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English > lit vocab 8 > Flashcards

lit vocab 8 Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

ribald

[rih-bald]

A

vulgar, perverted, but still kind of funny, makes dirty jokes

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2
Q

confound

v.

A

be confusing and perplexing, mistake one for another e,g. twins
e.g. the inflation figure confounded economic analysts.

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3
Q

mendacious

A

telling lies habitually

remember like mentir

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4
Q

cleft

A

split, divided

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5
Q

meagre

A

(of something provided) lacking in quantity or quality e.g. they were forced to supplement their meagre earnings.
(of a person, animal, or part of the body) lean; thin. a tall

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6
Q

unfurl

A

spread out from a rolled state e.g. a yoga mat

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7
Q

guile

[gaa-il]

A

sly or cunning intelligence

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8
Q

duplicity

A

deceitfulness

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9
Q

artless

A

without guile or deception, natural, simple

e.g. an artless naive girl

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10
Q

perusal

A

the activity of carefully examining, reading, poring over, or studying something with the intent of remembering it.

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11
Q

sanctimonious

A

Making a show of being morally superior to other people.
Usually means hypocritical.
A sanctimonious person might think they’re holy, but their attitude comes across more like “holier-than-thou.”
e.g. preaching to a friend about the evils of drugs, while drinking one beer after another
e.g. what happened to all the sanctimonious talk about putting his family first?

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12
Q

split, divided

A

cleft

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13
Q

vulgar, perverted, but still kind of funny, makes dirty jokes

A

ribald

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14
Q

be confusing and perplexing, mistake one for another e,g. twins

A

confound

v.

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15
Q

spread out from a rolled state e.g. a yoga mat

A

unfurl

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16
Q

sly or cunning intelligence

A

guile

[gaa-il]

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17
Q

without guile or deception, natural, simple

A

artless

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18
Q

the activity of carefully examining, reading, poring over, or studying something with the intent of remembering it.

A

perusal

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19
Q

(of something provided) lacking in quantity or quality

(of a person, animal, or part of the body) lean; thin. a tall

A

meagre

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20
Q

deceitfulness synonym

A

duplicity

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21
Q

telling lies habitually

A

mendacious

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22
Q

Making a show of being morally superior to other people.

e.g. preaching to a friend about the evils of drugs, while drinking one beer after another

A

sanctimonious

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23
Q

forfeit

[for-fet]

A

lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing e.g. If you don’t finish your homework and eat all your broccoli, you’ll most likely forfeit your right to watch TV before going to bed.

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24
Q

liable

A

responsible by law

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25
Q

commonplace

A

ordinary, uninteresting, not unusual

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26
Q

ere

[literary/archaic]

A

before [in time]

e.g. we hope you will return ere long.

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27
Q

furrow

[fuh-row]

A

a trench, ditch in the ground

a wrinkle on a face

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28
Q

wane

A

grow smaller, decline e.g. my initial enthusiasm waned when i saw the paperwork
to wax and wane = grow bigger and smaller e.g. the Moon

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29
Q

lorn
adj.
[literary]

A

lonely and abandoned, forlorn, while pitifully sad

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30
Q

feign

A

pretend to be affected by e.g. she feigned nervousness

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31
Q

incisive

A

decisive, sharp and direct - like a knife that cuts right to the bone
intelligently analytical and clear-thinking

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32
Q

accretion

A

gradual growth or natural increase of additional matter or layers e.g. the accretion of lime stalactites

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33
Q

thereafter

A

after that time

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34
Q

droop

v.

A

bend or hang downwards limply e.g. a long black cloak drooped from his shoulders.

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35
Q

sag

v.

A

sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength

e. g. she let her head sag lower and lower
e. g. sagging shelves bearing rusty paint tins.

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36
Q

pretend to be affected by

A

feign

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37
Q

inveigh

A

speak or write about (something) with great hostility,
to rail against something with hostility and passion.
e.g. he liked to inveigh against all forms of academic training

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38
Q

decisive, sharp and direct - like a knife that cuts right to the bone
intelligently analytical and clear-thinking

A

incisive

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39
Q

wrest

A
  1. forcibly pull (something) from a person’s grasp, take forcibly e.g. Leila tried to wrest her arm from his hold.
  2. take (something, especially power or control) after considerable effort or difficulty e.g. they wanted people to wrest control of their lives from impersonal bureaucracies.
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40
Q

brood

n.

A

a family of birds or other young animals produced at one hatching or birth e.g. a brood of chicks.

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41
Q

conciliate

A

stop (someone) being angry or discontented; placate, pacify

e.g. concessions were made to conciliate the peasantry.

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42
Q

concession

A

a thing that is granted especially in response to demands

e.g. the government was unwilling to make any further concessions.

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43
Q

eminent

A

famous and respected within a particular sphere e.g. one of the world’s most eminent statisticians.
2. {of a positive quality} present in a notable degree e.g. the books eminent readability

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44
Q

gradual growth or natural increase of additional matter or layers

A

accretion

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45
Q

after that time

A

thereafter

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46
Q

bend or hang downwards limply

A

droop

v.

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47
Q

[literary]

lonely and abandoned, forlorn, while pitifully sad

A

lorn

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48
Q

speak or write about (something) with great hostility,

to rail against something with hostility and passion

A

inveigh

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49
Q

sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength

A

sag

v.

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50
Q
  1. forcibly pull (something) from a person’s grasp, take forcibly
  2. take (something, especially power or control) after considerable effort or difficulty
A

to wrest

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51
Q

grow smaller, decline

A

wane

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52
Q

a family of birds or other young animals produced at one hatching or birth e.g. a brood of chicks.

A

a brood

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53
Q

stop (someone) being angry or discontented; placate, pacify

A

conciliate

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54
Q

famous and respected within a particular sphere

2. {of a positive quality} present in a notable degree

A

eminent

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55
Q

a thing that is granted especially in response to demands

A

a concession

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56
Q

haul

[hól]

A

pull or drag with effort or force e.g. he hauled his bike out of the shed

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57
Q

induce

A
  1. [ with obj. and infinitive ] succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something e.g. the pickets induced many workers to stay away.
  2. bring about or give rise to e.g. none of these measures induced a change of policy.
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58
Q

lieu
(in lieu of)
[lú]

A

instead of e.g. the company issued additional shares to shareholders in lieu of a cash dividend.

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59
Q

schooner

[skúner]

A

a sailing ship with two masts, typically with foremast smaller than the main mast

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60
Q

yank

A

pull with a jerk e.g. her hair was yanked, and she screamed

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61
Q

fearmongering

A

the action of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue e.g. his campaign for re-election was based on fearmongering and deception.

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62
Q

bushel

[buh-shel]

A

a measure of capacity equivalent to around 36 litres

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63
Q

entomb

A
  1. place in a tomb (or a grave) e.g. mummies were entombed in the Pyramids
  2. bury or trap within e.g. many were entombed in the ruins of the building
64
Q

instead of

A

in lieu of

65
Q
  1. [ with obj. and infinitive ] succeed in persuading or leading (someone) to do something
  2. bring about or give rise to
A

induce

66
Q

pull with a jerk

A

yank

67
Q

a sailing ship with two masts, typically with foremast smaller than the main mast

A

a schooner

[skúner]

68
Q

pull or drag with effort or force

A

haul

[hól]

69
Q

a measure of capacity equivalent to around 36 litres

A

a bushel

[buh-shel]

70
Q
  1. place in a tomb (or a grave)

2. bury or trap within

A

entomb

71
Q

the action of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue

A

fearmongering

72
Q

interloper

A

a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.

73
Q

turmoil

A

a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty e.g. he endured years of inner turmoil.

74
Q

temerity

A

audacity, excessive confidence or boldness

75
Q

stringent

A

(of rules, conditions, requirements) strict, precise and exacting
demanding strict attention to rules
e.g. stringent guidelines on air pollution, teacher’s stringent demands

76
Q

tepid

A

lukewarm or half-hearted e.g. a tepid applause

77
Q

galore

A

[postpositive adj., after the noun] in abundance, so much it is unbelievable e.g. cupcake galore

78
Q

forbear

A

politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain from doing
e.g. he modestly forbears to include his own work.

79
Q

revolting

A

intensely disgusting

to revolt: rebel against, take violent action against e.g. a ruler

80
Q

gripe

A
  1. complain about something in a persistent, irritating way e.g. it’s no use griping about your boss or your pay
  2. a complaint
  3. gatric or intestinal pain
81
Q

insular

A

Having a narrow view of the world,” like insular people who never leave their small town.
Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.

82
Q

outlay

A

an amount of money spent on something e.g. a modest outlay on local advertising

83
Q

haulage

[how-ledge]

A
  1. The commercial transport of goods e.g. road haulage.

2. The act of hauling (pulling, dragging, propelling)

84
Q

feasible

A
  1. possible and practical to do easily or conveniently e.g. the Dutch have demonstrated that it is perfectly feasible to live below sea level.
  2. likely, probable
85
Q

defile

A

damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil e.g. the land was defiled by a previous owner.

86
Q

debase

A

reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade e.g. the love episodes debase the dignity of the drama.

87
Q

desecrate

A

treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect: more than 300 graves were desecrated.

88
Q

a person who becomes involved in a place or situation where they are not wanted or are considered not to belong.

A

interloper

89
Q
  1. The commercial transport of goods

2. the action of pulling, propelling

A

haulage

90
Q

intensely disgusting

A

revolting

91
Q

politely or patiently restrain an impulse to do something; refrain from doing

A

forbear

92
Q

Having a narrow view of the world, like people who never leave their small town.
Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.

A

insular

93
Q

an amount of money spent on something

A

outlay

94
Q
  1. possible and practical to do easily or conveniently

2. likely, probable

A

feasible

95
Q

damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil

A

defile

96
Q
  1. complain about something in a persistent, irritating way
  2. a complaint
  3. gatric or intestinal pain
A

gripe

97
Q

reduce (something) in quality or value; degrade

A

debase

98
Q

treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect

A

desecrate

[deh-secrate]

99
Q

[postpositive adj., after the noun] in abundance, so much it is unbelievable

A

galore

100
Q

lukewarm or half-hearted

A

tepid

101
Q

strict, precise and exacting

demanding strict attention to rules

A

stringent

102
Q

audacity, excessive confidence or boldness

A

temerity

103
Q

a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty

A

turmoil

104
Q

fastidious

A

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail e.g. she dressed with fastidious care.

  • fussy (hard to please, detailist)
    2. concerned about cleanliness
105
Q

imperious

A

arrogant and domineering: his imperious demands.

from latin: to command, empire

106
Q

hitherto

A

until now or until the point in time under discussion:

107
Q

fraught (with)

A

filled with something undesirable

middle english: fraughten = fill with cargo

108
Q

freight

A

goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft. a decline in the amount of freight carried by rail

109
Q

ruddy

A

(of a person’s face) having a healthy red colour: a cheerful pipe-smoking man of ruddy complexion.

110
Q

tantrum

A

an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child (or a politician) e.g. he has temper tantrums if he can’t get his own way.

111
Q

doff

A

remove a piece of clothing

take off or raise (one’s hat) as a greeting or token of respect e.g. the manager doffed his hat to her.

112
Q

rebuff

[reh-buff]

A

reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner, to snub e.g. I asked her to be my wife, and was rebuffed

113
Q

snub

A

rebuff, ignore, or spurn (reject with contempt) disdainfully e.g. they snubbed his invitation to a meeting of foreign ministers.

114
Q

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail

2. concerned about cleanliness

A

fastidious

115
Q

until now or until the point in time under discussion:

A

hitherto

116
Q

arrogant and domineering

A

imperious

117
Q

filled with something undesirable

A

fraught

118
Q

(of a person’s face) having a healthy red colour

A

ruddy

119
Q

goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.

A

freight

120
Q

remove a piece of clothing

take off or raise (one’s hat) as a greeting or token of respect

A

doff

121
Q

an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child

A

tantrum

122
Q

ignore, or spurn (reject with contempt) disdainfully

A

snub

123
Q

reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner

A

rebuff

124
Q

revoke

A

officially cancel e.g. the men appealed and the sentence was revoked.

125
Q

swoop

A

(especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air e.g. the barn owl can swoop down on a mouse in total darkness

126
Q

aggrieved

A

feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated e.g. they were aggrieved at the outcome.

127
Q

reprimand

A

a formal expression of disapproval e.g. the golfer received a reprimand for a breach of rules.

128
Q

gruff

A

(of a voice) rough and low in pitch e.g. she spoke with a gruff, masculine voice.

129
Q

clamber

A

climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet e.g. I clambered out of the trench.

130
Q

upholstery

A

soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas.

131
Q

canny

A

having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters e.g. canny investors will switch banks if they think they are getting a raw deal.

132
Q

afoul

A

into conflict or difficulty e.g. to run afoul, to go afoul of the law

133
Q

baleful

A
  • threatening harm; menacing e.g. Bill shot a baleful glance in her direction.
  • foreshadowing of tragic or evil events
134
Q

(especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air

A

swoop

135
Q

soft, padded textile covering that is fixed to furniture such as armchairs and sofas.

A

upholstery

136
Q

officially cancel

A

revoke

137
Q

feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated

adj.

A

aggrieved

138
Q

(of a voice) rough and low in pitch

A

gruff

139
Q

a formal expression of disapproval

A

reprimand

n./v.

140
Q

climb or move in an awkward and laborious way, typically using both hands and feet

A

clamber

141
Q

having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters

A

canny

142
Q

into conflict or difficulty, ussualy used with “run” or “fall”

A

afoul

143
Q
  • threatening harm; menacing

- foreshadowing of tragic or evil events

A

baleful

144
Q

falter

A

lose momentum, weaken e.g. the music has faltered

145
Q

enact

A
  1. ) make a law / a proposal e.g. legislation was enacted to attract new investors
  2. ) put into practice e.g. the new rules were enacted
146
Q

taunt

n.

A

an insulting or provocative comment made to anger someone; has a contemptuous connotation e.g. the pupils taunted her for being overweight
also verb: to provoke, insult

147
Q

a premise

A

a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion; a basis of a theory e.g. he called the police on the premise of seeing a thief in his backyard

148
Q

profligate

A
  1. ) recklessly extravagant (lacking restraint in terms of spending money; excessive) or wasteful with resources e.g. the profligate countries of the West
  2. ) dissolute, debauched e.g. a profligate lifestyle
149
Q
  1. ) make a law / a proposal

2. ) put into practice

A

enact

150
Q

an insulting or provocative comment made to anger someone; has a contemptuous connotation
also verb: to provoke, insult

A

taunt

151
Q

a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion; a basis of a theory

A

premise

152
Q
  1. ) recklessly extravagant (lacking restraint in terms of spending money; excessive) or wasteful with resources
  2. ) dissolute, debauched e.g. a lifestyle
A

profligate

153
Q

lose momentum, weaken

A

falter

154
Q

indelible

A

cannot be removed or erased like that indelible tattoo - you better like it!

155
Q

sacrosanct

A

inviolable, must be kept sacred

e.g. Teery’s sacrosanct veggie garden with chickens and barn owls

156
Q

unruly

A

not submitting to authority, boisterous, lacking in discipline
e.g. an unruly coil of wire or children running around not willing to go home

English (13 decks)

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