English 9 Flashcards
at the end of the day
(it’s my decision) when everything is “taken into consideration.”
e.g. at the end of the day I’m responsible for what happens in the school
get a grip
grow up ! get some self control
that was a piece of piss
that is easy
take the piss (out of each other)
to make fun of , to mock
weigh sth up
to” think carefully “about the advantages or disadvantages of a situation before making a decision . e.g. I’m weighing up my options before I decide to apply for the job.
make your mind up , get on with it
make your decision already
I don’t even know what I am doing tomorrow, “let alone” next weekend.
i dont even know what i am doing tomorrow, let alone next weekend.
I am leaning towards moving
I would rather move
I want to follow sb’s footstep
to be like someone
along the way
“during” the time that something is happening or that you are doing something . e.g.I’ve been in this job for 30 years, and I’ve picked up a good deal of expertise along the way.
queue-jump
插隊
a plug , a outlet
插頭, 插座
cartel
同業聯盟 a group of similar independent “companies” who join together to control prices and limit competition
put someone up to something
to “encourage” someone to do something, esp. something “wrong”
put someone in his/her place
to “let someone know” that the person is “less important” than he or she thinks . e.g.When he tried to take charge, she immediately put him in his place.
curt
(adj) 草率 If someone’s manner or speech is curt, it is “rude” as a result of being very quick . e.g to give a curt nod/reply
Veiled
(adj) Veiled words or ways of behaving are not direct or expressed clearly e.g. a veiled reference/threat/warning
stride
(n)an important positive development e.g.The group has made strides to expand internationally.
utter
(v) 出聲 to say something or to “make a sound” with your voice:
e. g. She sat through the whole meeting without uttering a word.
jest
(v)to “say” something intended to be “funny” e.g. Would I jest about something so important?
affinity
(n) a “liking” or sympathy for someone or something, especially because of “shared characteristics” 情同意和 雷同 e.g. She seems to have a natural affinity for/with water.
manuscript
(n)原稿 the original copy of a book or article before it is printed e.g.He sent the 400-page manuscript to his publisher.
corridor
(n) a “long passage” in a building or train, especially with rooms on either side e.g. at the end of the corridor
precocious
(adj)超齡(especially of children) showing mental development or “achievement much earlier than usual” e.g. A precocious child, she went to university at the age of 15.
usher
(v)to “show” someone where they “should go”, or to make someone go where you want them to go e.g.She ushered us into her office and offered us coffee.
dilute
(v) 稀釋
brazen
(adj)明目張膽 “obvious” without any attempt to be hidden . e.g.He told me a brazen lie.
redeem
(v) (improve) to make something or someone seem less bad e.g. He was an hour late, but he redeemed himself in her eyes by giving her a huge bunch of flowers.
unbeknownst/unbeknown to sb
(adv) without a particular person knowing e.g.Unbeknownst to me, he had rented out the apartment while I was away. 不知不覺的
keen
(adj) very interested, “eager,” or wanting (to do) something very much: e.g. They were very keen to start work as soon as possible.
infer
(v) to form an opinion or guess that something is true because of the information that you have 推斷 e.g. What do you infer from her refusal?
fumble
(v) (DO STH AWKWARDLY) 笨手笨腳的 to do something awkwardly, especially when using your hands He fumbled in his pockets for some change.
precipitate
沈澱
shabby
(adj)(BAD CONDITION)looking old and in bad condition because of being used for a long time or not being cared for: e.g. Her home is a rented one-bedroom apartment in a shabby part of town.
momentum
(n) the force that “keeps an object moving” or keeps an event developing after it has started . e.g.Once you push it, it keeps going under its own momentum.
you name it
used to say there are “many things to choose from” .e.g. Gin, vodka, whisky, beer - you name it, I’ve got it.
kinetic
(adj) involving or producing “movement” e.g. kinetic energy動力的
electrify
to equip with electricity . e.g.
They recently electrified this part of the railway line.
beat around the bush
to avoid talking about what is important:
The best of both worlds
All the advantages
Blessing in disguise
It looks bad, but will turn out well
Give (one) the benefit of the doubt
Assuming the best about someone
In the heat of the moment
Being overly emotional and doing something stupid
Let the cat out of the bag
Shared a secret you weren’t supposed to
Take with a grain of salt
To not take something too seriously
Rule of thumb
A general rule
moreover
(adv) also and more importantly . e.g. The whole report is badly written. Moreover, it’s inaccurate.
dreadful
(adj) “causing fear,” shock, or suffering . e.g. The news report was so dreadful that I just had to switch it off.
quick-witted
(adj) 反應快的
exquisite
(adj) very beautiful and delicate e.g. an exquisite piece of china
obscene
(adj) “offensive, rude”, or shocking, usually because of being too obviously related to “sex “or showing sex e.g. In the raid, police found several boxes of obscene DVDs.
raid
(n) an occasion when the police enter a place suddenly in order to find someone or something 搜查 e.g.
The drugs were found during a police raid on the house.
trebuchet
(n) 投石機
anorexia
厭食症
do menial tasks
(v) 打雜 e.g. Menial “work is boring”, makes you feel tired, and is given a “low social value”
be done and dusted
to be complete and finished: e.g. By now the deal was done and dusted.
deluded
(adj) believing things that are “not real” or true 上當的e.g.
Poor deluded girl, she thinks he’s going to marry her.
impinge on/upon something
to have an effect on something, often by “limiting it” in some way e.g. The Supreme Court will decide if the new communications bill impinges on the Constitutional right to free speech.
jolt
(v) (MOVE SUDDENLY) to (cause something or someone to) move suddenly and violently: e.g. The train stopped unexpectedly and we were jolted forwards.
lurch
(v) to act or continue in away that is uncontrolled and not regular, often with “sudden changes” e.g.We seem to lurch from crisis to crisis.
espouse
(v) to become involved with or “support an activity “or opinion 擁護 e.g. Vegetarianism is one cause she does not espouse.
heart thump
If your heart thumps, it “beats more strongly” and quickly than usual, because of exercise, fear, or excitement e.g.She stood outside his room, her heart thumping.
prickle
If thin, sharp objects prickle you, they cause slight pain by touching against your skin e.g. She lay on the grass and the stiff dry grass prickled the back of her legs.
blurb
(n) 簡介The blurb on the back of the book says that it “will touch your heart”.
throb
(v)If a part of your body throbs, you “feel pain” in it in a series of “regular beats” e.g. His head throbbed, ad his body ached.
take its toll
to cause harm or suffering
dejected
(adj) unhappy, disappointed, or without hope 失意的，沮喪的e.g. She looked a bit dejected when they told her she didn’t get the job.
in a daze
unable to think clearly e.g. She was wandering around in a daze this morning.
morose
(adj) unhappy, annoyed, and “unwilling to speak or smile” e.g. a morose expression
shed light on something
to help to “explain” a situation
wishy-washy
(adj) having “no colour, firm ideas”, principles, or noticeable qualities of any type . e.g. The candidate gave a few unsatisfactory wishy-washy answers.
chat sb up
to” talk” to someone in a way that shows that you are “sexually attracted to them” . e.g. He spent all evening chatting her up and buying her drinks.
markup
(n) . the amount by which the “price “of something is “increased” before it is sold again . e.g. The usual markup on clothes is about 20 percent.
muse
(n) an imaginary being, person, or force that “gives someone ideas” and helps them to write, paint, or make music . 靈感 e.g. Juliet was not only the painter’s best model but also his muse.
so to speak
used to explain that what you are saying is “not to be understood exactly as stated” . 姑妄言之，可以說 e.g. In that relationship it’s very much Lorna who wears the trousers, so to speak (= Lorna makes all the important decisions).
clutch
(v) to take or try to take hold of something tightly, usually in fear, worry, or pain . e.g. Silent and pale, she clutched (onto) her mother’s hand.
clutch bag
(n) 手拿包
nonchalant
(adj) behaving in a “calm” manner, often in a way that suggests you are” not interested” or do not care 毫不在乎 e.g. a nonchalant manner/shrug
etch
(v) to cut a pattern, picture, etc. into a smooth surface, especially on metal or glass, using acid or a sharp instrument 刻鑿 e.g.He etched his name on a piece of glass.
not bothered
If you are not bothered about something, it is “not important” to you or does not worry you . e.g. “Tea or coffee?” “Either - I’m not bothered.”
that ship has sailed
opportunity has already passed.
no-go
not allowed
kryptonite
(n) something that hurts or “damages” a person or thing that usually seems “strong” . e.g. A slowing economy is kryptonite for the U.S. dollar.
fidget
(v) to make “continuous, small movements that annoy” other people .坐立不安 e.g. Children can’t sit still for long without fidgeting.
no sweat
used to convey that something is “not difficult” or problematic. e.g. “‘We haven’t any decaf, I’m afraid.’ ‘No sweat.’”
prophecy
(N) a statement that says what is going to “happen in the future”, especially one that is based on what you believe about a particular matter rather than existing facts e.g.
The minister suggested that the dire prophecies of certain leading environmentalists were somewhat exaggerated.
dire
(adj) very serious or extreme . e.g.
These people are in dire need of help.
to say the least
used to show that what you are describing is in fact much :”more serious” or important than you have suggested . 至少可以說 e.g. It’s going to be awkward, to say the least.
wail
(v) to make a long, “high cry”, usually because of pain or sadness . 嚎啕大哭 e.g. The women gathered around the coffin and began to wail, as was the custom in the region.
retort
(v) to “answer” someone quickly in an “angry” or funny way 反駁 e.g. That doesn’t concern you!” she retorted.
wobble
(v) to (cause something to) “shake” or move from side to side in a way that shows “poor balance” e.g.That bookcase wobbles whenever you put anything on it.
hurl
(v) to” throw” something with a lot of force, usually in an “angry or violent” way e.g. In a fit of temper he hurled the book across the room.
leaflet
(= brochure, booklet) (n) a piece of “paper” that gives you “information” or advertises something e.g. Demonstrators handed out leaflets to passers-by.
nonplussed
(adj) surprised, confused, and “not certain how to react” 不知所措的 e.g. I was completely nonplussed by his reply.
perplexed
(adj) confused, because something is “difficult to understand or solve” e.g. The students looked perplexed, so the teacher tried to explain once again.
staggering
(adj) very shocking and surprising e.g.It costs a staggering $50,000 per week to keep the museum open to the public.
fish sth out
(v) to pull something out of water or “take” something out of a bag or “pocket” e.g. He fished out a coin from his pocket.
plummet
(v) to fall very quickly and suddenly e.g. She plummeted to the ground.
dole out something
to “give” money, food, or something else that can be divided to several people e.g.
I can’t keep doling out money to you kids.
spew
(v) to flow or let out in large amounts 湧出 e.g. The volcano spewed (out) a giant cloud of ash, dust, and gases into the air.
innermost secret
most secret and hidden e.g. This was the diary in which Gina recorded her innermost thoughts and secrets.
