Deck 35 Flashcards
eponymous
When something is eponymous, it takes its own name as its title. For example, Foo Fighters’ first album was eponymous — it was called “Foo Fighters.”
limescale
white material that collects inside water pipes, kettles, etc. in areas where the water is hard
veracity
If you question the veracity of a statement or story, you wonder whether it is truthful or accurate.
Veracity is linked to the adjective veracious or “truthful.”
voracious
very eager for something, especially a lot of food:
- ‘a voracious appetite’
coalescence
the process of coming or growing together to form one thing or system
- ‘Asteroids are bits and pieces that formed around the young sun and never quite coalesced into a planet.’
debridement
the medical removal of damaged tissue or foreign objects from a wound
the pot calling the kettle black
something you say that means people should not criticize someone else for a fault that they have themselves
- ‘Elliott accused me of being selfish. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!’
to take the mick/mickey (out of someone or something)
to tease or mock someone
- ‘It really hurt Steph’s feelings to know that the group had been taking the mickey out of her that whole time.’
to take an L
to take a loss, i.e. to suffer a loss in a competition
- ‘We took an l at the football game.’
to bring someone up to speed
If you are up to speed with a subject or activity, you have all the latest information about it and are able to do it well.
a stipulation [S]
a rule that must be followed or something that must be done
- ‘Is there any stipulation concerning the number of people attending the conference?’
- ‘The only stipulation is that you have to register.’
veneration
the act of honouring a saint, a person who has been identified as having a high degree of sanctity or holiness
a motion
- a formal request, usually one made, discussed, and voted on at a meeting
- a request made to a judge in court for something to happen
- ‘Someone made a motion to increase the membership fee.’
a gagging (gag) order
an official order not to discuss something, especially a legal case
- ‘The judge issued a gagging order to prevent the witnesses from speaking to the press.’
barren
- unable to produce plants or fruit
- formal unable to have children or young animals
- not creating or producing anything new
- ‘She became very depressed during the barren years when she was unable to paint.’
- ‘We drove through a barren, rocky landscape.’
a prenup
an official document signed by two people before they get married that says what will happen to their possessions and/or children if they divorce
= a prenuptial agreement
it’s a wash
a saying meaning “it’s a wasted effort” or “all is lost”
a (desk) clerk
a hotel employee who deals with guests when they arrive
- ‘The clerk checked us in and gave us our key.’
an up-and-comer
someon who has begun to be successful in some field and is likely to become even more successful in the future
a rubbernecker
to rubberneck
a driver who drives more slowly to look at an accident, or a person who looks at something in a stupid way
pigsty [pig-stahy]
a dirty or messy place
- ‘Your bedroom’s a pigsty!’
a plaintiff
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law
to sing the same tune
to have the same understanding of something as someone else; to say the same things about something as other people, especially in public
- ‘Make sure everyone the campaign is singing the same tune before we release any kind of statement to the press.’
a hand-me-down
a piece of clothing that someone has given to a younger person because they no longer want it
hooch
strong alcohol, especially whisky
illicit
forbidden by law, rules, or custom
auspicious
suggesting a positive and successful future
- ‘Our first meeting was not auspicious - we had a huge argument.’
the limelight
public attention and interest
- ‘She’s been in the limelight recently, following the release of her controversial new film.’
perjury
the act or crime of knowingly making a false statement while under oath
pious
strongly believing in religion, and living in a way that shows this belief
- ‘She is a pious follower of the faith, never missing her prayers.’
a pious hope
something that is unlikely to happen
to stow
to store something you don’t intend to use in the near future
to flaunt
to show off something you are proud of in order to get admiration:
- ‘He’s got a lot of money but he doesn’t flaunt it.’
to give way to sth
to be replaced by something, especially because it is better, cheaper, easier, etc.
ample
more than enough
- ‘You’ll have ample opportunity to ask questions after the talk.’
- ‘“Will that be enough paper for you?” “Oh yes, that’s ample.”’
to sublet
to allow someone to rent all or part of a house or other building that you are renting from someone else
to micromanage
to control every part of a situation, even small details
to unclench
to relax from a clenched state
by the skin of your teeth
just barely (by an amount equal to the thickness of the imaginary skin on one’s teeth)
a peccadillo/-es
a small fault or mistake, or something that someone does wrong that is not very serious
