English vocabulary - II Flashcards
birdbrain (noun)
stupid person
bleeding heart
If you describe someone as a bleeding heart, you are criticizing them for being sympathetic towards people who are poor and suffering, without doing anything practical to help
bonehead (noun)
a stupid person
boisterous
lively and full of energy
brain-dead (adj.)
very stupid and boring
bullish
feeling confident and positive about the future
braggart
a person who brags
brash
confident in an aggressive way
bouncing
healthy and full of energy
rowdy
noisy and causing trouble
mulish
stubborn
inadvertent
unintentional
brook
small river
lecherous
behaving in an unpleasant way that shows you are sexually interested in someone
catty
(of a woman) saying unkind things about other people
canny
intelligent, careful and showing good judgement, especially in business or politics
coy
(especially with reference to a woman) making a pretence of shyness or modesty which is intended to be alluring
chutzpah
supreme self-confidence
crackpot (adj.)
(of ideas, plans, etc.) strange or crazy
daft
silly, often in a way that is funny
dashing
(usually of a man) attractive and full of confidence
conniving (adj.) /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/
A conniving person deceives others for their own advantage
dopey
rather stupid
cover your tracks
to try and hide what you have done, because you do not want other people to find out about it
bat a thousand
be very successful
ammunition
information that can be used against another person in an argument
be at odds (with somebody) (over/on something)
disagree
be set in your ways
to have habits or opinions that you have had for a long time and that you do not want to change
belabour the point
to repeat an idea, argument, etc. many times to emphasize it, especially when it has already been mentioned or understood
bunfight
an angry argument or discussion
about-turn,
about-face
a complete change of opinion, plan or behaviour
airing
an occasion when a subject is discussed in an open or public way
to scour
i) to search a place or document thoroughly for something;
ii) to clean something thoroughly by rubbing it hard with something rough
conspicuous
easy to see or notice
ostensible
apparent
lustrous
soft and shining
listless
lethargic, having no energy or enthusiasm
to motion
to move your hand or head in a particular direction, for example to point somewhere or to get someone’s attention
out of sorts
slightly ill, upset, or unhappy
off-colour
feeling slightly ill
second-rate
mediocre
shoddy
second-rate
painstaking
done with a lot of care, effort and attention to detail
prudish
puritano
strait-laced
puritano
to have a field day
to have the chance to do something that you really enjoy, especially when it causes trouble for someone else
I wouldn’t put it past someone (to do something)
used for saying that you think someone is capable of doing something bad
on easy street
rich
dog whistle (adj.)
a political message that is only intended for and heard by a particular group of people
stricture
1) a limit to your freedom;
2) a criticism
demure
a demure woman is quiet and shy and always behaves well
to demur
to say that you do not agree with something or that you refuse to do something
all bets are off
anything can happen
chalice
calice, coppa
withdrawn
not wanting to talk to other people; extremely quiet and shy
big-hearted
very kind; generous
brainy
very intelligent
faithful
loyal
all the better, harder, more, etc.
so much better, harder, etc.
pushy
trying hard to get what you want, especially in a way that seems rude
rogue (noun)
a person who behaves badly, but despite this is quite attractive
assertive
behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to express your opinions and feelings
open-hearted
kind and friendly
off-kilter
slightly strange or unusual
cross (adj.)
angry
daring (noun)
courage and the quality of being willing to take risks if necessary
the apple of your eye
if you say that someone is the apple of your eye, you mean that they are very important to you and you are extremely fond of them.
fall, slip through the cracks
to not be noticed or dealt with
tread water
to not make progress, especially because you have to wait for something else to happen first
chirpy
lively and cheerful; in a good mood
dippy ideas
silly; strange but not dangerous
dozy
looking or feeling as if you are going to sleep
far gone
very drunk, ill, or in some other advanced and bad state
fickle
changing often and suddenly
fruit cake
a person who behaves in a strange or crazy way
gallant
heroic, brave;
giving polite attention to women
ebullient
exuberant, excited, enthusiastic
jibe, gibe
an unkind or offensive remark about somebody
to goad
to keep annoying somebody/something until they react
godly
living a moral life based on religious principles
faint-hearted
cowardly
gregarious
sociable, liking to be with other people
guile
scaltrezza, astuzia
gutless
not brave or determined enough to do something
overbearing
domineering
high-handed
domineering
low-hanging fruit
something that is easy to obtain, achieve, or take advantage of
disingenuous
insincero, disonesto
high-minded
having strong moral principles
to ill-treat
to treat somebody in a cruel or unkind way
grubby hands, clothes
rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed or cleaned
she tried gamely to finish the race
in a way that is brave, usually when a lot of effort is involved
high-spirited behaviour
very lively and active
to bear someone ill will
bad and unkind feelings towards somebody
impudence
sfrontatezza, sfacciataggine
inspo*
a person or thing that inspires you
a jaunty smile
cheerful
he was jilted by his fiancée
to end a romantic relationship with somebody in a sudden and unkind way
importunate demands/pleas
asking for things many times in a way that is annoying
take the high road
to behave in a moral way when other people are not behaving morally
rollicking
exuberant
lay it on thick
to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes them or it seem much better or much worse than they really are;
to exaggerate something
lay it on with a trowel
to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes them or it seem much better or much worse than they really are;
to exaggerate something
working stiff
someone who does an ordinary job that is often not very well paid
to dither
tentennare, esitare
jaunt
scampagnata; gita; passeggiata
hit the deck
to fall or throw yourself to the ground
to stagger
barcollare, vacillare
by, in fits and starts
stopping and starting again many times, rather than progressing steadily
‘Can I ask you a question?’ - ‘Fire _____’
away
a bang-up job
first-rate
to hobble
zoppicare
dry spell
1) a period or time where there is little activity, productivity, low income etc.;
2) period of time without sexual intercourse;
3) a period of dry weather
somersault
capriola, salto mortale
to cast aspersions (on)
to say or write things about someone that attack their character, work etc
iffy
1) uncertain;
2) bad in some way
an educated guess
a guess that is based on some degree of knowledge, and is therefore likely to be correct
to be on, off the mark
accurate, not accurate
hit, miss the mark
succeed, fail in achieving or guessing sth
be staring something in the face
to be unable to avoid sth
a mood of buoyancy
the feeling of being cheerful and feeling sure that things will be successful
an ironclad alibi/contract/excuse/guarantee
so strong that it cannot be challenged or changed
doddle
sth that is very easy
finger in the air
used to refer to an estimate or method of doing something that is not very accurate or scientific and partly based on guessing
get sth in one
to understand or guess something immediately
go one better
to outdo, to do something better than somebody else or than you have done before
halting
hesitant
Most of the available evidence lends colour to this view
(British English, formal) to make something seem true or likely
on spec
if you do something on spec, you do it hoping to get something that you want, but without being asked or without being certain to get it
My calculation is based on notional figures, since the actual figures are not yet available
based on a guess, estimate or theory; not existing in reality
reputed
rumoured
slam dunk
something that is certain to be successful
every which way
in every direction
thumbsuck
a guess or an estimate
(there are) no two ways around it
(saying) used to show that you are certain about something
a cast-iron excuse/alibi
very strong or certain; that cannot be broken or fail
shaky
uncertain
maverick
independent, with unusual opinions
inkling
suspicion
dry run,
dummy run
a complete practice of a performance or way of doing something, before the real one
a balmy summer evening
warm and pleasant
fractious
irritable
makeshift
improvised, provisional
provisional
temporary
bewildered
confused
bemused
showing that you are confused and unable to think clearly
by happenstance
by chance
hard/hot on somebody’s/something’s heels
very close behind somebody/something; very soon after something
thumb your nose at
to show a lack of respect toward someone or something
for keeps
to have forever
(all) hot and bothered
in a state of worry or stress because you are under too much pressure, have a problem, are trying to hurry, etc.
The results of the study galvanized residents into action.
to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction
to jeer
to taunt
stick the landing
accomplish an impressive feat successfully
the import (of sth)
(formal) the importance or meaning of something, especially when it is not immediately clear
go against the grain
to be or do something different from what is normal or natural
turn your nose up at something
(informal) to refuse something, especially because you do not think that it is good enough for you
earthbound
(literary) not spiritual or having much imagination
boorish
very unpleasant and rude
to covet
to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else
to divest yourself of sth
to get rid of sth
come hell or high water
used to say that something will definitely happen or be done even though other events or situations might make it difficult
oblique
indirect
desultory
(formal) going from one thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm
you could have knocked me over with a feather
said when you are extremely surprised
the sound of water lapping against the boat
(of water) to touch something gently and regularly, often making a soft sound
an unfettered free market
(formal) not limited in any way
comely
attractive
scatterbrained
scatty, always losing or forgetting things and unable to think in an organized way
scatty
scatterbrained, always losing or forgetting things and unable to think in an organized way
to garner
to gather, to acquire
The threat of a good beating should keep him on the straight and narrow
If you keep on the straight and narrow, you behave in a way that is honest and moral
despondent
dejected, sad, withouth much hope
She looked so dejected when she lost the game
despondent
on the blink
(of a machine) no longer working correctly
mischief
bad behaviour (especially of children) that is annoying but does not cause any serious damage or harm
He was bawling his eyes out
cry very loudly
He sat in his office bawling orders at his secretary
to shout loudly, especially in an unpleasant or angry way
a glib salesman,
glib answers
(of speakers and speech) using words that are clever, but are not sincere, and do not show much thought
the salt of the earth
a very good and honest person that you can always depend on
to take umbrage (at sth)
to take offence (at sth)
under the knife
used for saying that someone is having a medical operation
sleazebag
someone who you think is dishonest or immoral
The party is facing sleaze allegations
behaviour that is dishonest or immoral, especially in politics or business
first order of business
a situation or subject that must be dealt with before anything else
to lose your nerve
to suddenly become too frightened to do something that you intended to do
His work _____ a nerve with people who are attracted to nostalgia
strikes
a vacuous TV game show
stupid
Everyone needs a little downtime
(especially North American English) the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax
I sometimes wonder what TV show he cribbed that line from
to copy or take someone else’s work
Nobody loves you when you’re down and out
having no luck, no money, and no opportunities
The last question was especially inane
stupid or silly; with no meaning
she blanched with fear
impallidire, sbiancare
It behoves us to study these findings carefully
used for saying that someone should do something because it is the right thing to do
Two of the fireworks in the box were duds.
a thing that has no use, especially because it does not work correctly
cera
wax
She’s never very forthcoming about her plans
willing to give information about something
stufa
stove
tops
al massimo
They decided to pull the plug on the project
pull the plug on somebody/something
