game stories Flashcards

Question

indiscretion

Answer 1

an act or remark that reveals something secret or that could be embarrassing or offensive =============== youthful indiscretions

Answer 2

jeopardize something/somebody to risk harming or destroying something/somebody (endanger) ================ He would never do anything to jeopardize his career. This scandal could seriously jeopardize his chances of being re-elected.

Answer 3

a formal promise to do something or a formal statement that something is true ================ to take/swear an oath of allegiance Before giving evidence, witnesses in court have to take the oath (= promise to tell the truth). The next US president will take the oath of office in January. All members had to swear a solemn oath never to reveal the secrets of the organization. You are bound by oath to tell the truth.

Answer 4

when one thing fuses with another, or two things fuse or are fused, they are joined together to form a single thing =============== fuse (together) As they heal, the bones will fuse together. fuse (into something) Our different ideas fused into a plan. Their lips fused in a passionate kiss. fuse with something The sperm fuses with the egg to begin the process of fertilization. fuse something (into something) The two companies have been fused into a single organization. Atoms of hydrogen are fused to make helium.

Answer 5

only; single =============== the sole surviving member of the family My sole reason for coming here was to see you. This is the sole means of access to the building

Answer 6

to behave badly in a way that makes you or other people feel ashamed ================= disgrace yourself I disgraced myself by drinking far too much. disgrace somebody/something He had disgraced the family name.

Answer 7

reign (over somebody/something) to be the best or most important in a particular situation or area of skill =================== She will face the reigning champion in her first round match. In the field of classical music, he still reigns supreme. a show in which the music reigns supreme A handful of families have reigned over Bangkok's economy for many years.

Answer 8

to admit that something is true, logical, etc. after first denying it or resisting it ================= + speech ‘Not bad,’ she conceded grudgingly. concede (that)… He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties. concede something I had to concede the logic of this. concede something to somebody He reluctantly conceded the point to me. concede somebody something He reluctantly conceded me the point. it is conceded that… It must be conceded that different judges have different approaches to these cases.

Answer 9

to make something stronger, more active or more healthy ===================== measures to revitalize the inner cities The local economy has been revitalized. Gentle massage will revitalize your skin.

Answer 10

a group of people who represent the views of an organization, a country, etc. ================= the Dutch delegation to the United Nations a delegation of teachers A well-known academic will head the delegation. The British delegation walked out of the discussions in protest. The Prime Minister met with an all-party delegation from the city council. The delegation included representatives from nine nations. The delegation will visit several Middle Eastern countries for talks. The government invited an international delegation to inspect the plant. a delegation representing the new regime an official delegation from Austria We have arranged a meeting with a high-powered delegation of Asian business leaders.

Answer 11

if a meeting, parliament, etc. reconvenes or if somebody reconvenes it, it meets again after a break

Answer 12

needing to be dealt with immediately (urgent) ===================== I'm afraid I have some pressing business to attend to. There is a pressing need for more specialist nurses. The government seems to think that international problems are more pressing than domestic ones.

Answer 13

a person who enters a building or an area illegally ===================== The intruder fired at least one more shot at the guard, then fled. Intruder alarms are being fitted in many schools as a way of improving security. He found a masked intruder in the kitchen. He was stabbed when he tackled an intruder armed with a knife. Intruders had forced their way into the house. Staff were instructed to repel intruders with physical force, if need be.

Answer 14

goods that are bought or sold; goods that are for sale in a shop =============== a wide selection of merchandise These tokens can be exchanged for merchandise in any of our stores. a substandard piece of merchandise excellent deals on quality merchandise

Answer 15

to bet money (bet) ==================== wager on something She always wagered on an outsider. wager something (on something) to wager £50 on a horse wager something/somebody that… I had wagered a great deal of money that I would beat him.

Answer 16

comply (with something) to obey a rule, an order, etc.; to meet particular standards ==================== They refused to comply with the UN resolution. All furniture must comply with the fire safety regulations. When requested to leave, they refused to comply. What sanctions can they take against us if we fail to comply?

Answer 17

a large, impressive gate or entrance to a building ============= The castle’s portals have opened to many famous guests.

Answer 18

great respect and approval; a good opinion of somebody ============== She is held in high esteem by her colleagues. Over the years, he has earned our affection and esteem. Please accept this small gift as a token of our esteem.

Answer 19

the feeling that you have when you enjoy something that is funny ================= She could not hide her amusement at the way he was dancing. to somebody's amusement To my amusement he couldn't get the door open. with amusement Her eyes twinkled with amusement. His son was a continuous source of amusement and delight to him. He kept the diaries for his own personal amusement. He seemed to be deriving amusement from her discomfort. Her wide mouth twitched in amusement. The play was written for the amusement of the other students. There was a note of amusement in her voice. What do you do for amusement around here? What can we provide for your amusement? (ironic) I am happy to have afforded you amusement (= said when you are annoyed that somebody is laughing at you).

Answer 20

to agree to give somebody what they ask for, especially formal or legal permission to do something =================== grant something My request was granted. the rights expressly granted by the terms of the lease The judge granted an injunction preventing the newspaper from printing the names. grant somebody something I was granted permission to visit the palace. She was granted a divorce. The court granted him leave to appeal. He was granted a licence to mine in the area. The bank finally granted me a £500 loan. grant something to somebody/something The bank finally granted a £500 loan to me. These lands had been granted to the family in perpetuity. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material. Planning permission was finally granted in October. The judge refused to grant him bail. The law effectively grants the company immunity from prosecution. Her wish was granted. Planning permission for the development was granted last week. The contract was granted to an Australian company.

Answer 21

openly and without shame, usually about something that shocks people (shamelessly) ====================== She had brazenly admitted allowing him back into the house.

Answer 22

to stop somebody/something that is going from one place to another from arriving ==================== Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. The letter was intercepted. Hurst intercepted a pass intended for Julio Jones.

Answer 23

a way of telling somebody to go away immediately

Answer 24

to criticize somebody or speak angrily to them because you do not approve of something that they have said or done

Answer 25

to speak angrily to somebody, especially a child, because they have done something wrong ===================== scold somebody (for doing something) He scolded them for arriving late. scold somebody for something Rose scolded the child gently for her bad behaviour. + speech ‘Don’t be such a baby!’ he scolded.

Answer 26

``` very unpleasant or evil ================ a despicable act/crime I hate you! You're despicable. Police have condemned the theft from an elderly widow as despicable. To fail was considered despicable. What I find particularly despicable is their neglect of old people. That was a despicable act. ```

Answer 27

a thing that is hated and considered extremely offensive ============== a concrete abomination masquerading as a hotel A strict Puritan, he regarded all theatres and play acting as an abomination.

Answer 28

to admit, especially formally or to the police, that you have done something wrong or illegal ================ After hours of questioning, the suspect confessed. confess to (doing) something She confessed to the murder. confess (that)… He confessed that he had stolen the money. confess to somebody (that)… She confessed to me that she had known his true identity for some time. confess your crime, error, etc. We persuaded her to confess her crime.

Answer 29

a person who is not physically strong

Answer 30

to do something for somebody in order to show that you are sorry for something wrong or unfair that you have done =============== She tried to make amends for what she had said to her mother by buying her some flowers. The team is desperate to make amends for two successive defeats.

Answer 31

a person who is following or going after somebody

Answer 32

to follow or go after somebody/something, especially in order to catch them ================= She left the theatre, hotly pursued by the press. Police pursued the car at high speed. Jake has been pursuing her (= trying to have a relationship with her) for months.

Answer 33

[countable] (informal) a stupid person who often says or does the wrong thing ================= He was acting like a complete jerk. He silently swore at himself for being such a jerk. What kind of a jerk pays that money?

Answer 34

dirty or no longer pure; no longer pleasant or safe to eat, drink or use ============== tainted drinking water

Answer 35

to remove a layer from something, especially so that it is completely exposed ===================== strip something (off) Strip off all the existing paint. After the guests had gone, I stripped all the beds (= removed all the sheets in order to wash them). strip A off/from B Deer had stripped all the bark off the tree. strip B of A Deer had stripped the tree of its bark.

Answer 36

a great success, achievement or victory ======================= one of the greatest triumphs of modern science triumph over somebody/something It was a personal triumph over her old rival. Hollywood's favourite actor was modest about his latest triumph. The team enjoyed a memorable triumph last night. their recent triumph against Brazil The union scored a triumph in negotiating a minimum wage within the industry. They hailed the signing of the agreement as a major diplomatic triumph. the triumph of the human spirit The birth of the red panda cub is being hailed as a triumph for the zoo's breeding programme. triumph against seemingly insuperable odds

Answer 37

a person who has the legal right to receive somebody’s property, money or title when that person dies ================ to be heir to a large fortune the heir to the throne (= the person who will be the next king or queen) the son and heir of the Earl of Lancaster At the age of twenty he fell heir to a large estate. He has no heir to leave his fortune to. He left most of his property to his eldest son and heir. He planned to marry and produce an heir for his estate. On his brother's death he became heir apparent to the title. On his deathbed he named his second son as his heir. When the Earl of Surrey died in 1347 he left no direct heir.

Answer 38

(formal) in a particular way ======================== How could they behave in such a fashion? I strive to get my work done in a timely fashion. The troops embarked in an orderly fashion. Each chapter is structured in a similar fashion. She was proved right, in dramatic fashion, when the whole department resigned. Address me in a proper fashion. Application for the course can be made in the normal fashion. Costs and revenues are assumed to behave in a linear fashion. He asked questions in a direct fashion He delivered his speech in classic fashion. He has a small vocabulary and is only able to express himself in a limited fashion. He insisted the meeting be held, in true spy novel fashion, in the open air. He presents it in an entertaining fashion. Karpov struck back in no uncertain fashion to win the seventh game. Light and sound are recorded in such different fashions. Please proceed in an orderly fashion to the promenade deck. She laid out her argument in a convincing fashion. She was strolling in a leisurely fashion in the opposite direction. She writes in a serious fashion about the future She has corrected that oversight in fine fashion. The convention proceeded in the normal fashion. The descent of the footpath starts in easy fashion. The story moves in circular fashion. They act in a purposeful and deliberate fashion. They celebrated their win in traditional fashion by spraying champagne everywhere. We had just gone out when, in typical fashion, the rain came down. We need to tackle this problem in a coordinated fashion. Why are they behaving in such a ridiculous fashion?

Answer 39

kind, generous and forgiving, especially towards an enemy or competitor =================== a magnanimous gesture He was magnanimous in defeat and praised his opponent's skill. The regime had to decide whether to be magnanimous in victory.

Answer 40

(literary) making you feel tired or bored ====================== a weary journey weary hours spent in negotiation

Answer 41

``` (North American English, informal) injured or damaged ================ Two days after the accident she still looked pretty banged up. a banged-up old truck ```

Answer 42

defection (from A) (to B) the act of leaving a political party, country, etc. to join another that is considered to be an enemy ================ There have been several defections from the ruling party.

Answer 43

the act of asking somebody a lot of questions over a long period of time, especially in an aggressive way ========================== under interrogation He confessed after four days under interrogation. She hated her parents' endless interrogations about where she'd been.

Answer 44

if people, things or situations are formidable, you feel fear and/or respect for them, because they are impressive or powerful, or because they seem very difficult ======================= In debate he was a formidable opponent. Somehow the small but formidable woman fought her way through the crowd to reach her son. She has a formidable list of qualifications. The two players together make a formidable combination. The task was a formidable one. They had to overcome formidable obstacles.

Answer 45

to have a bad effect on somebody and make them behave in a way that is not honest or moral ==================== He was corrupted by power and ambition. the corrupting effects of great wealth

Answer 46

a person or thing that you use or have instead of the one you normally use or have =================== a meat substitute a substitute family substitute for somebody/something Paul's father only saw him as a substitute for his dead brother. The course teaches you the theory but there's no substitute for practical experience. The local bus service was a poor substitute for their car. His teacher acted as a father substitute. The company produces substitutes for lead in petrol. The television is a poor substitute for human companionship. There's no substitute for hard work.

Answer 47

behaviour that involves hurting somebody who trusts you, for example by telling their secrets to other people; an example of this an act of treachery He was punished for his treacheries. Rumours of treachery and conspiracy began to circulate in the Queen’s court.

Answer 48

a very cruel or unpleasant person

Answer 49

``` making people feel very frightened ================ a fearsome dinosaur He has a fearsome reputation as a fighter. a fearsome expression/sight ```

Answer 50

serious danger =================== in peril The country's economy is now in grave peril. The heroine finds herself in mortal peril. She seemed blissfully unaware of the peril she was in. They warned that his life was in imminent peril. peril of doing something We face the immediate peril of being bought out by another

Answer 51

``` for a very short time (briefly) ================ He paused momentarily. She was momentarily blinded by the light. ```

Answer 52

to ask somebody for something in an anxious way because you want or need it very much

Answer 53

to say officially that something is banned ===================== proscribed organizations Membership of any proscribed organization is a serious matter. Officials promptly proscribed the procedure.

Answer 54

that you are sorry about and wish had not happened =========================== It is regrettable that the police were not informed sooner. The loss of jobs is highly regrettable. a regrettable incident It is highly regrettable that the delegate cannot be here in person. a deeply regrettable incident This is a most regrettable incident. Steps will be taken to ensure it cannot happen again.

Answer 55

confused; unable to think clearly ================== his addled brain

Answer 56

to defeat an opponent, especially after a long struggle =================== In a one-sided final, Spain prevailed against title-holder Croatia 40–34. They wasted two penalties but still prevailed 2–1.

Answer 57

overwhelm somebody to defeat somebody completely ================ The army was overwhelmed by the rebels. He totally overwhelmed the Spaniard, 6–2, 6–3,6–2, in the final.

Answer 58

not caring enough about something important or about the feelings of other people ================= The government takes a cavalier attitude to the problems of prison overcrowding.

Answer 59

to say very strongly that you think something is bad, usually for moral reasons ================= condemn somebody/something The government issued a statement condemning the killings. condemn somebody/something for/as something The editor of the newspaper was condemned as lacking integrity.

Answer 60

to order somebody not to do something; to order that something must not be done ====================== forbid somebody (from doing something) He forbade them from mentioning the subject again. forbid something Her father forbade the marriage. Smoking is strictly forbidden. You cannot do that. I absolutely forbid it. forbid somebody to do something You are all forbidden to leave. forbid somebody something My doctor has forbidden me sugar. forbid (somebody) doing something She knew her mother would forbid her going

Answer 61

weak and not having much effect ============== an anaemic performance

Answer 62

without the ability to achieve much; weak; not achieving what you want to ================= He plays the role of a blustering and ineffectual teacher. an ineffectual attempt to reform the law If only the head of department weren't so ineffectual. My experience on the committees has shown me how slow and ineffectual they are. She made an ineffectual grab at the book. The president is seen as weak and ineffectual.

Answer 63

``` a god or goddess ============= Greek/Roman/Hindu deities a tribe that worshipped two main deities Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity. a shrine to the patron deity of the city one of the minor Greek deities ```

Answer 64

(of situations, feelings, etc.) very serious and important; giving you a reason to feel worried ================= The police have expressed grave concern about the missing child's safety. The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done. We were in grave danger. I fear you are making a very grave mistake.

Answer 65

to be strong enough not to be hurt or damaged by extreme conditions, the use of force, etc. (resist, stand up to) =============== The materials used have to be able to withstand high temperatures. They had withstood siege, hunger and deprivation. The flooring needs to be tough enough to withstand wear. The wooden boat was built to withstand just about every weather condition at sea.

Answer 66

a strong or violent attack ============== His approach was met with a vicious onslaught. onslaught against/on somebody/something the enemy onslaught on our military forces onslaught of something/somebody an onslaught of abuse (figurative) The town survives the onslaught of tourists every summer. She could not withstand such a sudden onslaught. She unleashed a verbal onslaught on her critics. the latest onslaught from the Russian team the relentless onslaught of modernism

Answer 67

to provide a person for a particular task or position ====================== assign somebody (to something/as something) They've assigned their best man to the job. Two senior officers have been assigned to the case. assign somebody to do something British forces have been assigned to help with peacekeeping.

Answer 68

to end; to make something end ================== Your contract of employment terminates in December. terminate something The agreement was terminated immediately. to terminate a pregnancy (= to perform or have an abortion) Extra Examples His contract was abruptly terminated. The agreement was lawfully terminated under clause 34. This federal intervention effectively terminated the strike.

Answer 69

a long search for something, especially for some quality such as happiness ================ quest for something the quest for happiness/knowledge/truth in quest of something He set off in quest of adventure. a quest narrative/novel/story The team will continue its quest for Olympic gold this afternoon. her quest for a better life He is on an endless quest for knowledge. This is an important stage in their quest for the truth. We set off in quest of the perfect wedding dress.

Answer 70

to pass a law =============== (be) enacted (by somebody/something) legislation enacted by parliament

Answer 71

something that makes it seem impossible to do or achieve something =============== They secured a victory in the face of overwhelming odds. She defied the odds to beat the clear favourite. to beat/overcome the odds against the odds The film is a heart-warming tale of triumph against the odds. Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery. odds against (doing) something The odds against making a profit in this business are huge. He will try hard to win, although he knows the odds are stacked against him. She struggled against terrible odds to overcome her illness.

Answer 72

a place where people have arranged to meet ==================== He didn’t recognize the address of the rendezvous. a rendezvous point The platoon made its way to the pre-arranged rendezvous in the desert. I took off at first light and made the rendezvous as planned. She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.

Answer 73

expel somebody (from something) to force somebody to leave a country ================= Foreign journalists are being expelled. Thousands of Jews had been expelled from the city. The regime decided to expel UK, US and Canadian diplomats. They were forced to leave as part of a government drive to expel illegal immigrants.

Answer 74

fare well, badly, better, etc. to be successful/unsuccessful in a particular situation ============= The party fared very badly in the last election. The North, by and large, has fared better than most regions in avoiding high unemployment figures. He fared well against his main rival. She should fare better in this competition. This movie fared poorly at the British box office.

Answer 75

money or property that is given to you by somebody when they die =============== They each received a legacy of $5 000. She is the heir to a legacy of £1 million. She left her the money in a legacy. a legacy from my old teacher

Answer 76

quickly and without trouble

Answer 77

(formal) advice, especially given by older people or experts; a piece of advice ==================== Listen to the counsel of your elders. In the end, wiser counsels prevailed. He is there to give you counsel on all matters.

Answer 78

a circle of light shown around or above the head of a holy person ===================== She played the part of an angel, complete with wings and a halo. (figurative) a halo of white frizzy hair

Answer 79

(informal, disapproving) a person who believes they have special qualities and should receive special treatment; a person who is too sensitive to criticism and easily upset ======================= They really believe their precious snowflake is the best kid ever. These little snowflakes will soon discover that life doesn't come with trigger warnings.

Answer 80

folks [plural] (informal, especially North American English) the members of your family, especially your parents =============== How are your folks? I am going to visit my folks at the weekend.

Answer 81

to discuss prices, conditions, etc. with somebody in order to reach an agreement that is acceptable (negotiate) ================ bargain (with somebody) (about/over/for something) In the market dealers were bargaining with growers over the price of coffee. He said he wasn't prepared to bargain. He bargained hard and was stubborn. He tried to bargain with her. He was prepared to bargain about money. Crowds of men were bargaining over horses. They just want to bargain for a decent wage. They argued forecfully for the right of workers to bargain collectively.

Answer 82

a short journey made for pleasure, especially one that has been organized for a group of people ===================== on an excursion They've gone on an excursion to York. There are regular weekend excursions throughout the summer. Our ship offers 13 different excursions. Princess Tours runs independent excursions from selected hotels. We decided to make an all-day excursion to the island. We signed up for a shore excursion to New Orleans. Optional excursions include a tour of the ancient city and a day's horse-riding.

Answer 83

to make a formal and serious promise to do something or a formal statement that is true ================= vow to do something She vowed never to speak to him again. vow (to somebody) (that)… He vowed (that) he had not hurt her. vow something They vowed eternal friendship. + speech ‘I'll be back,’ she vowed. He silently vowed vengeance on them all. I vowed never to drink so much again. She vowed to herself that she would not show any emotion.

Answer 84

confused and unable to think normally ============== He was befuddled by drink.

Answer 85

a person who does not come from a royal or noble family ================ It was not acceptable for royalty to marry commoners in those days.

Answer 86

the act of trying to appear more important, intelligent, etc. than you are in order to impress other people =============== intellectual pretensions The play mocks the pretensions of the new middle class. He spoke without pretension. She was a bored housewife with social pretensions. She was charmed by his lack of pretension.

Answer 87

the fact of having or expressing opinions that are different from those that are officially accepted ======================= political/religious dissent Voices of dissent began to rise against the established authority in the 1950s and 1960s. Stability only exists in the country because dissent has been suppressed. Extra Examples His dissent from his family's religious beliefs caused a lot of ill-feeling. It is easier to register dissent in the internet era. Political dissent is not tolerated. The regime ruthlessly suppresses all dissent. The war provoked strong dissent. There are many ways of expressing dissent. efforts to suppress legitimate dissent internal party dissent popular dissent against the Church The authorities continue their suppression of political dissent.

Answer 88

``` atone (for something) to act in a way that shows you are sorry for doing something wrong in the past (make amends) ================= to atone for a crime a desire to atone ```

Answer 89

(North American English, informal) used to tell somebody to stop worrying about something ==================== ‘I’m sure he’ll find out.’ ‘Don’t sweat it—no one’s going to tell him.’ Don't sweat it — We'll be fine.

Answer 90

to keep hitting somebody/something hard, especially with your fists (= tightly closed hands) =================== pummel somebody/something (with something) He pummelled the pillow with his fists. (figurative) She pummelled (= strongly criticized) her opponents. He saw the other man being pummelled by the crowd. pummel (at something) Her fists pummelled at his chest.

Answer 91

(especially in sport) a movement that is intended to make your opponent think you are going to do one thing when you are really going to do something else

Answer 92

to come together or bring people together in order to help or support somebody/something ====================== rally around/behind somebody/something The cabinet rallied behind the Prime Minister. rally to somebody/something Many national newspapers rallied to his support. rally somebody/something They have rallied a great deal of support for their campaign. The country hastily rallied its defences. rally somebody/something around/behind/to something The president must rally the country around a clear and credible goal. BBC leaders rallied to his defence. Friends and colleagues have rallied to her cause. Friends rallied to her. We were at war and everyone was rallying around the flag. The team captain vainly tried to rally his troops.

Answer 93

a confident way of behaving that is intended to impress people, sometimes as a way of hiding a lack of confidence ================ an act of sheer bravado ‘Don’t threaten me,’ she whispered with false bravado. He behaved aggressively out of bravado.

Answer 94

to think or talk a lot about something, especially something it would be better to forget ============ So you made a mistake, but there's no need to dwell on it.

Answer 95

protection that a government gives to people who have left their own country, usually because they were in danger for political reasons ==================== to seek/apply for/be granted asylum There was a nationwide debate on whether the asylum laws should be changed. She fled the country, and is now seeking asylum in Sweden. They applied for asylum after being tortured in their own country. She was granted political asylum by Canada in 2013. Over 400 people have been refused asylum. Those fleeing from the war have the right to asylum.

Answer 96

(formal) the central point of something

Answer 97

(especially of people or animals) angry and aggressive in a way that is frightening =================== a fierce dog Two fierce eyes glared at them. He suddenly looked fierce. She spoke in a fierce whisper. The more she struggled, the fiercer he became.

Answer 98

a large group of soldiers that form part of a brigade

Answer 99

an object that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck

Answer 100

a dark red colour

Answer 101

used to say that there is a change in somebody’s luck or in how successful they are being =================== The tide turned for the Canadian at the start of the second set. This contract is probably our last chance to turn the tide.

Answer 102

feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others ================= The prisoners grew increasingly desperate. Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted. I heard sounds of a desperate struggle in the next room. I was starting to get desperate. She felt utterly desperate. The sudden loss of his money had made him desperate. ----------------------------------

Answer 103

a room with thick walls and a strong door, especially in a bank, used for keeping valuable things safe ==================== Most of her jewellery is stored in bank vaults. Thieves broke in and took over £2m from the vaults.

Answer 104

not very obvious or easy to notice ================== subtle colours/flavours/smells, etc. There are subtle differences between the two versions. The fragrance is a subtle blend of jasmine and sandalwood. She's been dropping subtle hints about what she'd like as a present. For a natural glow to your skin mix a subtle shade of blusher with loose powder. Her paintings are characterized by sweeping brush strokes and subtle colours. making infinitely subtle distinctions -------------------- behaving or organized in a clever way, and using indirect methods, in order to achieve something ================== I decided to try a more subtle approach. a subtle plan a subtle use of lighting in the play

Answer 105

a person who is sent to deliver an official message, especially from one country to another, or to perform a special task (envoy) =============== the King’s special emissary

Answer 106

a thing that makes something definite ================= The project has been given the government's seal of approval (= official approval). I looked upon the gift as a seal on our friendship.

Answer 107

the freedom or power to decide what should be done in a particular situation ==================== I'll leave it up to you to use your discretion. How much to tell terminally ill patients is left to the discretion of the doctor. ‘Do you want me to do the job myself or hire a photographer?’ ‘I'll leave it to your discretion.’ Judges should be given more discretion over sentencing. She has considerable discretion as to how the money is spent. The courts exercise discretion in the area of minor traffic violations. The president used his executive discretion to pardon the two men. The school governors have absolute discretion over which pupils they admit. They give themselves complete discretion as to what information they will hand out. They would like local authorities to be given greater discretion as to how the money is spent. We have discretion about how much to charge.

Answer 108

too bad to be corrected, improved or saved

Answer 109

connected with your emotions, rather than reason ================= He has a strong sentimental attachment to the place. She kept the letters for sentimental reasons. The ring wasn't worth very much but it had great sentimental value.

Answer 110

connected with money, especially all the money in a country ===================== monetary policy/growth an item of little monetary value closer European political, monetary and economic union

Answer 111

a thing that you keep or give to somebody to remind you or them of a person or place ==================== a memento of our trip to Italy The director will be presented with a memento for his long years of service. The photos will be a permanent memento of your wedding. They gave him a watch as a memento of his time with the company.

Answer 112

with nothing blocking or stopping somebody/something ================= an unimpeded view of the bay free and unimpeded trade

Answer 113

(of people) easy to control; willing to be influenced by somebody/something ================= They had three very amenable children. The manager was very amenable: nothing was too much trouble. amenable to something He seemed most amenable to my idea. You should find him amenable to reasonable arguments.

Answer 114

a strong feeling of hating yourself ================== His difficult childhood left him with a deep sense of self-loathing.

Answer 115

trouble somebody to make somebody worried or upset ================= What is it that's troubling you? He was deeply troubled by the allegations. This latest news troubled him deeply. This report raises numerous troubling questions.

Answer 116

to give somebody a job to do for payment ================= employ somebody How many people does the company employ? His company currently employs 135 workers in total. We employ 16 full-time staff. employ somebody as something For the past three years he has been employed as a firefighter. employ somebody in something Twenty eight per cent of the workforce is employed in agriculture. employ somebody on something From 1510 he was employed on projects for the emperor. employ somebody to do something A number of people have been employed to deal with the backlog of work.

Answer 117

that you have doubts about because you think it is not accurate or correct =================== The conclusions that they come to are highly questionable. it is questionable whether… It is questionable whether this is a good way of solving the problem.

Answer 118

absolve somebody (of/from something) to state formally that somebody is not guilty or responsible for something ================= The court absolved him of all responsibility for the accident.

Answer 119

a statement saying that you think a person is guilty of doing something wrong or illegal; the fact of accusing somebody ==================== I don't want to make an accusation until I have some proof. There was a hint of accusation in her voice. accusation of something accusations of corruption/cruelty/racism accusation against somebody No one believed her wild accusations against her husband. accusation that… He denied the accusation that he had ignored the problems. He was forced to defend himself against accusations of plagiarism. New evidence has emerged which supports the accusation against her. She made a lot of thinly veiled accusations. She rejected all the accusations brought against her. Their father now faces an accusation of murder. There seem to be a lot of wild accusations flying around. They have the nerve to level these accusations against one of our most respected members. They sank into mutual accusation and incrimination. You made a public accusation of misconduct against Nigel. an accusation frequently levelled at junior doctors They fled the country amid accusations of fraud.

Answer 120

to understand or think of somebody/something in a particular way ======================== perceive somebody/something/yourself (as something) This discovery was perceived as a major breakthrough. She did not perceive herself as disabled. A science degree and artistic interests are often perceived as incompatible. perceive somebody/something to be/have something They were widely perceived to have been unlucky. This pattern is usually used in the passive. It is widely perceived as a women's health problem, but it does also affect men. The General's words were perceived as a threat by countries in the region. The remedy for the problem was only dimly perceived by scientists until recently. Risks are perceived differently by different people.

Answer 121

indebted (to somebody) (for something) (formal) grateful to somebody for helping you ================= I am deeply indebted to my family for all their help. Thank you—I am forever indebted to you.

Answer 122

extremely beautiful or carefully made =============== exquisite craftsmanship Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite.

Answer 123

If an event or achievement beckons, it is likely to happen: ==================== She's an excellent student, for whom a wonderful future beckons.

Answer 124

in a very close and friendly way =================== The characters in the film become intimately involved in each other's lives.

Answer 125

to cut something into two pieces; to cut something off something ============ sever something to sever a rope a severed artery sever something from something His hand was severed from his arm.

Answer 126

the most important quality or feature of something, that makes it what it is ================== His paintings capture the essence of France. in essence In essence (= when you consider the most important points), your situation isn't so different from mine. His paintings embody the very essence of the immediate post-war years. His theory was not new in essence. His work misses the essence of what Eastern religion is about. The freedom to pick your leaders is the essence of a democracy. The girl has her own spiritual essence. They distilled the essence of their message into three principles. Like so many peasant foods, the essence of pasta is its simplicity.

Answer 127

(formal) to be free of somebody/something that has been annoying you or that you do not want ============= She wanted to be rid of her parents and their authority. I was glad to be rid of the car when I finally sold it.

Answer 128

a sudden change of government that is illegal and often violent ============= He seized power in a military coup in 2008. to stage/mount a coup He was sentenced to death for his part in the attempted coup. a failed/an abortive coup She lost her position in a boardroom coup (= a sudden change of power among senior managers in a company). The coup was immediately put down and the plotters were shot. a coup against the president an army coup against the president Months of unrest in the company led to a boardroom coup that saw four directors voted out. The regime was overthrown in a bloodless coup led by young army officers.

Answer 129

to create a situation in which somebody will be able to do something or something can happen =============== This decision paved the way for changes in employment rights for women.

Answer 130

(of something bad) to appear serious and likely to happen soon =========== There was a crisis looming. A new threat is now looming on the horizon. Further problems loomed ahead of us. The day of the election loomed ever closer.

Answer 131

to advise or try hard to persuade somebody to do something ==================== urge somebody to do something If you ever get the chance to visit this place, I strongly urge you to do so. Police are urging anyone who saw the accident to contact them immediately. She urged him to stay. I urge people to vote yes on May 5. The charity urged the government to reconsider its decision. The authorities urged residents to stay indoors. The NFU is urging its members to support the proposed scheme. The police are urging anyone with new information to come forward. urge that… The report urged that all children be taught to swim. urge (somebody) + speech ‘Why not give it a try?’ she urged (him).

Answer 132

an improvement in the relationship between two or more countries which have been unfriendly towards each other in the past =============== a new international climate of détente

Answer 133

that can be believed or trusted ( convincing) ================== a credible explanation/witness It is just not credible that she would cheat. Extra Examples It seems barely credible that anyone could have walked so far in a day. You need imagination to make what you write fully credible. It seemed to be a credible account of events. There's only one credible witness in the case. They haven't yet come up with a credible explanation.

Answer 134

``` the use of words or actions that are intended to encourage people to oppose a government ============ to be charged with sedition sedition laws to commit sedition ```

Answer 135

unlikely to happen and therefore not worth considering ============== He argued that the issue had become moot since the board had changed its policy.

Answer 136

succeed somebody/something to come next after somebody/something and take their/its place or position (follow) =================== Who succeeded Kennedy as President? Their early success was succeeded by a period of miserable failure. Strands of DNA are reproduced through succeeding generations. He was appointed to succeed Sir Georg Solti as head of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was expected to succeed Jack Smith as CEO when he retired. He was widely tipped to succeed Mrs May as leader of the party.

Answer 137

an official order from a leader or a government that becomes the law ================== to issue/sign a decree a presidential/royal decree a leader who rules by decree (= not in a democratic way) He has been governing by emergency decree under the provisions of the constitution. In an emergency decree, the government banned all rallies. The president issued a decree prohibiting trade unions. Local inspectors helped enforce presidential decrees. The general will rule by decree until a general election. The government had the power to legislate by emergency decree independently of Parliament. The general ruled by decree. Thousands of demonstrators defied the decree and gathered in the square.

Answer 138

the crime of doing something that could cause danger to your country, such as helping its enemies during a war =============== an act of high treason against the English crown They were charged with treason and sentenced to death.

Answer 139

to become smaller, weaker, etc.; to make something become smaller, weaker, etc. ( decrease) ================== The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. His influence has diminished with time. diminish something The new law is expected to diminish the government's chances.

Answer 140

the successful result of a plan, a process or an activity ================ After months of hard work, our plans finally came to fruition. His extravagant ideas were never brought to fruition. Their efforts came to fruition many years later. The proposed rule is the fruition of years of work.

Answer 141

a plan or system for doing or organizing something =============== a training scheme scheme for doing something a local scheme for recycling newspapers scheme to do something to introduce/operate a scheme to improve links between schools and industry under a scheme Under the new scheme only successful schools will be given extra funding. to introduce/launch/run a scheme a salary/insurance/loan scheme The houses have been demolished as part of a major regeneration scheme. The project is based on a successful pilot scheme in Glasgow. The scheme allows customers to trade in their own computer against the cost of a new one. Under the scheme, land would be sold to building companies. a government-backed scheme a scheme whereby the elderly will be provided with help in the home

Answer 142

(of a person or an animal) enjoying being alone; frequently spending time alone ============= He was a solitary child. Tigers are solitary animals.

Answer 143

making you feel anxious and upset or shocked ============== a disturbing piece of news a profoundly disturbing experience

Answer 144

to move away from the place where you should be, without intending to =============== He strayed into the path of an oncoming car. Her eyes kept straying over to the clock on the wall. His hand strayed to the telephone. He can’t have strayed far. I strayed a few blocks in the wrong direction and became hopelessly lost. Extra Examples He never strayed far from his home. Her eyes strayed involuntarily. His eyes strayed to the telephone. The animals hadn't strayed too far. new penalties for owners who allow their dogs to stray

Answer 145

happening by chance, especially a lucky chance that brings a good result =============== a fortuitous meeting His success depended on a fortuitous combination of circumstances.

Answer 146

a person who believes in and follows the teachings of a religious or political leader (follower) ================ a disciple of the economist John Maynard Keynes He commanded them to go out and make disciples of all nations. He was an ardent disciple of Mahatma Ghandi. These ideas are central to the work of Freud and his disciples.

Answer 147

a violent person, especially a criminal ================ He was beaten up by a gang of thugs. The people who do these sorts of things are just mindless thugs.

Answer 148

expert knowledge or skill in a particular subject, activity or job =================== professional/scientific/technical, etc. expertise We have the expertise to help you run your business. It is difficult to find staff with the level of expertise required for this job. expertise in something/in doing something They have considerable expertise in dealing with oil spills. Extra Examples An outsider will lack the necessary expertise to run the company. Each area of the curriculum should be led by a staff member with appropriate expertise. How could he apply his academic expertise to practical matters? We need to draw on the professional expertise of a large number of teachers. His technical expertise was critical in developing the business. I have gained expertise in specialist financial areas. The teachers would be available to share expertise and offer advice. They met regularly to develop their collective expertise. This project builds on the existing expertise of our staff. We sometimes have to call on outside expertise. areas of special expertise

Answer 149

[countable] an official group of people who have been given responsibility to control something, or to find out about something, usually for the government =================== The commission is expected to report its findings next month. (British English) The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. The election commission found that neither candidate received enough votes to avoid a run-off. on a commission the British representative on the commission before a commission The defendant will be brought to trial before a military commission. commission on something She was also a member of the commission on religious education. a commission on human rights The government appointed an independent commission to investigate the causes of the disaster. The government has set up a joint commission to consider the problem. a commission on domestic violence the commission for racial equality He was appointed to head a commission of enquiry into the recent riots. She's a member of the IOC medical commission. Sweden's Environment Commission has ruled against the dam project. The government set up a fact-finding commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. This is the first meeting of an intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between the two countries. the Atomic Energy Commission

Answer 150

to stop happening or existing; to stop something from happening or existing ==================== Welfare payments cease as soon as an individual starts a job. cease to do something You never cease to amaze me! cease something They voted to cease strike action immediately. He ordered his men to cease fire (= stop shooting). cease doing something The company ceased trading in June.

Answer 151

a large group of soldiers that forms part of an army, especially the one that existed in ancient Rome ================= the French Foreign Legion Caesar’s legions

Answer 152

complicity (in something) the act of taking part with another person in a crime =============== to be guilty of complicity in the murder evident complicity between the two brothers She did not suspect him of complicity with the authorities. her alleged complicity in the bombing her complicity in a plot to kill the president the complicity between the army and drug smugglers

Answer 153

to suppose that something is true, although you do not have actual proof SYNONYM assume =================== They are very expensive, I presume? ‘Is he still abroad?’ ‘I presume so.’ presume (that)… I presumed (that) he understood the rules. it is presumed that… Little is known of the youngest son; it is presumed that he died young. presume somebody/something to be/have something I presumed him to be her husband. I had presumed wrongly that Jenny would be there. I presumed that he understood the rules. They presume that a woman's partner is supporting her financially, whether this is true or not.

Answer 154

to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected: =============== An invasion would certainly precipitate a political crisis. Fear of losing her job precipitated (= suddenly forced) her into action.

Answer 155

to discuss something with somebody, in order to exchange opinions or get advice ================ He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision.

Answer 156

``` (old-fashioned or formal) making somebody annoyed or worried ================= a vexing problem I found their attitude extremely vexing. ```

Answer 157

before the normal or expected time ========== Her hair became prematurely white.

Answer 158

to talk in a way that shows you are too proud of something that you have or can do ================ I don't want to boast, but I can actually speak six languages. boast about something She is always boasting about how wonderful her children are. boast of something He openly boasted of his skill as a burglar. boast that… Sam boasted that she could beat anyone at poker. Hay's booksellers justifiably boast that they cater for all tastes.

Answer 159

defile something to make something dirty or no longer pure, especially something that people consider important or holy =============== Many victims of burglary feel their homes have been defiled. The altar had been defiled by vandals.

Answer 160

appease somebody to make somebody calmer or less angry by giving them what they want ============= The move was widely seen as an attempt to appease critics of the regime.

Answer 161

the way in which a child is cared for and taught how to behave while it is growing up ================ She had had a very sheltered upbringing. by upbringing He was a Catholic by upbringing. Her upbringing had given her the social skills to cope with such situations. Mine was a conventional family upbringing. My upbringing prepared me for anything. Part of his upbringing had been not to question his elders. They gave their children a strict Catholic upbringing. I'm still grateful for my religious upbringing.

Answer 162

defy somebody/something to refuse to obey or show respect for somebody in authority, a law, a rule, etc. ==================== I wouldn't have dared to defy my teachers. Hundreds of people today defied the ban on political gatherings. He is willing to defy his own party. Journalists were openly defying the authorities. The protesters continued to defy a court injunction.

Answer 163

extremely painful or bad Synonyms painful ================= The pain in my back was excruciating. She groaned at the memory, suffering all over again the excruciating embarrassment of those moments. He rolled on the floor in excruciating agony. The process is painful, but not excruciating.

Answer 164

the act of taking control of a country, city, etc. by force ================== the Norman Conquest (= of England in 1066) He continued to expand his kingdom by conquest. The army made many conquests in the east. Trade rather than territorial conquest was held to be the route to progress. the English colonial conquest of the Indian subcontinent the European conquest of South America the Muslim conquest of Spain in the 8th century the Roman conquest of Britain the Spanish conquest of Mexico the desire of each tribe to show its superiority through violent conquest the rapid conquest of Madrid The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 led to changes in the system of government.

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