Made in Britain Flashcards
fruitful
abundantly productive
lucrative
producing wealth
dabbler
one not deeply engaged in or concerned with something
keen participant
very interested, eager, or wanting (to do) something very much
couch potato
a lazy and inactive person
therapeutic
having a beneficial effect on the body or mind
time-consuming
using or taking up a great deal of time
hooked on
very interested and enthusiastic about (something)
chores
a routine task or job
squat
to cause (oneself) to crouch or sit on the ground
hovel
an open shed or shelter
run down
being in poor repair
council/social housing
houses or apartments that are made available to be rented at a low cost by poor people
high rise/tower blocks
being multistory and equipped with elevators
household word
a common word or phrase
on the house
without charge
nothing to write home about
not very good or appealing
hit home
to become very clear and obvious in usually a forceful or unpleasant way
get a new lease on life
an occasion when you become more energetic and active than before
life in the fast lane
an exciting and eventful lifestyle, especially one bringing wealth and success
a dog’s life
a difficult, boring, and unhappy life
lead a sheltered life
to have a life in which you are protected too much and experience very little danger, excitement, or change
take your life in your hands
to do something that is very dangerous, especially where you risk death
breathe new life into
to give new energy and excitement to (something)
home truths
an unpleasant fact that jars the sensibilities
give way
to allow other vehicles to go past before you move onto a road
has the right of way
the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another
pedestrian crossing
a special place in a road where traffic must stop to allow people to walk across
ban
to forbid (= refuse to allow) something, especially officially
exhaust emissions
substances that come out of an exhaust system into the atmosphere
tyre tread
The tread of a tire or track refers to the rubber on its circumference that makes contact with the road or the ground
bald tyre
When a tire’s tread is completely worn down to the wear bars
tailback
a line of vehicles that have stopped or are moving only very slowly, because of an accident or other problem on the road in front of them
diverted
to cause something or someone to change direction
clamped
If you clamp something in a particular place, you hold it there tightly
skidded
(especially of a vehicle) to slide along a surface so that you have no control
head-on collision
a traffic collision where the front ends of two vehicles such as cars, trains, ships or planes hit each other in opposite directions
road rage
anger or violence between drivers, often caused by difficult driving conditions
pile-up
a traffic accident involving several vehicles that hit each other
roadworthy
(of a vehicle) in good enough condition to be driven without danger
jumping a red light
an idiomatic expression which means “to pass through an intersection while the traffic light is red without stopping.”
reckless driving
defined as a mental state in which the driver displays a wanton disregard for the rules of the road
disruption
an interruption in the usual way that a system, process, or event works
half board
a hotel room combined with breakfast and another meal either in the evening or in the middle of the day
full board
an arrangement in which all your meals are provided at the hotel or rooms that you are paying to stay in
low-cost
cheap
national carrier
a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given sovereign state
scheduled flight
a regular flight organized by the company that owns the aircraft
charter flight
a flight by an aircraft chartered for a specific journey, not part of an airline’s regular schedule
cancellation fee
a sum of money you must pay if you cancel a hotel reservation after the cancellation deadline
non-refundable
used to describe money that you pay that you cannot get back
value for money
based not only on the minimum purchase price (economy) but also on the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the purchase
inclusive of
including all the services or items normally expected or required
berth
a bed in a boat, train, etc., or a place for a ship or boat to stay in a port
upper deck
the topmost full-length deck of a ship
carriage
a vehicle with four wheels that is usually pulled by horses and was used mainly in the past
through train
a train usually making a limited number of stops on which passengers may travel to a scheduled destination without changing to another train
unlimited mileage
there is no limit set to the amount of miles you can use the car for, so the charge for rental will not change due to the amount of miles that you drive
self-catering
(of a holiday) having cooking facilities available so that you can cook meals for yourself rather than having them provided for you
sweltering
extremely and uncomfortably hot
chucking it down
To rain heavily
muggy/clammy
unpleasantly warm and the air contains a lot of water
prevailing
existing in a particular place or at a particular time
snowed under
having too much to do
whirlwind
a tall, spinning column of air that moves across the surface of the land or sea
nippy
able to change speed and direction easily
climate of distrust
the political climate
climate of change
lots of changes happening in an area
sunny disposition
cheerful character
frosty reception
unfriendly welcome
under a cloud
to not be trusted or popular because people think you have done something bad
cloud your judgement
to cause someone to be unable to think clearly
hail of bullets
large amounts of bullets
hail/storm of abuse
bursts of insults
hazy memory
vague memory
in the mists of history
a period of time so long ago that people cannot remember it
whirlwind romance
an exciting and usually short romantic relationship
thunderous applause
Very loud and deep applause
winds of change
forces that have the power to change things — used generally to mean change is going to happen
landing card
a card given to passengers on a plane or boat that they must fill in with personal information about themselves and show to officials when they arrive in a foreign country
customs declaration form
a form that is required by most nations before entering
entry regulations
Barriers to entry
spot checks
a quick examination of a few members of a group instead of the whole group
allowance
money that you are given regularly, especially to pay for a particular thing
port of entry
a place where a person enters a country, or goods are taken off a ship, etc.
enforce
to make people obey a law, or to make a particular situation happen or be accepted
clear customs
the act of passing goods through customs so that they can enter or leave the country
refugee
a person who has escaped from their own country for political, religious, or economic reasons or because of a war
claim asylum
Granting ‘asylum’ means giving someone permission to remain in another country because of that risk of persecution
traffic wardens
someone whose job is to make certain that people do not leave their cars in illegal places
security forces
Security Forces is an umbrella term frequently used to describe statutory organisations with internal security mandates
plain-clothes police
ordinary clothes when worn by police when they are working
anti-corruption squad
Designed to eradicate or prevent dishonest or fraudulent conduct, especially in a political context
centenary
(the day or year that is) 100 years after an important event
flamboyant
very confident in your behaviour, and liking to be noticed by other people, for example because of the way you dress, talk, etc.
raucous
loud and unpleasant
commemorates
to remember officially and give respect to a great person or event, especially by a public ceremony or by making a statue or special building
coronation
a ceremony at which a person is made king or queen
conquests
the act of conquering a country, area, or situation
shreds
to cut or tear something roughly into thin strips:
infantry
the part of an army that fights on foot
cavalry
the group of soldiers in an army who fight in tanks, or (especially in the past) on horses
monarch
a king or queen
nobility
honesty, courage, and kindness
armour
strong covering that protects something, especially the body
peasants
a person who owns or rents a small piece of land and grows crops, keeps animals, etc. on it, especially one who has a low income, very little education, and a low social position. This is usually used of someone who lived in the past or of someone in a poor country
warlord
a military leader who controls a country or, more often, an area within a country
fundamentally
in a basic and important way
denial
a statement that something is not true or does not exist
violation
an action that breaks or acts against something, especially a law, agreement, principle, or something that should be treated with respect
poverty line
the official level of income that is needed to achieve a basic living standard with enough money for things such as food, clothing, and a place to live
penury
the state of being extremely poor
sanitation
the systems for taking dirty water and other waste products away from buildings in order to protect people’s health
deprived
not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life, such as enough money, food, or good living conditions
affluence
the state of having a lot of money and possessions
make ends meet
to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need
destitute
without money, food, a home, or possessions
income bracket
a range of similar incomes used to calculate the rate of income tax that people must pay
malnourishment
weak and in bad health because of having too little food or too little of the types of food necessary for good health
impoverished
very poor
living from hand to mouth
to have just enough money to live on and nothing extra
money has been tight
Not having enough money
tighten our belts
to manage to spend less money
lobby
to try to persuade a politician, the government, or an official group that a particular thing should or should not happen, or that a law should be changed
petition
a document signed by a large number of people demanding or asking for some action from the government or another authority
bill
a request for payment of money owed, or the piece of paper on which it is written
rallies
a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters of a particular opinion
constitutes
to be or be considered as something
allegations
a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal
substantive
important, serious, or related to real facts
constitutions
the set of political principles by which a state or organization is governed, especially in relation to the rights of the people it governs
briefing
information that is given to someone just before they do something, or a meeting where this happens
scrutinising
to examine something very carefully in order to discover information
wide-ranging expertise
covering many subjects
conduct
to organize and perform a particular activity
policies
a set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party
liberation
an occasion when something or someone is released or made free
solidarity
agreement between and support for the members of a group, especially a political group
delegates
a person chosen or elected by a group to speak, vote, etc. for them, especially at a meeting
infrastructure
the basic systems and services, such as transport and power supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively
undertaken
to do or begin to do something, especially something that will take a long time or be difficult
customary
usual
undeniably
certainly true
upholds
to defend or keep a principle or law, or to say that a decision that has already been made, especially a legal one, is correct
injustice
(an example of) a situation in which there is no fairness and justice
justified
having a good reason for something
illiteracy
a lack of the ability to read and write
foundation
an occasion when an organization, state, etc. is established
minorities
a smaller number or part
march
an event in which a large number of people walk through a public place to express their support for something, or their disagreement with or disapproval of something
bend the law
to change the rules in a way that is considered to be not important or not harmful
contravene
to do something that a law or rule does not allow, or to break a law or rule
infringe
to break a rule, law, etc.
impeach
to make a formal statement saying that a public official is guilty of a serious offence in connection with their job, especially in the US
verdict
an opinion or decision made after judging the facts that are given, especially one made at the end of a trial
quash
to say officially that something, especially an earlier official decision, is no longer to be accepted
precedent
an action, situation, or decision that has already happened and can be used as a reason why a similar action or decision should be performed or made
custody
the legal right or duty to care for someone or something, especially a child after its parents have separated or died
lay down the law
to forcefully make known what you think should happen
annulment
to officially announce that something such as a law, agreement, or marriage no longer exists
amend
to change the words of a text, especially a law or a legal document
law-abiding
Someone who is law-abiding obeys the law
insider dealing
the illegal buying and selling of shares in a company by people who have special information because they are involved with the company
money laundering
the crime of moving money that has been obtained illegally through banks and other businesses to make it seem as if the money has been obtained legally
perjury
the crime of telling lies in court when you have promised to tell the truth
trespassing
o go onto someone’s land or enter their building without permission
award custody to
to give one parent or adult the main responsibility for a child, especially after separation or divorce
harass
to continue to annoy or upset someone over a period of time
embezzle
to secretly take money that is in your care or that belongs to an organization or business you work for
allege
to say that someone has done something illegal or wrong without giving proof
law into your own hands
to do something illegal and often violent in order to punish someone because you know the law will not punish that person
be a law unto yourself
to behave in a way that is independent and does not follow the usual rules for a situation
pervert the course of justice
to change something so that it is not what it was or should be, or to influence someone in a harmful way
uphold a verdict
to say that a previous decision was correct
overturn a verdict
to say that a previous decision in court was incorrect
broadcast
to send out a programme on television or radio
pressure groups
a group of people who work together to try to influence what other people or the government think about a particular subject, in order to achieve the things they want
soundbite
a short sentence or phrase that is easy to remember, often included in a speech made by a politician and repeated in newspapers and on television and radio
coverage
the reporting of a particular important event or subject
rag/gutter press
the type of newspapers that pay more attention to shocking stories about crime and sex than to serious matters
scoop
a story or piece of news discovered and published by one newspaper before all the others
run a story
publish a story
hit the headlines
to appear in the news suddenly or receive a lot of attention in news reports
libel
a piece of writing that contains bad and false things about a person
muckraking
the activity, especially by newspapers and reporters, of trying to find out unpleasant information about people or organizations in order to make it public
put their own gloss
present it in their own way
tapping useful sources
making use of people or organisations which regularly provide news
seeking publicity
eager to attract publicity
monitoring
to watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time in order to discover something about it
defamation of character
the act of harming someone’s reputation by saying or writing bad things about them
occurrence
something that happens
goes to press
go to be printed
primary care
medical treatment provided by local doctors or other health workers, rather than special treatment in a hospital
surgery/clinic
the treatment of injuries or diseases in people or animals by cutting open the body and removing or repairing the damaged part
general practitioner
a doctor who provides general medical treatment for people who live in a particular area
insurance schemes
collectively organized insurance schemes in which employees and/or others are obliged or encouraged to spread risk by taking out insurance against certain social risks
off colour
slightly ill
out of sorts
in an unhappy mood
under the weather
If someone is or feels under the weather, they feel ill
coming down with
to start to suffer from an illness, especially one that is not serious
bunged up
If your nose is bunged up, you find it difficult to breathe because you have a cold
on the mend
becoming healthy after an illness
aches and pains
any minor pains that you feel in your body
shivery
shaking slightly because you feel cold, frightened, or ill
nauseous
feeling as if you might vomit
throbbing
to produce a strong, regular beat
cuts and bruises
minor injuries
over the worst
the worst part of a sickness has past
back on her feet
well or successful again after being ill or having problems
rambling
too long and confused
cramped
not having enough space or time
congested
too blocked or crowded and causing difficulties
hemmed in
to surround someone and prevent them from moving or doing what they want to do
poky
A poky room, house, or other place is unpleasantly small and uncomfortable
boundary
a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something
bustling
If a place is bustling, it is full of busy activity
squash
to crush something into a flat shape
isn’t enough room to swing a cat
said about a place or space that is very small
crammed into
to fill (something) so that there is no room for anything else
packed in like sardiness
If people are packed or squashed like sardines, they are positioned very close together so that they cannot move
