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literature vocab 4 Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

complicit

A

involved with others in an activity that is unlawful or morally wrong e.g. the careers of those complicit in the sexist propaganda were blighted (harmed, destroyed)

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2
Q

paradigm

A

a typical example or pattern of something e.g. society’s paradigm of the ‘ideal woman’.

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3
Q

pester

A

trouble or annoy (someone) with frequent or persistent requests or interruptions: she constantly pestered him with telephone calls.

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4
Q

percolate

A
  1. (of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance: the water percolating through the soil or coffee in the percolator
  2. full of lively activity or excitement: the night was percolating with an expectant energy.
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5
Q

grievous

A

very severe or serious

e.g. his death was a grievous blow | the American fleet suffered grievous losses.

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6
Q

a typical example or pattern of something

A

paradigm

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7
Q

rebuke

A

express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behaviour or actions: she had rebuked him for drinking too much | the judge publicly rebuked the jury.
2. also reprimand or scold

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8
Q

defiant

[de-fay-nt]

A

showing open resistance; bold disobedience e.g. the demonstration was held in defiance of official warnings.
(Someone who is defiant is bold, even in the face of defeat. A defiant person is usually fighting a powerful enemy. People who protest in countries controlled by dictators are defiant. Rosa Parks was defiant when she refused to give up her seat on the bus, even though the law at that time dictated that black people had to stand when whites needed a seat.)

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9
Q

foreboding

[noun/adj.]

A

[noun] a feeling that something bad will happen; fearful apprehension: with a sense of foreboding she read the note.
[adjective] implying that something bad is going to happen: when the Doctor spoke, his voice was dark and foreboding.

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10
Q

involved with others in an activity that is unlawful or morally wrong

A

complicit

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11
Q

trouble or annoy (someone) with frequent or persistent requests or interruptions

A

pester

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12
Q

stocky

A

(body) short, broad and sturdily built

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13
Q

to be as thick as thieves

A

close friends

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14
Q

As thick as two short planks

A

be exceedingly stupid

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15
Q
  1. (of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance
  2. full of lively activity or excitement
A

percolate

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16
Q

very severe or serious

A

grevious

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17
Q

impinge

A
  1. intrude (think of it as moving in on someone’s territory)

2. affect negatively e.g. several factors impinge on market efficiency.

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18
Q

heresy

A

belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine
2. opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted: the heresy of being uncommitted to the right political dogma.

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19
Q

profound

A

very great or intense

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20
Q

apprehension

[3 meanings]

A
  1. anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
  2. understanding; grasp e.g. his first apprehension of such large issues
  3. the capture of a criminal
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21
Q

to quail

A

feel fear or apprehension

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22
Q

beget

A

to cause, bring about, generate (usually children) or metaphorically e.g. an inspiration can beget a brilliant idea.

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23
Q

sentient

A

able to perceive or feel things e.g. sentient creatures

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24
Q

(body) short, broad and sturdily built

A

stocky

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25
Q

express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behaviour or actions
2. reprimand or scold

A

rebuke

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26
Q

showing open resistance; bold disobedience

A

defiant

[de-fay-nt]

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27
Q
  1. [noun] a feeling that something bad will happen; fearful apprehension
  2. [adjective] implying that something bad is going to happen
A

foreboding

[noun/adj.]

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28
Q

close friends

[phrase]

A

as thick as thieves

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29
Q

to cause, bring about, generate (usually children) or metaphorically

A

beget

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30
Q
  1. anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen
  2. understanding
  3. the capture of a criminal
A

apprehension

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31
Q

able to perceive or feel things

A

sentient

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32
Q

feel fear or apprehension

A

to quail

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33
Q

very great or intense

A

profound

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34
Q

belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine
2. opinion profoundly at odds with what is generally accepted

A

heresy

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35
Q
  1. intrude (think of it as moving in on someone’s territory)

2. affect negatively

A

impinge (on/upon)

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36
Q

quirky

A

unconventional and with a strange mix of traits that somehow end up being kind of interesting or charming.

  • [informal terms] strikingly unconventional
    e. g. Your friend with the pink hair, the excellent vocabulary, and the totally inappropriate wit
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37
Q

precocious

A

having developed skills or inclinations at an earlier age than is expected
e.g. children beyond their years in skill or knowledge

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38
Q

preposterous

A

contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous

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39
Q

dishevelled

A

(of a person’s hair, clothes, or appearance) untidy; disordered: a man with long dishevelled hair.

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40
Q

fretful

A

nervous and unable to relax

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41
Q

bluster

A
  1. strong wind or to blow hard

2. act in an arrogant, overly self-assured manner especially with false confidence (e.g. i will beat you!)

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42
Q

conceited

A

excessively proud

vain

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43
Q

unconventional and with a strange mix of traits that somehow end up being kind of interesting or charming

A

quirky

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44
Q

grope

A

search blindly or uncertainly by feeling with the hands

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45
Q

smug

A

showing an excessive pride in oneself or one’s achievements

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46
Q

atrocity

A

act of outrageous cruelty, inhumanity

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47
Q

audacity

A
  1. willingness to take daring, bold - and perhaps reckless - risks
  2. impertinent, rude behavior e.g. she had the audacity to ask me …
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48
Q

having developed skills or inclinations at an earlier age than is expected

A

precocious

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49
Q

nervous and unable to relax

A

fretful

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50
Q

contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous

A

preposterous

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51
Q

(of a person’s hair, clothes, or appearance) untidy

A

dishevelled

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52
Q

search blindly or uncertainly by feeling with the hands

A

grope

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53
Q

excessively proud

vain

A

conceited

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54
Q
  1. strong wind or to blow hard

2. act in an arrogant, overly self-assured manner especially with false confidence (e.g. i will beat you!)

A

bluster

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55
Q

showing an excessive pride in oneself or one’s achievements

A

smug

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56
Q

act of outrageous cruelty, inhumanity

A

atrocity

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57
Q
  1. willingness to take daring, bold - and perhaps reckless - risks
  2. impertinent, rude behavior
A

audacity

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58
Q

subside

A
  1. become less intense, violent, or severe
  2. (subside in/into) give way to (an overwhelming feeling, especially laughter): Anthony and Mark subsided into mirth.
  3. sink, go down
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59
Q

aggrieved

A

anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment
(if the word “indignated” existed, this would be it)

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60
Q

conviction

A

an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

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61
Q

hubris

A

excessive pride or confidence

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62
Q

rangy

A

tall and slim with long, slender limbs: the rangy, untidy figure of the young magician.

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63
Q

gawky

A

nervously awkward and ungainly e.g. a lanky person

64
Q

strangle

A
  1. [v.] škrtiť
  2. [adj.] strangled - sounding as though the throat is constricted e.g. a strangled gasp
  3. [v.] suppress a sound or action e.g. to strangle a sob
  4. [v.] hinder or hamper development or activity e.g. they allowed bureaucracy to strangle creativity
65
Q

hinder

A

to block or put something in the way; be an obstacle to.

make it difficult for someone to do something.

66
Q

hamper

A
  1. [v.] delay or prevent progress (but not shut down completely) e.g. driving a car during bad weather
  2. [noun] a picnic basket with a cover
67
Q

impede

A

delay or prevent by obstruction; hinder

68
Q

stampede

A
  1. [noun] a panicked rush of animals such as cattle
  2. [v. without obj.] move rapidly in a mass e.g. during Christmas, desperate parents stampede the mall
  3. [v. with obj.] cause to run rapidly in a mass e.g. the raiders stampeded 200 mules
69
Q

addled

A

unable to think clearly (humorous) e.g. love addles you / addled by love

70
Q

excessive pride or confidence

A

hubris

71
Q
  1. become less intense, violent, or severe
  2. give way to an overwhelming feeling, especially laughter
  3. sink, go down
A

subside

72
Q

anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment
(if the word “indignated” existed, this would be it)

A

aggrieved

73
Q

nervously awkward and ungainly e.g. a lanky person

A

gawky

74
Q
  1. [v.] škrtiť
  2. [adj.] sounding as though the throat is constricted e.g. a strangled gasp
  3. [v.] suppress a sound or action
  4. [v.] hinder or hamper development or activity
A

strangle

75
Q

tall and slim with long, slender limbs

A

rangy

76
Q

scrawny

A

unattractively skinny and bony - an animal, a tree, a person (insulting)

77
Q

ominous

A

giving the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen e.g. there were ominous dark clouds gathering overhead.

78
Q

auspicious

A

promising to success; favourable

opposite: inauspicious

79
Q

to block or put something in the way; be an obstacle to.

make it difficult for someone to do something.

A

hinder

80
Q

unable to think clearly (humorous)

A

addled

81
Q
  1. [v.] delay or prevent progress (but not shut down completely) e.g. driving a car during bad weather
  2. [noun] a basket with a cover for a picnic
A

hamper

82
Q

delay or prevent by obstruction; hinder

A

impede

83
Q
  1. [noun] a panicked rush of animals such as cattle
  2. [v. without obj.] move rapidly in a mass
  3. [v. with obj.] cause to run rapidly in a mass
A

stampede

84
Q

frivolity

A

lack of seriousness; clownish light-heartedness

85
Q

yelp

[n./v.]

A

a short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm

to yelp = utter a yelp

86
Q

quarry

A
  1. animal’s prey or a chased/pursued person

2. a stone excavation (surface or a deep pit) (verb = extract from a quarry)

87
Q

cobble

A
  1. a stone in old pavements

2. to repair or mend

88
Q

reprimand

[n./v.]

A
  1. a formal expression of disapproval.

2. to rebuke formally

89
Q

admonitory

A

giving a scolding warning or reprimand e.g. she raised her admonitory finger at her child.

90
Q

sliver

[n./v.]

A

‘trieska’

a small and thin fragment of something larger e.g. cheese, wood, metal

91
Q

vermin

A

animals considered as an agricultural harm

škodcovia

92
Q
  1. animal’s prey or a chased/pursued person

2. a stone excavation (surface or a deep pit) (verb = extract from a quarry)

A

quarry

93
Q

forestall

[fore-stol]

A 
act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent them from doing something e.g. he would have spoken but David forestalled him.
// stall means delay or stop from progress
94
Q

deteriorate

A

become progressively worse

95
Q
  1. a formal expression of disapproval.

2. to rebuke formally

A

reprimand

96
Q
  1. a stone in old pavements

2. to repair or mend

A

cobble

97
Q

[adj.] giving a scolding warning or reprimand or reproach

A

admonitory

98
Q

reproach

A

express a disapproval or a disappointment in someone

99
Q

‘trieska’

a small and thin fragment of something larger e.g. cheese, wood, metal

A

sliver

100
Q

animals considered as an agricultural harm

škodcovia

A

vermin

101
Q

relapse

A

(of a sick or injured person) return to a worse state after improvement

102
Q

reminiscence

A

a memory, or the act of recovering it

103
Q

obnoxious

A

extremely unpleasant or annoying e.g. a smell or a person

104
Q

act in advance of (someone) in order to prevent them from doing something

A

forestall

[fore-stol]

105
Q

become progressively worse

A

deteriorate

106
Q

implicit

A

suggested or understood though not directly expressed e.g. comments seen as implicit criticism

107
Q

scathe

[n./v.]

A

to harm or injure

a harm or injury

108
Q

eloquent

A

readily expressed, effective, fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing: an eloquent speech.

109
Q

slither

[v.]

A

move smoothly over a surface with a twisting or oscillating motion e.g. a snake

110
Q

(of a sick or injured person) return to a worse state after improvement

A

relapse

111
Q

extremely unpleasant or annoying e.g. a smell or a person

A

obnoxious

112
Q

a memory, or the act of recovering it

A

reminiscence

113
Q

suggested or understood though not directly expressed

A

implicit

114
Q

to harm or injure

a harm or injury

A

scathe

115
Q

gripe

[n./v.]

A

to complain

a complaint

116
Q

ail

A

afflict or trouble the mind or body e.g. exercise is good for whatever ails one.

117
Q

readily expressed, effective, fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing

A

eloquent

118
Q

move smoothly over a surface with a twisting or oscillating motion e.g. a snake

A

slither

119
Q

torpor

A

mental or physical inactivity

120
Q

finicky

A

(of a person) Picky or fussy about their needs or requirements, esp. food.
Someone pointlessly precise and hard to please

121
Q

petty

A

of little importance, trivial

122
Q

frigid

A

very cold in temperature or behaviour (unfriendly, contemptuous)

123
Q

withhold

A
  1. refuse to give (something that is due or desired by another)
  2. (emotion) suppress or hold back
124
Q

unprecedented

A

never done, experienced or known before

125
Q

to complain

a complaint

A

gripe

[n./v.]

126
Q

afflict or trouble the mind or body e.g. exercise is good for whatever ails one.

A

ail

127
Q

precinct

A

an enclosed or clearly defined area e.g. pedestrian precinct or police precinct

128
Q

fray

A

unravel or wear away, typically through constant rubbing e.g. cheap fabric soon frays.
2. intense competition; battle or fight

129
Q

mental or physical inactivity

A

torpor

130
Q

of little importance, trivial

A

petty

131
Q

(of a person) Picky or fussy about their needs or requirements, esp. food.
Someone pointlessly precise and hard to please

A

finicky

132
Q

very cold in temperature or behaviour (unfriendly, contemptuous)

A

frigid

133
Q
  1. refuse to give (something that is due or desired by another)
  2. (emotion) suppress or hold back
A

withhold

134
Q

endeavour

A

[v.] try hard, strive for something

[n.] 1. an attempt to achieve a goal 2. prolonged and earnest effort

135
Q

an enclosed or clearly defined area e.g. pedestrian precinct or police precinct

A

precinct

136
Q

never done, experienced or known before

A

unprecedented

137
Q
  1. unravel or wear away, typically through constant rubbing

2. intense competition; battle or fight

A

fray

138
Q

to baulk

A

[no obj.] hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea e.g. he baulked at such a drastic solution
[ with obj. ] thwart or hinder (a plan or person): he raised every objection he could to baulk this plan.

139
Q

thwart

A
  1. prevent (someone) from accomplishing something, hinder
  2. oppose (a plan or attempt) successfully e.g. the government thwarted all attempts by opposition leaders to form new parties
140
Q

albeit

A

though

141
Q

expend

A

spend or use up (a resource such as money or energy)

142
Q

intermittent

A

occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady e.g. intermittent rain.

143
Q

renounce

A

to officially give up or turn away from

e.g. people on a diet usually renounce pizza and chocolate OR he renounced his claim to the throne

144
Q

tenet

A

a main principle or belief of a religion or philosophy

145
Q

impecunious

A

having little or no money

146
Q
  1. prevent (someone) from accomplishing something, hinder

2. oppose (a plan or attempt) successfully

A

thwart

147
Q

[no obj.] hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea

[ with obj. ] thwart or hinder (a plan or person)

A

to baulk

148
Q

though [synonym]

A

albeit

149
Q

occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady

A

intermittent

150
Q

spend or use up (a resource such as money or energy)

A

expend

151
Q

dismay

A

concern, fear and distress caused by something unexpected: to his dismay, she left him.

152
Q

appal

A

greatly horrify or dismay e.g. bankers are appalled at the economic incompetence of some ministers

153
Q

to officially give up or turn away from

A

renounce

154
Q

a main principle or belief of a religion or philosophy

A

tenet

155
Q

having little or no money

A

impecunious

English (13 decks)

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