English vocabulary Flashcards
snazzy (clothing, cars, places)
fashionable, bright and modern
scruff
someone who looks untidy and dirty
frumpy
wearing clothes that are not attractive or fashionable
scrupulous
i) very careful to be honest and to do what is morally correct;
ii) done very carefully, giving a lot of attention to details
unscrupulous
without moral principles; not honest or fair
pigheaded
obstinate, stubborn
haughty
arrogant
unprincipled
dishonest
impetuous
rash, impulsive
conceit
i) concetto, idea; ii) presunzione
to dabble
to take part in a sport, an activity, etc. but not very seriously
swarthy
having dark skin
lanky
having long, thin arms and legs and not moving in an easy way
gangling
tall, thin and not moving in an easy way
scrawny
very thin in a way that is not attractive
scraggy
very thin and not looking healthy
to pout
tenere il broncio
haggard
looking very tired because of illness, worry or lack of sleep
drawn
(usually of the face) very tired and showing suffering
sallow
(of a person’s skin or face) having a slightly yellow colour that does not look healthy
pasty
pallid
stout
rather fat
portly
rather fat
bony
very thin so that the bones can be seen under the skin
to stunt
to prevent somebody/something from growing or developing as much as they/it should
prying
indiscreto, ficcanaso
comity
cortesia, rispetto reciproco
louse
pidocchio (pl: lice)
flustered
nervous and/or confused, especially because you have a lot to do or are in a hurry
flurried
nervous and confused, especially because there is too much to do
rickety
not strong or well made; likely to break
upstanding
behaving in a moral and honest way
upright
behaving in a moral and honest way
upright
behaving in a moral and honest way
gown
camice
to flounder
to struggle to know what to say or do or how to continue with something
motley
variopinto, variegato
plucky
brave
gruff
(of a person’s behaviour) impatient and unfriendly
officious
too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power you have to give orders
grasping
greedy
dowdy
not attractive or fashionable
to scold
rimproverare
to scald
ustionare
rapturous
expressing extreme pleasure or enthusiasm for somebody/something
ecstatic
delighted
unswerving
strong and not changing or becoming weaker
rift
a serious break in the relationship between people or organizations
affectionate
loving
fatuous
stupid
underhand(ed)
secret and dishonest
upturn
a change for the better
upswing
upturn
overleaf
on the other side of the page of a book, etc.
overboard
over the side of a boat or a ship into the water
to abscond
darsi alla latitanza
adrift
alla deriva
afloat
a galla
extraneous
irrelevant
lookout
vedetta, sentinella
damp
umido
stationery
cancelleria
to rouse
i) to wake somebody up, especially when they are sleeping deeply; ii) to make somebody want to start doing something when they were not active or interested in doing it; iii) to make somebody feel a particular emotion
to congeal
rapprendersi; solidificarsi; coagularsi
cot
branda, lettino
porch
portico, veranda
astir
active or agitated
to recant
to say, often publicly, that you no longer have the same belief or opinion that you had before
to pool
to collect money, information, etc. from different people so that it can be used by all of them
haze
foschia
to loom
incombere, minacciare
leniency
clemenza
scrap
a small piece of something, especially paper, cloth, etc.
probity
the quality of being completely honest
rife
widespread
to thump
picchiare
to wallop
picchiare
gloom
i) depression; ii) darkness
marsh
palude
abiding
lasting for a long time and not changing
glare
bagliore
lead
piombo
hay
fieno
hen
gallina
to skulk
appostarsi, imboscarsi
to glide
scorrere; sdrucciolare; scivolare
to uncoil
srotolare
to own
to admit
to wean
svezzare
askew
bieco, storto, obliquo
to gape
spalancarsi
slime
melma
frowning
accigliato, imbronciato
to glisten
luccicare
rag
straccio, brandello
shabby
i) old and in bad conditions;
ii) wearing worn clothers;
iii) of low quality;
iv) unfair or unreasonable
lawn
prato
greasy
unto
smarmy
too polite in a way that is not sincere
slimy
polite and extremely friendly in a way that is not sincere or honest
clinking
tintinnio
screech
grido, strillo acuto
to refurbish
ristrutturare
draughty
uncomfortable because cold air is blowing through
a long shot
something you try although it is unlikely to be successful
do a number on
to deliberately do something that has a negative effect on someone or something
run on fumes
operate with few resources or little money
come home to roost
If bad or wrong things that someone has done in the past have come home to roost, or if their chickens have come home to roost, they are now experiencing the unpleasant effects of these actions.
not have a care in the world
to not be worried about anything
stay the course
finish something that you have started, even though it has become very difficult
forthright
direct and honest in manner and speech
short of sth
except for, or unless
huff and puff
i) to complain loudly and express disapproval; ii) to breathe in a noisy way because you are very tired
a slap on the wrist
a punishment that is less severe than is expected or usual
to take the biscuit/cake
to be the most silly, stupid, or annoying thing in a series of things
gaunt
very thin, usually because of illness, not having enough food, or worry
to run someone ragged
to make someone feel extremely tired by forcing them to do a lot of work
obliging
very willing to help
conscientious
taking care to do things carefully and correctly
backwater
a place, situation, or organization in which nothing exciting or important happens, and in which people still have old-fashioned ideas
at a canter
easily, without effort
pebble
ciottolo
blinkered
narrow-minded
obsequious
servile
mane
criniera
to deputise
to temporarily do the work of someone more senior than you
to pigeonhole
to decide that someone or something belongs to a particular type or group, especially without knowing much about them
turnstile
tornello
flabbergasted
very surprised or shocked
skittish
nervous or worried and likely to change your opinion about something
to haggle
mercanteggiare
stiff upper lip
a quality of remaining calm and not letting other people see what you are really feeling in a difficult or unpleasant situation
hex
incantesimo, maledizione
cant
talk that is not sincere, often about religion or morals
to squint
1) to close your eyes slightly and try to see something, either because of a bright light or because your eyes do not work very well; 2) essere strabico
gruelling
estenuante
bedlam
baraonda, confusione
take/pick up the slack
1) to do the things that someone else is not able or willing to do; 2) to improve an organization or system by using people, equipment, and money in a more effective way
knock someone sideways/for six
to make someone feel very shocked or upset
close to the bone
telling the truth about a subject that people prefer not to think about, in a way that may offend or upset people
that’ll be the day
used for saying that you do not believe something will happen
like the cat that got the cream
very pleased about something you have achieved
poacher turned gamekeeper
someone who did not obey the law or authority in the past but now makes other people obey it
radiator
calorifero, termosifone
can but
can only
in places
in some areas but not all areas
misbegotten
not well planned and not likely to be successful
racket
confusione, chiasso, baccano
on the sly
secretly
to wear thin
become gradually weaker or harder to accept
catwalk
passerella
dependable
affidabile
at your wits’ end
so worried and tired because of your problems that you cannot think of any more ways of solving them
to nix
to refuse or say no to something
knick-knack
cianfrusaglia
brawny
physically strong, with big muscles
sated
sazio, pago
soggy
fradicio
sodden
completely wet
to shimmer
luccicare, scintillare
to drive a hard bargain
to argue in a very determined way in order to reach an agreement that benefits you
mawkish
melenso, sdolcinato
to splinter
to break into small sharp pieces, or to make something do this
dapper
a man who is dapper is small and wears attractive clothes that give him a tidy appearance
grit
courage and determination despite difficulty
to take sth in your stride
to calmly deal with something unpleasant and not let it have an effect on you
to gild the lily
used for saying that someone has spoiled a good thing by trying to improve it
adroit
clever of skilful
to get bent out of shape
to become very angry or upset
nonplussed
perplexed, puzzled
to rue
to regret
mishap
a minor mistake or accident
to snug
rannicchiarsi, mettersi al coperto
misgiving
a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event
ingenuity
ingegnosità
erstwhile
precedente, di un tempo
sham
false
morass
pantano, acquitrinio, palude; groviglio, intrico
to come clean with
to tell the truth about something that you have kept secret
to retrofit
apportare migliorie a, modificare
to be firing on all cylinders
to be operating as powerfully and effectively as possible
frazzled
very tired and easily annoyed
to lose your marbles
become crazy
to walk on eggshells
be very careful not to offend someone or do anything wrong
to bring sth to the table
provide sth that will be a benefit
above yourself
having too high an opinion of yourself
adept
skilful
accomodating
obliging
crafty
cunning, wily
airhead (noun)
a stupid person
a live wire
a person who is lively and full of energy
artful
crafty
wily /ˈwaɪli/
cunning
agreeable
pleasant
amiable
agreeable
backbiting (noun)
unpleasant and unkind talk about somebody who is not present
basket case
a person who is slightly crazy and who has problems dealing with situations
base
having no moral principles or rules
the apple doesn’t fall/never falls far from the tree
a child usually behaves in a similar way to his or her parent(s)
big-headed
having a very high opinion of how important and clever you are; too proud
