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English, 3 Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

Fount

A

a source

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2
Q

Artifice

A

a clever trick or stratagem

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3
Q

Perorate

A

to finish a speech by summarizing its main points

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4
Q

Munificent

A

very generous in giving a lot of money

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5
Q

Denigrate

A

to attack somebody’s character or reputation

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6
Q

Pliant

A

supple and bending easily

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7
Q

Perennial

A

constantly recurring, or lasting for an indefinite time

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8
Q

Prosaic

A

not having any features that are interesting or imaginative

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9
Q

Forlorn

A

lonely and miserable, as though deserted or abandoned

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10
Q

Stolid

A

solemn, unemotional, and not easily excited or upset

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11
Q

Cuckold

A

a husband whose wife has been unfaithful to him

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12
Q

Sclerotic

A

having become unresponsively rigid, especially from longevity

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13
Q

Callow

A

young or immature, and lacking the experience of life that comes with adulthood

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14
Q

Apoplectic

A

overcome with anger

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15
Q

Duplicity

A

the fact of being deceptive, dishonest, or misleading

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16
Q

Craven

A

so lacking in courage as to be worthy of contempt

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17
Q

Hock

A

(transitive verb) to deposit something as security against money borrowed, with the risk of losing it if the money is not paid back within a specific period

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18
Q

Paltry

A

insignificant or unimportant

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19
Q

Shibboleth

A

a unique pronunciation, word, behavior, or practice used to distinguish one group of people from another and to identify somebody as either a member of the group or an outsider

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20
Q

Vacillate

A

to be indecisive or irresolute, changing between one opinion and another

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21
Q

Vet

A

(transitive verb) to subject somebody or something to a careful examination or scrutiny, especially when this involves determining suitability for something

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22
Q

Circumlocution

A

the use of more words than necessary to express something, especially to avoid saying it directly

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23
Q

Insouciant

A

showing a casual lack of concern

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24
Q

Disparage

A

to refer disapprovingly or contemptuously to somebody or something

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25
Q

Potentate

A

somebody with great power or influence, especially a ruler

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26
Q

Palisade

A

a fence made of pales driven into the ground

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27
Q

Putrescent

A

decaying; rotting

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28
Q

Bramble

A

a prickly scrambling vine or shrub, especially a blackberry or other wild shrub of the rose family

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29
Q

Cleft

A

a substantial gap or division separating two things

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30
Q

Twain

A

two people or things

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31
Q

Mien

A

somebody’s facial expression or general appearance, bearing, or posture, taken as an indication of his or her mood or character

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32
Q

Invective

A

abusive or violent language used to attack, blame, or denounce somebody

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33
Q

Macabre

A

including gruesome and horrific details of death and decay

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34
Q

Sycophant

A

a servile or obsequious person who flatters somebody powerful for personal gain

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35
Q

Credulity

A

the tendency to believe something too readily

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36
Q

Exhort

A

to urge somebody strongly and earnestly to do something

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37
Q

Extemporize

A

to perform or say something without having made any preparation

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38
Q

Cudgel

A

a heavy stick used as a weapon

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39
Q

Homily

A

a sermon or other piece of writing on a moral or religious topic

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40
Q

Immutable

A

not changing or not able to be changed

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41
Q

Riposte

A

a quick or witty reaction to something, usually spoken

42
Q

Picayune

A

of very little importance; small-minded

43
Q

Adorn

A

to add decoration or ornamentation to something

44
Q

Salacious

A

intended to titillate or arouse people sexually, usually by having an explicit erotic content

45
Q

Pettifogger

A

somebody who quibbles or fusses about petty details; an insignificant lawyer

46
Q

Importune

A

to ask somebody continually, repeatedly, or forcefully for something, especially in a troublesome way

47
Q

Affray

A

a fight or noisy disturbance in a public place

48
Q

Rejoinder

A

a reply to something said, especially one that is sharp, critical, angry, defensive, or clever; a defendant’s response

49
Q

Progeny

A

something that develops or results from something else

50
Q

Splenetic

A

extremely bad-tempered or spiteful

51
Q

Serendipity

A

the accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful

52
Q

Iniquitous

A

immoral, especially in a way that results in great injustice or unfairness

53
Q

Vacuous

A

lacking ideas or intelligence, or showing such a lack; lacking content

54
Q

Unctuous

A

attempting to charm or convince somebody in an unpleasantly suave, smug, or smooth way

55
Q

Venire

A

a judicial writ ordering the summoning of jurors

56
Q

Prevaricate

A

to avoid giving a direct and honest answer or opinion, or a clear and truthful account of a situation, especially by quibbling or being deliberately ambiguous or misleading

57
Q

Cloy

A

to sicken somebody or become sickened with too much sweetness from something initially pleasing

58
Q

Pugnacious

A

inclined to fight or be aggressive

59
Q

Intransigent

A

stubbornly or unreasonably refusing even to consider changing a decision or attitude

60
Q

Acerbic

A

bitter or sharp in tone, taste, or manner

61
Q

Bromide

A

a saying that lacks originality or significance

62
Q

Ingress

A

entry into a place

63
Q

Egress

A

the act of coming or going out of a place

64
Q

Experiential

A

derived from or relating to experience as opposed to other methods of acquiring knowledge

65
Q

Stodgy

A

lacking originality, flair, or imagination; boringly or laughably conventional, formal, or pompous

66
Q

Placate

A

to make somebody less angry, upset, or hostile, usually by doing or saying things to please him or her

67
Q

Accouterment

A

an accessory or piece of equipment associated with a specific object, task, or role

68
Q

Onanism

A

the act of masturbating

69
Q

Sepulcher

A

a vault in which a corpse is buried

70
Q

Apogee

A

the best or greatest point

71
Q

Palaver

A

idle, flattering, or time-wasting talk

72
Q

Effrontery

A

behavior or an attitude that is so bold or arrogant as to be insulting

73
Q

Predicable

A

able to be stated, or able to be said about somebody or something

74
Q

Fortuitous

A

happening by chance, especially giving rise to a fortunate outcome

75
Q

Irrefragable

A

impossible to refute

76
Q

Apocrypha

A

writings or reports that are not regarded as authentic

77
Q

Contingency

A

an event that might occur in the future, especially a problem, emergency, or expense that might arise unexpectedly and therefore must be prepared for

78
Q

Vituperative

A

an outburst of violently abusive or harshly critical language

79
Q

Tautology

A

the redundant repetition of a meaning in a sentence, using different words

80
Q

Kitsch

A

sentimentality, tastelessness, or ostentation in any of the arts

81
Q

Epistemology

A

the branch of philosophy that studies the nature of knowledge, in particular its foundations, scope, and validity

82
Q

Eschaton

A

the end of the world

83
Q

Inveterate

A

fixed in a habit or practice, especially a bad one

84
Q

Privative

A

indicating the absence or negation of some quality

85
Q

Casuistry

A

1.) The application of general rules and principles to questions of ethics or morals in order to resolve them; 2.) The use of subtle, sophisticated, and sometimes deceptive argument and reasoning, especially on moral issues, in order to justify something or mislead somebody

86
Q

Sinuous

A

lithe and graceful, especially making graceful winding or curving movements

87
Q

Encumber

A

to hamper or impede somebody or something

88
Q

Furtive

A

done in a way that is intended to escape notice

89
Q

Consternation

A

a feeling of alarm, confusion, or dismay, often caused by something unexpected

90
Q

Mellifluous

A

pleasant and soothing to listen to, and sweet or rich in tone

91
Q

Piquant

A

1) having a flavor, taste, or smell that is spicy or salty, often with a slightly tart or bitter edge to it 2) refreshingly interesting, stimulating, or provocative 3) excessively severe or hurtful in tone or content

92
Q

Insipid

A

dull because lacking in character and lively qualities; bland and without flavor

93
Q

Discursive

A

1) lengthy and including extra material that is not essential to what is being written or spoken about; 2) using logic rather than intuition to reach a conclusion

94
Q

Forthright

A

1) direct in speech or manner and very honest; 2) plain and simple in style

95
Q

Burgeon

A

to produce new buds and leaves, or swell and develop into leaves and flowers; to flourish or develop rapidly

96
Q

Provenance

A

1) the place of origin of something; 2) the source and ownership history of a work of art or literature or of an archaeological find

97
Q

Perspicuous

A

clearly expressed and therefore easily understood

98
Q

Abate

A

1) to reduce in amount, degree; 2) Law

99
Q

Aberrant

A

one whose behavior departs substantially from the norm of a group.

100
Q

Deride

A

to mock; scorn; make fun of

English (22 decks)

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