English 8 Flashcards
head off
to start a journey or leave a place . e.g. What time are you heading off?
get to do something
have the “special opportunity” to do something . e.g I get to go to Spain this year
span
(n) (time) the period of time that sometimes exists or “ happens” . e.g. 1. He has a “short attention/concentration span”. 2. “Over a span of” just three years, the new government has transformed the country’s economic prospects.
horrendous
(adj) extremely unpleasant or bad . e.g. a horrendous accident/tragedy/crime
atrocious
(adj) very bad e.g. an atrocious film/piece of acting
haphazard
(adj) not having an “obvious order or plan” . e.g. He tackled the problem in a typically haphazard manner
deteriorate
(v) to become worse e.g. She was taken into hospital last week when her condition suddenly deteriorated.
meticulously
(adv) in a way that shows great care and attention to “detail” . e.g. The entire project was meticulously planned.
weep
(v) to cry tears . e.g. He wept “ tears of rage/joy” when he heard the news.
namely
used when you want to “give more detail”or be more exact about something you have just said . e.g. I learned an important lesson when I lost my job, namely that nothing is a hundred percent guaranteed.
pull the rug out (from under someone)
to suddenly”take away important “support from someone:
leer
(v) (especially of men) to look at someone in a “sexually “interested way . e.g He was always leering at female members of staff.
what gives?
what’s the news?; what’s happening? (often used as a friendly greeting).
outcry
(n) a strong expression of “anger” and disapproval about something, made by a group of people or by the public: e.g. The release from prison of two of the terrorists has provoked a “public outcry.”
inquiry
(n) (the process of asking) a question e.g. I’ve been making inquiries about/into the cost of a round-the-world ticket.
allege
(v) C2 to say that someone has done something “illegal” or wrong without giving proof . 指控 e.g. She is alleged to have been at the centre of an international drug ring.
shelve
(v) (delay) to not take action on something until a later time . e.g. I’ve had to shelve my plans to buy a new car, because I can’t afford it at the moment.
heed
(V) to pay “attention” to something, especially “advice or a warning” . e.g. The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines.
subversion
(n) . the act of trying to” destroy “or damage an established “system” or government . e.g. He was found guilty of subversion and imprisoned.
syndicate
(n) (group) a group of people or companies who join together in order to share the cost of a particular business operation for which a large amount of money is needed: e.g. A syndicate of banks is/are financing the deal.
doddle
(n) something that is very easy to do . e.g the exam was a doddle
albeit
although . e.g. The evening was very pleasant, albeit a little quiet.
chary
(adj) uncertain and “frightened to take risks”, or unwilling to take action . e.g. I’m a bit chary of using a travel agency that doesn’t have official registration.
reminisce
(V) ( to talk about past happily) to talk or write about past experiences that you remember with pleasure . e.g. My grandfather used to reminisce about his years in the navy.
Cilantro
芫荽
lurk
(v) to wait or move in a “secret way” so that you cannot be seen, especially because you are about to “attack “someone or do something wrong . e.g. 1. Someone was lurking in the shadows. 2.Why are you lurking around in the hallway?
food wrap
保鮮膜
sulk
(v) to be “silent” and refuse to smile or be pleasant to people because you are “angry” about something that they have done e.g. He’s sulking in his room because I wouldn’t let him have any more chocolate.
mosaic
(n) 馬賽克
marginalization
(N) the act of treating someone or something as if they are not important: e.g. The marginalization of certain groups within the community may lead to social unrest.
advent
(n) the fact of an event “happening”, an invention being made, or a person arriving 出現 e.g. Life was transformed by the advent of the steam engine.
connoisseur
(n) 鑑賞家 a person who knows a lot about and enjoys one of the “arts?, or food, drink, etc. and can “judge quality” and skill in that subject
resurrect
(v) to bring someone “back to life” e.g. Almost all Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead.
culinary
(n) connected with “cooking “or kitchens e.g. the culinary delights (= good food) of Beijing
topple
(v) (fall) to (cause to) lose balance and fall down The statue of the dictator was toppled (over) by the crowds.
petrified
(adj) extremely frightened e.g. She’s petrified of being on her own in the house at night.
perch in, on
(v) to “sit “on or near the “edge” of something . e.g. We perched on bar stools and had a beer.
rebut
(v) to argue that a statement or claim is “not true” . e.g. She has rebutted charges that she has been involved in any financial malpractice
blatant
(adj) very obvious and “intentional”, when this is a “bad” thing . e.g The whole episode was a blatant attempt to gain publicity.
manoeuvre
(n) a movement or set of “movements needing skill” and care . e.g. Reversing round a corner is one of the manoeuvres you are required to perform in a driving test.
lurid
(adj) (SHOCKING) (especially of a description) shocking because involving “violence, sex”, or immoral activity . e.g. You can read all the lurid details of the affair in today’s paper. 駭人聽聞的
act on (upon) sth
to “do” something because you have “been advised” or told to do it . e.g. There have been concerns as to why the Board didn’t act on a recommended pay raise.
round-the-clock
(adj) happening or done “all day” and all night . e.g. He’s very sick and “needs round-the-clock care.”
what a (adj) way to put it
it’s a (adj) way to say something
jabber
(v) to speak or say something “quickly” in a way that is “difficult to understand” . e.g. He jabbered (out) something about an accident further down the road.
per se
(adv) by itself . e.g. It is not a pretty town per se, but it is where my family comes from, so I like it.
appall
(v) to make someone have strong feelings of shock or of “disapproval” . e.g. I was appalled at/by the lack of staff in the hospital.
lament
(v) (bemoan) to “express sadness” and feeling sorry about something . e.g. The poem opens by lamenting (over) the death of a young man.
contravene
(v) to do something that a law or rule does not allow, or to “break a law” or rule . e.g. The company knew its actions contravened international law.
pragmatism
(n) 實用主義 the quality of dealing with a problem in a sensible way that suits the conditions that really exist, rather than following fixed theories, ideas, or rules . The council has operated much more effectively since pragmatism replaced political dogma.
abrogate
(v) to end a law, agreement, or custom formally e.g. The treaty was abrogated in 1929.
treaty
(n) a “written agreement” between two or more countries, formally approved and signed by their leaders e.g. a peace treaty
Bike without “stabilizers”
輔助輪
neatly folded laundry
摺好的衣服
belt sth out
to sing or play a musical instrument very loudly e.g. The band was belting out all the old favourites.
a slippery (answer)
(adj) not certain e.g. Choosing the perfect juror can be a slippery matter.
Bushy hair or fur
(adj) iBushy hair or fur is very thick e.g a squirrel’s bushy tail
stay tuned
To “remain as a listener or viewer “of the particular radio station or television channel to which one is currently paying attention.
turmoil
(n) a state of confusion, uncertainty, or “disorder” . e.g. The whole region is “in turmoil”
boycott
(v) to “refuse” to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval . e.g. People were urged to boycott the country’s products 抵制
atop
on or “at the top of” e.g. She sat atop a two-metre wall.
trimming
(n) (a piece of) decorative material added around the edge of something . e.g. I want a plain black cardigan with no fancy trimmings.
admonish
(v) to tell someone that they have “done something wrong . e.g. His mother admonished him for eating too quickly. 告誡
deride
(v) to “laugh” at someone or something in a way that shows you think they are “stupid” or of no value e.g. He derided my singing as pathetic.
rhetoric
(n) speech or writing intended to be “effective and influence people” e.g. How far the president will be able to translate his campaign rhetoric into action remains to be seen.
rapacious
(adj) having or showing a strong “wish to take” things for yourself, usually using “unfair” methods or force e.g. her rapacious appetite for fame
feckless
(adj) weak in character and lacking determination e.g. He was portrayed as a feckless drunk.
peculiar
(adj) (STRANGE)unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way . e.g. She has the most peculiar ideas.
rhetorical question
a “question” asked in order to create a “dramatic effect” or to make a point rather than to get an answer. e.g. the presentation was characterized by impossibly long sentences and a succession of rhetorical questions
suffrage
(N) the “right to vote” in an election, especially to vote for representatives in a government
poised
(adj) (waiting) “ready to do” a particular thing at any moment e.g. The company is poised to launch its new advertising campaign.
father figure
(n) an older man who you treat like a father, especially by “asking for his advice”, help, or support
foster father
領養的父親
darn it
damn it
pitch in
to “start to do” something as part of a “group”, especially something “helpful” . e.g. If we all pitch in together, it shouldn’t take too long.
all bets are off
the outcome of a situation is unpredictable.
e.g. when they get lonely all bets are off
it goes without saying.
used to mean that something is “obvious” e.g.Of course, it goes without saying that you’ll be paid for the extra hours you work.
proxy
(v) 代理權，代理人
go south
fall in value, deteriorate, or “fail” e.g. Lazio saw his poll numbers go south almost immediately
coin
(v) to “invent a new word” or expression, or to use one in a particular way for the first time . e.g. Allen Ginsberg coined the term “flower power”.
every now and again
from time to time; occasionally.
hold up
to stay strong or “well”
thoroughly
(adv) completely “very much” . e.g.I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
derivative
(adj) If something is derivative, it is not the result of new ideas, but has been developed from or “copies” something else . e.g. His painting/style is very derivative.
bliss
(n) perfect happiness e.g.
Lying on a sunny beach is my idea of sheer bliss.
induce
(v) to “persuade” someone to do something . e.g.They induced her to take the job by promising editorial freedom.
susceptible
(adj) “easily influenced” or harmed by something . e.g. She isn’t very susceptible to flattery.
for kicks
If you say that someone does something for kicks, you mean that they do it because they think it “will be exciting” . e.g. They made a few small bets for kicks.
averse
(adj) “strongly disliking” or opposed to . e.g. Few people are averse to the idea of a free holiday.
profound
(adj) felt or experienced very strongly or in an “extreme” way . e.g. His mother’s death when he was aged six had a very profound effect on him.
little did i know
i didn’t know that …
confront
(v) to face, meet, or “deal with” a difficult situation or person . e.g. As she left the court, she was confronted by angry crowds who tried to block her way.
riveting
(adj) extremely interesting . e.g. It was a riveting story.
indulge
(v) 沉膩 to allow yourself or another person to have something “enjoyable,” especially “more than is good for you” . e.g. We took a deliberate decision to indulge in a little nostalgia.
(something) is not going to cut it
means that something is “not good enough” . e.g. Our goal for November was $200,000 in sales and we haven’t even reached $20,000 yet. That’s not going to cut it, guys.
mock(adj)
not real but appearing or pretending to be exactly like something: e.g.mock cream, mock leather ,mock surprise
mock(n)
an “exam” taken at school “for practice”
before a real exam . e.g. You will have your mocks during the first two weeks of March.
sth/ sb drives you around the bend
makes you angry or annoyed
does my head in
annoys me
I am feeling rough
feeling under the weather
