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ENGLISH > English vocabulary - II > Flashcards

English vocabulary - II Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

birdbrain (noun)

A

stupid person

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2
Q

bleeding heart

A

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

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3
Q

bonehead (noun)

A

a stupid person

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4
Q

boisterous

A

lively and full of energy

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5
Q

brain-dead (adj.)

A

very stupid and boring

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6
Q

bullish

A

feeling confident and positive about the future

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7
Q

braggart

A

a person who brags

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8
Q

brash

A

confident in an aggressive way

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9
Q

bouncing

A

healthy and full of energy

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10
Q

rowdy

A

noisy and causing trouble

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11
Q

mulish

A

stubborn

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12
Q

inadvertent

A

unintentional

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13
Q

brook

A

small river

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14
Q

lecherous

A

behaving in an unpleasant way that shows you are sexually interested in someone

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15
Q

catty

A

(of a woman) saying unkind things about other people

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16
Q

canny

A

intelligent, careful and showing good judgement, especially in business or politics

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17
Q

coy

A

(especially with reference to a woman) making a pretence of shyness or modesty which is intended to be alluring

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18
Q

chutzpah

A

supreme self-confidence

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19
Q

crackpot (adj.)

A

​(of ideas, plans, etc.) strange or crazy

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20
Q

daft

A

​silly, often in a way that is funny

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21
Q

dashing

A

(usually of a man) attractive and full of confidence

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22
Q

conniving (adj.) /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/

A

A conniving person deceives others for their own advantage

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23
Q

dopey

A

rather stupid

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24
Q

cover your tracks

A

to try and hide what you have done, because you do not want other people to find out about it

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25
Q

bat a thousand

A

be very successful

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26
Q

ammunition

A

information that can be used against another person in an argument

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27
Q

be at odds (with somebody) (over/on something)

A

disagree

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28
Q

be set in your ways

A

to have habits or opinions that you have had for a long time and that you do not want to change

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29
Q

belabour the point

A

to repeat an idea, argument, etc. many times to emphasize it, especially when it has already been mentioned or understood

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30
Q

bunfight

A

an angry argument or discussion

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31
Q

about-turn,

about-face

A

a complete change of opinion, plan or behaviour

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32
Q

airing

A

an occasion when a subject is discussed in an open or public way

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33
Q

to scour

A

i) to search a place or document thoroughly for something;

ii) to clean something thoroughly by rubbing it hard with something rough

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34
Q

conspicuous

A

easy to see or notice

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35
Q

ostensible

A

apparent

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36
Q

lustrous

A

​soft and shining

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37
Q

listless

A

lethargic, having no energy or enthusiasm

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38
Q

to motion

A

to move your hand or head in a particular direction, for example to point somewhere or to get someone’s attention

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39
Q

out of sorts

A

slightly ill, upset, or unhappy

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40
Q

off-colour

A

feeling slightly ill

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41
Q

second-rate

A

mediocre

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42
Q

shoddy

A

second-rate

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43
Q

painstaking

A

done with a lot of care, effort and attention to detail

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44
Q

prudish

A

puritano

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45
Q

strait-laced

A

puritano

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46
Q

to have a field day

A

to have the chance to do something that you really enjoy, especially when it causes trouble for someone else

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47
Q

I wouldn’t put it past someone (to do something)

A

used for saying that you think someone is capable of doing something bad

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48
Q

on easy street

A

rich

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49
Q

dog whistle (adj.)

A

a political message that is only intended for and heard by a particular group of people

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50
Q

stricture

A

1) a limit to your freedom;

2) a criticism

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51
Q

demure

A

a demure woman is quiet and shy and always behaves well

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52
Q

to demur

A

to say that you do not agree with something or that you refuse to do something

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53
Q

all bets are off

A

anything can happen

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54
Q

chalice

A

calice, coppa

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55
Q

withdrawn

A

not wanting to talk to other people; extremely quiet and shy

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56
Q

big-hearted

A

very kind; generous

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57
Q

brainy

A

very intelligent

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58
Q

faithful

A

loyal

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59
Q

all the better, harder, more, etc.

A

so much better, harder, etc.

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60
Q

pushy

A

trying hard to get what you want, especially in a way that seems rude

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61
Q

rogue (noun)

A

a person who behaves badly, but despite this is quite attractive

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62
Q

assertive

A

behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to express your opinions and feelings

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63
Q

open-hearted

A

kind and friendly

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64
Q

off-kilter

A

slightly strange or unusual

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65
Q

cross (adj.)

A

angry

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66
Q

daring (noun)

A

courage and the quality of being willing to take risks if necessary

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67
Q

the apple of your eye

A

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.

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68
Q

fall, slip through the cracks

A

to not be noticed or dealt with

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69
Q

tread water

A

to not make progress, especially because you have to wait for something else to happen first

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70
Q

chirpy

A

lively and cheerful; in a good mood

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71
Q

dippy ideas

A

silly; strange but not dangerous

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72
Q

dozy

A

looking or feeling as if you are going to sleep

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73
Q

far gone

A

very drunk, ill, or in some other advanced and bad state

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74
Q

fickle

A

changing often and suddenly

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75
Q

fruit cake

A

a person who behaves in a strange or crazy way

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76
Q

gallant

A

heroic, brave;

giving polite attention to women

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77
Q

ebullient

A

exuberant, excited, enthusiastic

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78
Q

jibe, gibe

A

an unkind or offensive remark about somebody

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79
Q

to goad

A

to keep annoying somebody/something until they react

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80
Q

godly

A

living a moral life based on religious principles

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81
Q

faint-hearted

A

cowardly

82
Q

gregarious

A

sociable, liking to be with other people

83
Q

guile

A

scaltrezza, astuzia

84
Q

gutless

A

​not brave or determined enough to do something

85
Q

overbearing

A

domineering

86
Q

high-handed

A

domineering

87
Q

low-hanging fruit

A

something that is easy to obtain, achieve, or take advantage of

88
Q

disingenuous

A

insincero, disonesto

89
Q

high-minded

A

having strong moral principles

90
Q

to ill-treat

A

to treat somebody in a cruel or unkind way

91
Q

grubby hands, clothes

A

rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed or cleaned

92
Q

she tried gamely to finish the race

A

in a way that is brave, usually when a lot of effort is involved

93
Q

high-spirited behaviour

A

very lively and active

94
Q

to bear someone ill will

A

bad and unkind feelings towards somebody

95
Q

impudence

A

sfrontatezza, sfacciataggine

96
Q

inspo*

A

a person or thing that inspires you

97
Q

a jaunty smile

A

cheerful

98
Q

he was jilted by his fiancée

A

to end a romantic relationship with somebody in a sudden and unkind way

99
Q

importunate demands/pleas

A

asking for things many times in a way that is annoying

100
Q

take the high road

A

to behave in a moral way when other people are not behaving morally

101
Q

rollicking

A

exuberant

102
Q

lay it on thick

A

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

103
Q

lay it on with a trowel

A

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

104
Q

working stiff

A

someone who does an ordinary job that is often not very well paid

105
Q

to dither

A

tentennare, esitare

106
Q

jaunt

A

scampagnata; gita; passeggiata

107
Q

hit the deck

A

to fall or throw yourself to the ground

108
Q

to stagger

A

barcollare, vacillare

109
Q

by, in fits and starts

A

stopping and starting again many times, rather than progressing steadily

110
Q

‘Can I ask you a question?’ - ‘Fire _____’

A

away

111
Q

a bang-up job

A

first-rate

112
Q

to hobble

A

zoppicare

113
Q

dry spell

A

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

114
Q

somersault

A

capriola, salto mortale

115
Q

to cast aspersions (on)

A

to say or write things about someone that attack their character, work etc

116
Q

iffy

A

1) uncertain;

2) bad in some way

117
Q

an educated guess

A

a guess that is based on some degree of knowledge, and is therefore likely to be correct

118
Q

to be on, off the mark

A

accurate, not accurate

119
Q

hit, miss the mark

A

succeed, fail in achieving or guessing sth

120
Q

be staring something in the face

A

to be unable to avoid sth

121
Q

a mood of buoyancy

A

the feeling of being cheerful and feeling sure that things will be successful

122
Q

an ironclad alibi/contract/excuse/guarantee

A

so strong that it cannot be challenged or changed

123
Q

doddle

A

sth that is very easy

124
Q

finger in the air

A

used to refer to an estimate or method of doing something that is not very accurate or scientific and partly based on guessing

125
Q

get sth in one

A

to understand or guess something immediately

126
Q

go one better

A

to outdo, to do something better than somebody else or than you have done before

127
Q

halting

A

hesitant

128
Q

Most of the available evidence lends colour to this view

A

​(British English, formal) to make something seem true or likely

129
Q

on spec

A

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

130
Q

My calculation is based on notional figures, since the actual figures are not yet available

A

based on a guess, estimate or theory; not existing in reality

131
Q

reputed

A

rumoured

132
Q

slam dunk

A

something that is certain to be successful

133
Q

every which way

A

in every direction

134
Q

thumbsuck

A

a guess or an estimate

135
Q

(there are) no two ways around it

A

(saying) used to show that you are certain about something

136
Q

a cast-iron excuse/alibi

A

very strong or certain; that cannot be broken or fail

137
Q

shaky

A

uncertain

138
Q

maverick

A

independent, with unusual opinions

139
Q

inkling

A

suspicion

140
Q

dry run,

dummy run

A

a complete practice of a performance or way of doing something, before the real one

141
Q

a balmy summer evening

A

warm and pleasant

142
Q

fractious

A

irritable

143
Q

makeshift

A

improvised, provisional

144
Q

provisional

A

temporary

145
Q

bewildered

A

confused

146
Q

bemused

A

showing that you are confused and unable to think clearly

147
Q

by happenstance

A

by chance

148
Q

hard/hot on somebody’s/something’s heels

A

very close behind somebody/something; very soon after something

149
Q

thumb your nose at

A

to show a lack of respect toward someone or something

150
Q

for keeps

A

to have forever

151
Q

(all) hot and bothered

A

in a state of worry or stress because you are under too much pressure, have a problem, are trying to hurry, etc.

152
Q

The results of the study galvanized residents into action.

A

to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction

153
Q

to jeer

A

to taunt

154
Q

stick the landing

A

accomplish an impressive feat successfully

155
Q

the import (of sth)

A

(formal) the importance or meaning of something, especially when it is not immediately clear

156
Q

go against the grain

A

to be or do something different from what is normal or natural

157
Q

turn your nose up at something

A

(informal) to refuse something, especially because you do not think that it is good enough for you

158
Q

earthbound

A

(literary) not spiritual or having much imagination

159
Q

boorish

A

very unpleasant and rude

160
Q

to covet

A

to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else

161
Q

to divest yourself of sth

A

to get rid of sth

162
Q

come hell or high water

A

used to say that something will definitely happen or be done even though other events or situations might make it difficult

163
Q

oblique

A

indirect

164
Q

desultory

A

(formal) going from one thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm

165
Q

you could have knocked me over with a feather

A

said when you are extremely surprised

166
Q

the sound of water lapping against the boat

A

(of water) to touch something gently and regularly, often making a soft sound

167
Q

an unfettered free market

A

(formal) not limited in any way

168
Q

comely

A

attractive

169
Q

scatterbrained

A

scatty, always losing or forgetting things and unable to think in an organized way

170
Q

scatty

A

scatterbrained, always losing or forgetting things and unable to think in an organized way

171
Q

to garner

A

to gather, to acquire

172
Q

The threat of a good beating should keep him on the straight and narrow

A

If you keep on the straight and narrow, you behave in a way that is honest and moral

173
Q

despondent

A

dejected, sad, withouth much hope

174
Q

She looked so dejected when she lost the game

A

despondent

175
Q

on the blink

A

(of a machine) no longer working correctly

176
Q

mischief

A

bad behaviour (especially of children) that is annoying but does not cause any serious damage or harm

177
Q

He was bawling his eyes out

A

cry very loudly

178
Q

He sat in his office bawling orders at his secretary

A

to shout loudly, especially in an unpleasant or angry way

179
Q

a glib salesman,

glib answers

A

(of speakers and speech) using words that are clever, but are not sincere, and do not show much thought

180
Q

the salt of the earth

A

a very good and honest person that you can always depend on

181
Q

to take umbrage (at sth)

A

to take offence (at sth)

182
Q

under the knife

A

used for saying that someone is having a medical operation

183
Q

sleazebag

A

someone who you think is dishonest or immoral

184
Q

The party is facing sleaze allegations

A

behaviour that is dishonest or immoral, especially in politics or business

185
Q

first order of business

A

a situation or subject that must be dealt with before anything else

186
Q

to lose your nerve

A

to suddenly become too frightened to do something that you intended to do

187
Q

His work _____ a nerve with people who are attracted to nostalgia

A

strikes

188
Q

a vacuous TV game show

A

stupid

189
Q

Everyone needs a little downtime

A

(especially North American English) the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax

190
Q

I sometimes wonder what TV show he cribbed that line from

A

to copy or take someone else’s work

191
Q

Nobody loves you when you’re down and out

A

having no luck, no money, and no opportunities

192
Q

The last question was especially inane

A

stupid or silly; with no meaning

193
Q

she blanched with fear

A

impallidire, sbiancare

194
Q

It behoves us to study these findings carefully

A

used for saying that someone should do something because it is the right thing to do

195
Q

Two of the fireworks in the box were duds.

A

a thing that has no use, especially because it does not work correctly

196
Q

cera

A

wax

197
Q

She’s never very forthcoming about her plans

A

willing to give information about something

198
Q

stufa

A

stove

199
Q

tops

A

al massimo

200
Q

They decided to pull the plug on the project

A

pull the plug on somebody/something

ENGLISH (6 decks)

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