LXXVI Flashcards
posture /ˈpɒstʃə/
1) the way you position your body when sitting or standing
good/bad etc posture
“Poor posture can lead to muscular problems.”
“her upright posture”
2) the way you behave or think in a particular situation
posture towards
“He tends to adopt a defensive posture towards new ideas.”
composure /kəmˈpəʊʒə/
the state of feeling or seeming calm
recover/regain your composure (=become calm after feeling angry or upset)
“Carter looked stunned, but he soon regained his composure.”
keep/maintain your composure (=stay calm)
“The widow broke down in tears, but her daughters maintained their composure.”
“He has lost his composure under the pressure of the situation.”
pathetic /pəˈθetɪk/
1) something or someone that is pathetic is so useless, unsuccessful, or weak that they annoy you
“You’re pathetic! Here, let me do it.”
“I know it sounds pathetic now, but at the time I was frightened.”
“Vic made a pathetic attempt to apologise.”
2) making you feel pity or sympathy
“The child looked a pathetic sight.”
deputize /ˈdepjətaɪz/
1) to do the work of someone of a higher rank than you for a short time because they are unable to do it
deputize for
“Jed could deputise for Stewart, if necessary.”
2) to give someone below you in rank the authority to do your work for a short time, usually because you are unable to do it → delegate
adhere /ədˈhɪə/
to stick firmly to something
adhere to
“The eggs of these fish adhere to plant leaves.”
adhere to something
to continue to behave according to a particular rule, agreement, or belief
“We adhere to the principles of equal rights and freedom of expression for all.”
“I have adhered strictly to the rules.”
abide /əˈbaɪd/
to live somewhere
somebody can’t abide somebody/something
used to say that someone dislikes someone or something very much
“I can’t abide that man – he’s so self-satisfied.”
abide by something
to accept and obey a decision, rule, agreement etc, even though you may not agree with it
“You have to abide by the referee’s decision.”
foresight /ˈfɔːsaɪt/
the ability to imagine what is likely to happen and to consider this when planning for the future → forethought
“It was an example of the authorities’ lack of foresight.”
foresight to do something
“Luckily I’d had the foresight to get in plenty of food.”
watershed /ˈwɔːtəʃed/
1) an event or time when important changes happen in history or in your life SYN turning point
watershed in
“The 1932 election represented a watershed in American politics.”
watershed decision/case etc
“a watershed case on pension rights”
2) the high land separating two river systems
the (9 o’clock) watershed
British English the time in the evening after which television programmes that are not considered suitable for children may be shown in Britain
incision /ɪnˈsɪʒən/
a neat cut made into something, especially during a medical operation
diction /ˈdɪkʃən/
1) the way in which someone pronounces words
clear/perfect/good etc diction
“She had perfect diction.”
2) the choice and use of words and phrases to express meaning, especially in literature
