Lesson 3 Flashcards
The telephone startled him.
If something sudden and unexpected startles you, it surprises and frightens you slightly.
When the cake is cooked, sift some icing sugar over the top of it.
Sift or sieve to put flour, sugar, etc. through a sieve (= wire net shaped like a bowl) to break up large pieces
to put a liquid or powder through a sieve:
To make the batter, sieve the flour and salt into a bowl.
“a clumsy attempt to park”
doneawkwardlyor without skill or elegance.
“the cold made his fingers clumsy”
adjective
awkward in movement or in handling things.
Most people are wired to seek status and success, not necessarily happiness. It’s remarkable to watch someone fight back against that trend. From the outside they appear frugal. But in fact they’ve rejected what the world tells them they should want and looked deeper, finding their happiness elsewhere.
using only as much money or food as is necessary
a frugal existence/life
a frugal lunch of bread and cheese (small and plain)
It’s always prudent to read a contract carefully before signing it.
careful and avoiding risks
= cautious
!= imprudent (The report criticizes the banks for being imprudent in their lending.)
he slams the door behind him as he leaves
to shut (a door, window, or lid) forcefully and loudly. : BANG
- She slammed the door and locked it behind her.
We are all relieved to be back home.
If you are relieved, you feel happy because something unpleasant has not happened or is no longer happening.
Synonyms: glad, happy, pleased, comforted
Car sales have slumped dramatically over the past year.
of prices, values, or sales) to fall suddenly:
The value of property has slumped.
Car sales have slumped dramatically over the past year.
Successful testing strategies balance time efficiency with provisions to account for uncertainties such as variabilities in the visual system itself and patient mistakes.
something that is needed or wanted, or the act of considering the need for something and arranging for it
- Ample provisions for aircraft stability have been made.
When designing buildings in California, you have to make some provision for earthquakes.
something that is needed or wanted, or the act of considering the need for something and arranging for it
- Ample provisions for aircraft stability have been made.
Job creation showed little signs of a let-up in November, as payrolls grew even faster than expected and the unemployment rate fell despite signs of a weakening economy.
(of something undesirable) become less intense or severe.
“the rain’s letting up—it’ll be clear soon”
When the rain lets up we’ll go for a walk.
The police insist that they are not letting up on their campaign against drugs.
to stop doing something that you have been doing continuously or in a determined way
Neil spent the entire evening moaning about his job - he just wouldn’t let up.
Thanks for the heads-up, Ashkan.
Definitely, we need to brainstorm the utility of Gemini.
be in charge or control of something.
- “I’m going to be heading up Michael’s new management team”
This note is just to give you a heads-up that Vicky will be arriving next week.
give someone a heads-up
a warning that something is going to happen, usually so that you can prepare for it
The president has been accused of failing to articulate an overall vision in foreign affairs.
to express or say your feeling / idea / etc.
Also, as an adjective it means someone is able to express their thoughts and ideas easily and well.
- [approval] She is an articulate young woman.
He can be very obstinate at times.
unreasonably determined
Synonyms: stubborn, dogged, determined, persistent
Anything that goes awry in the office is blamed on Pete.
(= goes wrong)
She rushed in, her face red and sweaty and her hat awry.
in the wrong position
The coach does not coddle his players.
to protect and treat someone or something with great care
- The steel industry is coddled by trade protection and massive subsidies.
He was criticized as a weak and indecisive leader.
Synonyms: hesitating, uncertain, wavering, doubtful
someone is indecisive = difficult to make decisions
The outcome of the battle was indecisive.
unclear
Synonyms: inconclusive, unclear, undecided, indefinite
An indecisive result in a contest or election is one that is not clear or definite.
This souring on higher education makes America an outlier among all advanced nations.
In the given sentence, “souring on” means a negative shift in attitude or opinion towards higher education 12. The sentence implies that this negative shift is making America stand out from other advanced nations 1. It suggests that Americans are increasingly questioning the value of higher education 1. This is a complex issue with many factors at play, including rising tuition costs, student debt, and concerns about the job market
Police sources yesterday downplayed the significance of the security breach.
If you downplay a fact or feature, you try to make people think that it is less important or serious than it really is.
So-called stock forecasts don’t deserve the name, our columnist says. Wall Street’s track record is horrendous.
very unpleasant or shocking.
He described it as the most horrendous experience of his life.
horrific, shocking [informal], appalling, frightening
There was a sense of humor to what he did that I found very appealing.
pleasing and attractive.
They have been living under the most appalling conditions for two months.
so bad or unpleasant that it shocks you
horrifying, shocking [informal], terrible, alarming
Unemployment rose to the still modest rate of 0.7%.
When you describe an amount, rate, or improvement as modest, it means “fairly small”.
moderate, small, limited, fair
a modest hotel
a modest improvement
A modest football player
not large or expensive
fairly small
He or she does not talk much about their achievements.
Better to invest with humility: Accept that no one knows where the market is going moment by moment, and focus on the long haul, anyway.
modesty
a long-haul flight
“getting the proposal passed is likely to be a long haul”
a prolonged and difficult effort or task.
A crane had to be used to haul the car out of the stream
If you haul something which is heavy or difficult to move, you move it using a lot of effort.
Jane got on with her work.
If you get on with something, you continue doing it or start doing it.
get along or get on
to make progress; proceed; advance
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and get on with life. Unfortunately, Wall Street forecasts won’t help with any of that.
If you get on with something, you continue doing it or start doing it.
make progress.
The peculiar thing about getting engaged is that you‘re meant to announce it to everyone.
sth is meant to happen = it is expected to happen
- You are meant to pay before you go in.
Some things are meant to be and some aren’t.
sth is meant to happen = it is expected to happen
- You are meant to pay before you go in.
You know that actors put so much work into these tapings.
Put (a lot of ) work into something
It’s just a constant kind of letdown
ناامیدی
سرخوردگی
The news was a letdown.
My one thing that I struggle is to get through my shyness.
Get through something
After what happened in Paris, we tried to keep a low profile
Keep a low profile
They backed off in horror.
If youback off, you move away in order to avoid problems or a fight.
The people at my table were so obnoxious I had to change my seat.
very unpleasant because of being aggressive, loud, or offensive.
What is the difference between confirming and acknowledging?
Confirm is to make sure of something.
- Are you going to go to the party next week? Please confirm.
Acknowledge is to admit something.
What was the first song of Shadmehr?
Shadmehr put out his first album in 1997.
When I look back on those days, I realize that I was desperately unhappy.
Look back on … = think of the past.
“don’t waste time looking back on things that have caused you distress”
The central bank has pulled off one of the biggest financial rescues of recent years.
to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected
He won five straight games and pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected:
He won five straight games and pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected:
It’s an ambitious plan, so let’s see if we can really pull it off.
to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected
The car pulled off and sped up theroad.
If a vehicle pulls off, it starts moving:
His car broke down this morning, so I’ll give him a lift to school.
The phrase “give him a lift to school” means to offer someone a ride or transportation to school, usually in a car. It’s a way of saying that you will help someone get to school by driving them there.
