LXXXI

Question 1

flaccid /ˈflæsɪd/

Answer 1

soft and weak instead of firm

“a flaccid penis”

Question 2

vain /veɪn/

Answer 2

1) someone who is vain is too proud of their good looks, abilities, or position – used to show disapproval SYN conceited
“Men can be just as vain as women.”
2) a vain attempt, hope, or search fails to achieve the result you wanted
vain attempt/effort/bid
“The young mother died in a vain attempt to save her drowning son.”

in vain
a) without success in spite of your efforts
“Police searched in vain for the missing gunman.”
b) without purpose or without positive results
“Altman swore that his son’s death would not be in vain.”

take somebody’s name in vain
to talk about someone without showing respect for them
“How dare you take the Lord’s name in vain”

vain threat/promise etc
a threat, promise etc that is not worrying because the person cannot do what they say they will

Question 3

reproach /rɪˈprəʊtʃ/

Answer 3

1) criticism, blame, or disapproval
“‘You don’t need me, ’ she said quietly, without reproach.”
2) a remark that expresses criticism, blame, or disapproval
“He argued that the reproaches were unfair.”
3) to blame or criticize someone in a way that shows you are disappointed at what they have done
reproach somebody for/with something
“He publicly reproached his son for his behavior.”

above/beyond reproach
impossible to criticize SYN perfect
“His behaviour throughout this affair has been beyond reproach.”

a reproach to somebody/something
something that should make a person, society etc feel bad or ashamed
“These derelict houses are a reproach to the city.”

Question 4

conspiracy /kənˈspɪrəsi/

Answer 4

a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal → conspire
conspiracy to do something
“He was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.”
conspiracy against
“a conspiracy against the government”
“There were many conspiracy theories (=beliefs that something is the result of a conspiracy) surrounding Princess Diana’s death.”

conspiracy of silence
an agreement not to talk about something, even though it should not be a secret
“There’s often a conspiracy of silence surrounding bullying in schools.”

Question 5

duo /ˈdjuːəʊ/

Answer 5

1) two people who perform together or are often seen together
“the comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer”
2) a piece of music for two performers SYN duet

Question 6

feeble /ˈfiːbəl/

Answer 6

1) extremely weak OPP strong
“His voice sounded feeble and far away.”
“She was too feeble to leave her room.”

2) not very good or effective SYN weak
“a feeble excuse”
“a rather feeble committee”

Question 7

escalate /ˈeskəleɪt/

Answer 7

1) if fighting, violence, or a bad situation escalates, or if someone escalates it, it becomes much worse
escalate into
“Her fear was escalating into panic.”
“The fighting on the border is escalating.”
“We do not want to escalate the war.”
2) to become higher or increase, or to make something do this
“The costs were escalating alarmingly.”
“policies that escalate their own costs”
“escalating crime”

Question 8

closure /ˈkləʊʒə/

Answer 8

1) when a factory, school, hospital etc has to close permanently
“Several military bases are threatened with closure.”
factory/hospital/school etc closure
“the problem of school closures”
closure of
“the closure of St Bartholomew’s Hospital”
2) when a road, bridge etc is closed for a short time so that people cannot use it
“On the M40, there are lane closures near Oxford.”
3) when an event or a period of time is brought to an end, or the feeling that something has been completely dealt with
“Funerals help give people a sense of closure.”

Question 9

constraint /kənˈstreɪnt/

Answer 9

1) something that limits your freedom to do what you want SYN restriction
constraint on
 "Constraints on spending have forced the company to rethink its plans."
 "the constraints of family life"
financial/environmental/political etc constraints
 "There have been financial and political constraints on development."
impose/place constraints on somebody/something
 "constraints imposed on teachers by large class sizes"
2) control over the way people are allowed to behave, so that they cannot do what they want
 "freedom from constraint"

Question 10

hostile /ˈhɒstaɪl/

Answer 10

1) angry and deliberately unfriendly towards someone, and ready to argue with them
“Southampton fans gave their former coach a hostile reception.”
“Carr wouldn’t meet Feng’s stare, which was openly hostile.”
his hostile attitude
hostile to/towards
“The boy feels hostile towards his father.”
2) opposing a plan or idea very strongly
hostile to/towards
“Senator Lydon was hostile to our proposals.”
3) belonging to an enemy
hostile territory
4) used to describe conditions that are difficult to live in, or that make it difficult to achieve something
hostile environment/climate/terrain etc
“a guide to surviving in even the most hostile terrain”
“Sales increased last year despite the hostile economic environment.”