with what happens or what needs to be done, without having to be told
a denotation
the main meaning of a word, not including the feelings or ideas that people may connect with the word
=/= connotation
imagery
the use of words or pictures in books, films, paintings, etc. to describe ideas or situations
- ‘The imagery in the poem mostly relates to death.’
to get/have your ducks in a row
to be well prepared or well organized for something that is going to happen
a standpoint
a set of beliefs and ideas from which opinions and decisions are formed
- ‘I have to put aside my emotions and consider it from a professional standpoint.’
once in a blue moon
not very often
adultery
sex between a married man or woman and someone he or she is not married to
out (of) the (starting) gate
immediately; at or from the very starting position
- ‘Out the gate, the company’s latest video game console has proven wildly popular.’
to jolt
to (cause something or someone to) move suddenly and violently
- ‘The train stopped unexpectedly and we were jolted forwards.’
coyly
in an outwardly shy or modest way intended to be alluring (seductive)
to decussate
to cross in the form of an “X,” as certain nerve fibres from the retina cross at the optic chiasm
* decussation
a warlord
a military leader who controls a country or, more often, an area within a country
tresses
a woman’s hair, especially long hair
- ‘Her black tresses lay around her on the pillow.’
subdued
- If a colour or light is subdued, it is not very bright
2. If a noise is subdued, it is not loud
to wow
to make someone feel great excitement or admiration
- ‘The movie wowed audiences with its amazing special effects.’
a hiatus [S]
a short pause in which nothing happens or is said, or space where something is missing
- ‘The company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a two-month hiatus.’
to concede
always loyal in supporting a person, organization, or set of beliefs or opinions
- ‘a staunch friend and ally’
dejected
unhappy, disappointed, or without hope
to concede
to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true
- ‘The government has conceded (that) the new tax policy has been a disaster.’
docile
quiet and easy to influence, persuade, or control
- ‘The once docile population has finally risen up against the ruthless regime.’
onerous
difficult to do or needing a lot of effort
- ‘the onerous task of finding a peaceful solution’
whence
(from) where
- ‘It has been returned to the shop from whence it came.’
a goober
(derogatory) an unsophisticated person
a henchman
someone who does unpleasant or illegal things for a powerful person, a faithful follower or political supporter
to squabble over sth
quarrel noisily over a trivial matter
- ‘The boys were squabbling over a ball.’
uproarious
extremely noisy and confused
- ‘an uproarious debate’
contortion
Contortion is a performance art in which performers, contortionists, showcase their skills of extreme physical flexibility.
to attest
to show something or to say or prove that something is true
- Thousands of people came out onto the streets to attest their support for the democratic opposition party.
- The number of old German cars still on the road attests (to) the excellence of their manufacture.
an incubus
An incubus is a scary mythological character that visits people in their sleep, a kind of nightmare demon.
to interlace
to join different parts together to make a whole, especially by crossing one thing over another or fitting one part into another
a spoke
A spoke is one of some number of rods radiating from the centre of a wheel
to mingle
to mix or combine, or be mixed or combined:
mimicry
the action or skill of imitating someone or something, especially in order to entertain or ridicule
to purport
Use purport when you want to convince people about something that might not be true, like when you purport that the dog ate your homework.
- ‘The study purports to show an increase in the incidence of the disease.’
a diatribe
an angry speech or piece of writing that severely criticizes something or someone
implausible
difficult to believe, or unlikely
- ‘The whole plot of the film is ridiculously implausible.’
prickly
unfriendly and easily offended or annoyed
- ‘She was asked a couple of questions about her private life and got a little prickly.’
to knee
to hit (someone) with one’s knee
- ‘She kneed him in the groin.’
to daub
to spread a thick or sticky liquid on something or to cover something with a thick or sticky liquid, often quickly or carelessly
- The walls had been daubed with graffiti.
- The baby had daubed butter all over his hair and face.
frolicsome
lively and playful
remunerative
providing payment for work
= ‘a highly remunerative (= well paid) job’
- ‘Charity work is not very remunerative’
to pertain to sth
to relate to something
- ‘Some important evidence pertaining to the case has been overlooked.’
impunity [U]
exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action
amenorrhea
the absence of menstrual periods
to dilate
to stretch an opening or hollow structure beyond its normal dimensions (e.g. of blood vessels)
a contraceptive
any of various devices or drugs intended to prevent pregnancy
to impair
to make or cause to become worse
slack
loose; not taut
a decongestant
a type of medicine that can provide short-term relief for a blocked or stuffy nose (nasal congestion). They can help ease the symptoms of conditions such as cold, flu and hay fever.
a diuretic
any substance that promotes diuresis, that is, the increased production of urine
an antiemetic
a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea
an anticoagulant
a chemical substance that prevents or reduces coagulation of blood, prolonging the clotting time
a tranquilizer
(a sedative) a drug which is designed for the treatment of anxiety, fear, tension, agitation, and disturbances of the mind
a laxative
a substance that loosens stools and increases bowel movements
much ado about nothing
If you describe a situation as much ado about nothing, you mean that people are making a lot of fuss about something which is not very important.
to be a big fish in a small pond
to have a lot of influence only over a small area
a raffle
an activity in which people buy tickets with different numbers, some of which are later chosen to win prizes, that is organized in order to make money for a good social purpose
- ‘I have never won anything in a raffle.’
PSA
Public Service Announcement
colder than a witch’s tit
very cold
a fluke
an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck
- ‘Their victory was a bit of a fluke.’
half seven
7:30
hardwired
If someone or something is hardwired to do a particular thing, they automatically do it and cannot change that behaviour
- ‘Humans are hardwired to love fattening foods.’
