New vocabulary (2) Flashcards
1000 words
1
Q
let through
A
(phr v) allow sb to pass sth
I was let through to the front of the queue.
2
Q
let up
A
(phr v) (unpleasant, continuous process, weather) stops or becomes less intense
The traffic in this city never lets up, even at night.
The rain had let up.
3
Q
let up on sb/sth
A
(phr v) treat sb less severely, be less harsh or strict about sth
The students might respond better if the teacher let up on them a little.
There were some moves to let up on this curfew a little bit.
4
Q
out in the open
A
(idiom) (secrets) revealed, known
The medical service had advised us to keep it a secret, but we wanted it in the open.
5
Q
out-and-out
A
(idiom) (unpleasant quality, person or thing) complete, total
The whole project was an out-and-out disaster.
6
Q
out of print
A
(idiom) (books) no longer available
Most of her books went out of print years ago.
7
Q
out of a frying pan into the fire
A
(idiom) from a bad situation to a worse
Many kids who try to run away from unhappy homes discover that they’ve jumped out of the frying pan into the fire when they try to live on their own.
8
Q
past sb’s prime
in sb’s prime
A
(idiom) hết thời
He can still play, but he’s past his prime.
(idiom) đang strong thời hoàng kim
As a champion swimmer, there is no doubt that she is in her prime.
9
Q
pop the question
A
(idiom) propose sb
So did he pop the question, then?
10
Q
short and sweet
A
(idiom) surprisingly short in a way that is pleasing
This morning’s meeting was short and sweet.
11
Q
status symbol
A
(idiom) property or possession that shows sb’s social status
Among young people, this brand of designer clothing is the ultimate status symbol.
12
Q
take sth to pieces
A
(idiom) seperate sth into smaller parts
If you take the bookcase to pieces, it will fit in the back of your car.
13
Q
white elephant
A
(idiom) sth that is expensive to maintain but is useless, unwanted possession
The Olympic committee discourages host cities from building sports venues that turn into costly white elephants.
Please donate all your white elephants for us to sell in our charity shop.
14
Q
larger than life
A
(idiom) (sb/sth) behaving in a way that is exaggerated and more importan than others
Throughout his career he’s always been a larger than life character.
15
Q
on its last legs
A
(idiom) in such a bad condition and need to be replaced soon
I’ve had this laptop for five years now, and it’s really on its last legs.
16
Q
lay it on a bit thick
A
(idiom) praise sb too much
She went on and on about how she admired his work - laid it on a bit thick, if you ask me.
17
Q
by/in leaps and bounds
A
(idiom) improve quickly
Her Spanish has come on in leaps and bounds this year.
18
Q
leave sb in the lurch
A
(idiom) leave sb when they need you the most
He said he would help with the rent, but he left me in the lurch.
19
Q
not for love nor money
A
(idiom) impossible to achieve
You can’t get hold of those tickets for love nor money these days.
20
Q
lost on sb
A
(idiom) be not understood or noticed by sb
His jokes were completely lost on most of the students.
21
Q
put sth on the line
A
(idiom) risk sth
Firefighters put their lives on the line every working day.
22
Q
draw the line
A
(idiom) never do sth as you think it is wrong
I swear a lot, but even I draw the line at saying certain words.
23
Q
bring sb/sth into line (with sb/sth)
A
(idiom) behave or make sb/sth behave in the same way as other people or how they should behave
The actions of investors do not always fall into line with financial theory.
24
Q
follow (instructions, rules) to the letter
A
(idiom) carefully do exactly what you have been told to do
I followed the instructions for the letter and it still went wrong.
25
let sth out
(phr v) give out a shout, cry, etc.; make a shirt, coat, etc. looser or larger
Everyone let out a huge sigh of relief.
Your skirt needs letting out; it's too small.
26
incivility
(n) rudeness
Mark's incivility to customers led to his finally being dismissed.
27
permutation
(n) ways in which a set of things can be ordered, one of several different forms
There are 120 permutations of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: for example, 1, 3, 2, 4, 5 or 5, 1, 4, 2, 3.
The company has had five different names in its various permutations over the last few years.
28
wear on
(phr v) (period of time) pass slowly
She felt less confident about finishing the work as the week wore on.
29
bear a resemblance to
(idiom) very similar to sb/sth
She bore a resemblance to her aunt.
30
droves
(n) a group of people going to a place
Every summer droves of sightseers crowd the city.
31
across the board
(idiom) affecting everyone or everything within an organization, system, or society
The improvement has been across the board, with all divisions either increasing profits or reducing losses.
32
swarm
(v) If a place is swarming with people or things, there are large numbers of them moving around it
Sth must be going on - the streets are swarming with police.
33
on hand
in hand
(close/near) at hand
(idiom) available to help
The emergency services were on hand with medical advice.
(idiom) (time or money) left and available to be used
We managed to redecorate the house and still have some savings in hand.
(idiom) close to you in time or distance
Help was at hand.
The property is ideally located with all local amenities close at hand.
33
amenity
(n) sth that makes life more pleasant or comfortable for people living or staying there
The council has some spare cash, which it proposes to spend on public amenities.
34
yearn (for sb/sth)
(v) want sth very much, especially when it is very difficult to get
The people yearned for peace.
35
rendition
(n) a way of performing a song, piece of music, poem, etc.
They ended the concert with a powerful rendition of "I lay my love on you".
36
a slip of the tongue
(idiom) sth you said by accident when you intended to say sth else
I called her new boyfriend by her previous boyfriend's name - it was just a slip of the tongue.
37
chilly
(adj) (weather, condition in the room, body parts) cold, unfriendly
I felt a bit chilly so I put on a jacket.
I went to see the sales manager but got a rather chilly reception.
38
pristine
(adj) original and pure, not spoiled or worn
The car seemed to be in pristine condition.
39
siege
(n) the surrounding of a place by an armed force in order to defeat those defending it
The castle was under siege for months.
40
at a glance
(idiom) immediately
She knew, at a glance, that her mother was upset with her
41
turbulence
(n) a state of confusion without any order, strong sudden movements within air or water
The era was characterized by political and cultural turbulence.
We might be experiencing some turbulence on this flight due to an approaching electrical storm.
42
curator
(n) the person in charge of a museum, library, etc.
43
dismay
(n) a feeling of unhappiness and disappointment
She discovered, to her dismay, that her exam was a whole month earlier than she'd expected.
44
stand for sth
(phr v) tolerate, support ideas, represents sth (country, organisation, words, etc.)
I wouldn't stand for that sort of behaviour from him, if I were you.
This party stands for low taxes and individual freedom.
GMT stands for Greenwich Mean Time.
45
stand by sb
(phr v) continue to help or support sb
He stood by her through the difficult times.
46
glimmer
(v, n) shine with a weak or noncontinuous light; a light that glimmers weakly, a slight sign of sth positive
The lights of the village were glimmering in the distance.
We saw a glimmer of light in the distance.
This month's sales figures offer a glimmer of hope for the depressed economy.
47
frown on/upon sth
(phr v) disapprove of
Smoking is frowned upon in many societies.
48
glow
(v, n) produce a continuous light or heat, look happy and healthy; continuous light or heat that is produced by sth, the fact of feeling or appearing healthy and happy, a positive feeling
This substance is so radioactive that it glows in the dark.
The children's faces were glowing with excitement.
the glow of the fire
Like all the staff at the health club she had the healthy glow of the young and fit.
They felt a glow of pride as they watched their daughter collect the award.
49
wet blanket
(n) sb who spoil other people's joy
50
immunity
(n) a situation when you're protected from disease or legal action
The vaccination gives you immunity against the disease for up to six months.
He was granted immunity from prosecution because he confessed the names of the other spies.
51
remnant
(n) a small piece or amount of sth left from a larger original piece or amount
the remnants of last night's meal
52
pinnacle
(n) the most successful or admired part of a system or achievement, a small pointed tower on top of a building, the top part of a mountain
By the age of 32 she had reached the pinnacle of her career.
The pinnacles of the Himalayas were visible above the clouds.
53
loiter
(v) move slowly around or stand in a public place without an obvious reason
A gang of youths were loitering outside the cinema.
54
manslaughter
(n) the crime of killing a person unintentionally
She was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for manslaughter.
55
pressure group
(n) a group of people who work together to try to influence the activities of governments, companies, etc.
The environmental pressure group will today call for more regulation to protect the interests of local communities.
56
lay sth down
(phr v) store wine for future use, put down weapons and stop fighting, officially establish a rule
They laid down their weapons and surrendered.
This is in line with the policy laid down by the management.
57
articulate
(adj) able to express thoughts and feelings clearly, showing this quality
an intelligent and highly articulate young woman
She gave a witty, entertaining, and articulate speech.
58
against your better judgement
(idiom) even though you feel you are not making the best decision
Against his better judgment, he gave John the job.
59
credibility
(n) the fact that sb can be trusted
A mistake like that will do his credibility a lot of harm.
60
discharge (from somewhere)
(v) allow sb officially to leave somewhere (hospital or a law court)
Patients were discharged from the hospital because the beds were needed by other people.
61
spare (v)
(v) not hurt or destroy sb/sth; stop sb from experiencing sth unpleasant; give time, money, or space to sb, especially when it is difficult for you
They asked him to spare the women and children.
Luckily, I was spared the embarrassment of having to sing in front of everyone.
I'd love to come, but I can't spare the time.
62
takings
(n) all the money that a business gets from sales
Our takings were down this week because the weather was so bad.
63
under fire
(idiom) being attacked with guns or severe criticism
The troops were under fire for weeks.
64
take/put sb into care = in care
(phr) not living with natural parents but instead with a national or local government organization or another family
Both children were taken into care when their parents died.
65
inadvertently
(adv) unintentionally
The text was edited in a way that inadvertently changed its meaning.
66
water down sth
(phr v) add water to an alcoholic drink to make it weaker, make idea/opinion/law less extreme
The law was watered down after it failed to pass the legislature the first time.
67
mob
(n) a large and angry crowd, an organization of criminal, a group of people who are friends or similar
50 people were killed in three days of mob violence.
a New York mob leader
The usual mob were hanging out at the bar.
68
throng
(v, n) go sw in large numbers, a large group of people
The narrow streets were thronged with summer visitors.
A huge throng had gathered around the speaker.
69
clique
(n) a small group of people who spend their time together and do not welcome other people into that group
There's a clique at work that never talks/who never talk to anyone else.
70
pretext
(n) a pretended reason to do sth with a view to hiding the real reason
I called her on the pretext of needing more information.
71
omen
(n) a sign of a future event
The team's final victory of the season is a good omen for the playoffs, which start next week.
72
enchanting
(adj) very pleasant
Belgium is an enchanting country.
73
suitably
(adv) in a way/degree/extent that is suitable or acceptable for a situation
There are rules about dressing suitably.
We were suitably impressed by his story.
74
lapse
(v, n) a temporary failure, an interval; (contract, agreement, etc.) no longer be legally recognized because the period of time that it lasts has come to an end
The management's decision to ignore the safety warnings demonstrated a remarkable lapse of judgment.
He turned up again after a lapse of two years.
The booking will automatically lapse if the deposit is not paid within two weeks.
75
prerogative
(adj) the rights, privileges, or duties that sb has
Alex makes all the big decisions - that's his prerogative as company director.
76
harm a hair on sb's head
(idiom) hurt sb
“I wouldn't harm a hair on her head,” he said.
77
shoal/school of fish
(phr) a large number of fish swimming as a group
We could see shoals of tiny fish darting around.
78
on the house
(idiom) given for free by a business
All the drinks were on the house.
79
cut your political, professional, etc. teeth
(idiom) get your first experience of the type mentioned
She cut her political teeth on student debates.
80
on a par (with sb/sth)
(idiom) equal to sb/sth
Property in this bustling city is valued even higher, almost on a par with London.
81
bend sb's ear
(idiom) talk to sb for a long time about a problem or for seeking advice
He was fed up with people bending his ear about staying on at school.
82
fad
(idiom) a trend for a short period of time
The mini dress was a fad once thought to be finished, but now it is making a comeback
83
seize up
(adv) stop being able to work in a normal way
The washing machine totally seized up on Thursday.
84
seize a chance/opportunity
(phr) take advantage of an opportunity
Will he seize this chance to change his life?
85
wait sth out
(phr v) wait until sth unpleasant has ended
I'd rather wait out the storm than drive home immediately.
86
bowl sb over
(phr v) knock sb to the ground by running into them, surprise and please sb
She was almost bowled over by a huge dog.
She was bowled over when she heard she'd won the competition.
87
at liberty to do sth
(phr) be allowed to do sth
I'm not at liberty to reveal any names.
88
in full swing
(idiom) at a stage when the level of activity is at its highest
When we got there, the party was in full swing.
89
in relation to
(idiom) in connection with, compared with
The drug is being studied for possible beneficial effects in relation to migraine headaches.
She checked the map to see where Miami is in relation to Orlando.
90
take exception to sb/sth
(phr) be offended or made angry by sb/sth
He took exception to criticism about the lack of women on the board of his company.
91
conduct oneself
(phr) behave (in the public or a formal situation)
How should I conduct myself at these dinners? I know nothing about etiquette.
92
the best/better part of
(idiom) most of
We waited there for the better part of an hour.
93
margin (difference)
(n) the amount by which one thing is different from another
The election was won by the very narrow margin of only 185 votes.
94
in the face of sth
(idiom) despite having to deal with a difficult situation or problem
She left home in the face of strong opposition from her parents.
95
subscribe to sth
(phr v) agree with or support an idea, opinion, etc.
Frank subscribed firmly to the belief that human kindness would overcome evil.
96
farm out
(phr v) give work to other people to do
Magazines often farm out articles to freelance journalists.
97
call forth sth
(phr v) cause sth to exist
The proposed shopping centre has called forth an angry response from local residents.
98
on the threshold of sth
(n) at the start of a new and important time or development
We are on the threshold of a new era in global relations.
99
on request
(idiom) used to say that you have to ask for sth if you want it
A schedule of fees is available on request.
100
on demand
(idiom) at any time sb wants or needs
They believe that abortion should be available on demand.
101
through no fault of my own
(idiom) used to say that sth bad happened to sb was not caused by them
Through no fault of our own we are currently two players short.
102
tamper (with)
(v) touch or change sth that you should not, speak to and influence sb involved in a legal case
I could see immediately that the lock had been tampered with.
She is charged with official misconduct and tampering with witnesses.
103
push sth down
(phr v) make sth lower in level or amount
Increased competition will push down prices.
104
glowing
(adj) praising with enthusiasm
His latest book has received glowing reviews.
105
outwit
(v) outsmart
In the story, the cunning fox outwits the hunters.
106
on and off
(adj, adv) happening or existing only some of the time
He worked off and on as a bicycle messenger, but he never found permanent work.
107
inflamed
(adj) (body parts) red, painful, swollen because of infection
You should call the doctor if the area around the wound becomes inflamed.
108
omnivorous
(adj) natrually able to eat both plants and meat, enthusiastic and interested in many different areas of a subject
Pigs are omnivorous animals.
an omnivorous reader
109
voracious
(adj) very eager for sth (especially a large amount of food)
He's a voracious reader of historical novels.
110
couple sth with sth
(phr v) consider one thing along with or in addition to sth else
The new city tax, coupled with Social Security deductions, will take a huge bite out of everybody’s paycheck.
111
child's play
(idiom) sth that is very easy to do
For her, computer programming is child’s play.
112
tick sb/sth off
(phr v) speak or criticize sb severely, annoy sb; check sth off
I had to tick him off for being late again.
It really ticks me off when she doesn't keep her promises.
That's one more action point that we can tick off.
113
get/have sb's own way
(idiom) do what you want
You can’t always have your own way.
114
dispel
(v) remove fears, doubts, and false ideas, usually by proving them wrong or unnecessary
I'd like to start the speech by dispelling a few rumours that have been spreading recently.
115
prejudiced (against)
(adj) showing an unreasonable dislike for sb/sth
The campaign is designed to make people less prejudiced about AIDS.
116
of sound/unsound mind
(idiom) not to be mentally ill/to be mentally ill
117
nagging
(adj, n) complaining or criticizing, used to describe an unpleasant feeling that continues for a long time; the act of complaining and criticizing
a nagging voice
nagging doubts
I got sick of her constant nagging.
118
long-service (award/benefits/leave)
(adj) because sb have worked for an organization for a long time
He received a £20,000 long-service award after working 25 years with the firm.
119
bucolic
(adj) relating to the countryside
The painting shows a typically bucolic scene with peasants.
120
smog vs mist vs fog
(n) a mixture of smoke, gases, chemicals, etc. that makes the atmosphere harder to breathe
Smog is a major problem in Athens.
(n) a light layer of small water drops close to ground
The mountain villages seem to be permanently shrouded in mist.
(n) a dense layer small water drops close to ground which makes it hard to see
Dense fog has made driving conditions dangerous.
121
take effect
(phr) produce the result you want
After a few months of being implemented, the tax incentive policy was beginning to take effect.
122
make/cause a fuss (about sth)
(phr) have unnecessary excitement, worry, or activity; overreact
I'm sorry for making such a fuss about the noise.
She made such a fuss when Richard spilled a drop of wine on her blouse!
122
long for sth
long to do sth
(v) want sth very much
I'm longing for news of him.
She longed to see him again.
123
within/in sight of sth
(phr) in the area where you can see sth, in a position where you'll soon be able to get/achieve sth
At last they came in sight of the city.
Dan was now within sight of the championship.
124
extremity
extremities
(n) the furthest point from the centre
The wood lies on the southern extremity of the estate.
(n) the parts of the human body that are furthest away from the heart
In such a situation, your heart pumps faster to prevent your extremities from freezing.
125
extremist
(n, v) sb who has beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and unaccepted, having that quality
The government is taking action against violent extremists who pose a threat to public safety.
The school district has a zero-tolerance policy for extremist behavior among students.
126
unharmed
(adj) not injured or damaged
All eight climbers were rescued unharmed.
127
lowness
(n) the fact of being low, the fact of being small in amount or level, the feeling of being unhappy
The overall structure is alright, but the clients are dissatisfied with the lowness of the walls surrounding it.
The lowness of the price attracts much more customers.
A cool autumn day always gives me a feeling of lowness.
128
neighbourly
(adj) friendly and helpful to your neighbour
It was very neighbourly of you to do her shopping for her.
129
neighbouring
(adj) adjacent to other people or things
She married a man from the neighbouring village.
130
residence
(n) a house (a large or impressive one)
10 Downing Street is the British Prime Minister’s official residence.
131
valuab(le/ly)
invaluab(le/ly)
priceless
(adj) (in a way that) worth a lot of money, (info, advice, etc.) useful or important
This is losing valuable business for the company.
Too many people to name here contributed valuably, even when we disagreed.
(adj) (in a way that is) extremely useful
The new job will provide you with invaluable experience.
I think that this training course could contribute invaluably to my professional development.
(adj) have such a high price that cannot be calculated
A priceless collection of vases was destroyed.
132
bank holiday
(n) an official holiday when banks and most businesses are closed for a day\
Our offices will be closed for the bank holiday.
133
extensive
(adj) covering a large area; great in amount
Her knowledge of music is extensive.
The fire caused extensive damage.
134
oceanographer
(n) a scientist who studies the sea
Oceanographers traditionally divide the oceans into zones.
135
into the bargain
(idiom) in addition to other facts previously mentioned
He's intelligent, funny, a loving husband, and an excellent cook into the bargain.
136
in reserve
(idiom) kept in order to use later if needed
They do not have money in reserve like many of the bigger companies.
137
conventional
(adj) traditional and ordinary
I find his art dull and conventional.
138
novelty
(n) the quality of being new and unusual, sth that is interesting because it hasn't been known before, a small cheap object sold as a toy or a decoration
The novelty of these toys soon wore off and the children became bored with them.
Tourists are still a novelty on this remote island.
The shop sells gifts and other novelties.
139
slip sb's memory/mind
(idiom) be forgotten
I forgot I'd arranged to meet Richard last night - it completely slipped my mind.
140
disparity
(n) an unfair difference or inequality
(disparity between A and B) The wide disparity between rich and poor was highlighted.
(disparity (in sth)) There are growing regional disparities in economic prosperity.
141
irrefutable
(adj) impossible to disprove
irrefutable evidence of health risks
142
incontrovertible
(impossible to doubt because of being obviously true
The grammatical point on which it is based would seem incontrovertible.
143
up to your ears in sth
(idiom) very busy or has more of sth than you can manage
I'm up to my ears in work.
She's up to her ears in debt.
144
keep sb in suspense
(idiom) delay telling sb sth that they are very eager to know about
Don't keep us in suspense. Tell us what happened!
145
pastime
(n) an activity that is done for enjoyment
Do-it-yourself is the nation's most popular pastime.
146
heated debate/argument/discussion
(n) an argument etc that is full of angry and excited feelings
Witnesses have already given descriptions of the pair who were seen having what appeared to be a heated argument.
147
substitute
(v, n) use sb/sth instead of sb/sth, sb/sth that is used instead of sb/sth
You can substitute the wheat flour with almond flour.
Ronaldo was substituted early in the second half.
Tofu can be used as a meat substitute in vegetarian recipes.
The manager brought on another substitute in the final minutes of the game.
148
substitute
(v, n) use sb/sth instead of sb/sth, sb/sth that is used instead of sb/sth
You can substitute the wheat flour with almond flour.
Ronaldo was substituted early in the second half.
Tofu can be used as a meat substitute in vegetarian recipes.
The manager brought on another substitute in the final minutes of the game.
149
substitute for sb/sth
(v) perform the same job as another thing or person or to take their place
Gas-fired power stations will substitute for less efficient coal-fired equipment.
150
epidemiologist
(n) sb who studies diseases and how they are found, spread, and controlled in groups of people
Snowdon is an epidemiologist studying the causes of Alzheimer's disease.
151
irrational
(adj) not using reason or clear thinking
It's totally irrational, but I'm frightened of mice.
152
rediscover
(v) find sb/sth again after losing or forgetting about it, him, or her for a long time
After her husband's death, she rediscovered the joys of bowling and golf.
153
marginally
(adv) slightly
The results were marginally above expectations.
154
erratic
(adj) moving or behaving in a way that is not regular, certain, or expected
She can be very erratic; one day she is friendly and the next she'll hardly speak to you.
155
scene vs scenery
(n) a part of a play or film in which the action stays in one place for a continuous period of time
In the first scene, the camera moves slowly across the room.
(n) the large painted pictures used on a theatre stage to represent the place where the action is
The play wasn't supposed to be a comedy, but everyone started laughing when some of the scenery fell over and hit one of the actors.
156
tear sth down
(phr v) intentionally destroy a building or other structure to use the land for sth else
They're going to tear down the old hospital and build a new one.
157
demolish
(v) destroy a building to use the land for sth else, prove that a notion is wrong, defeat sb easily, quickly eat all the food
A number of houses were demolished so that the supermarket could be built.
He completely demolished all her arguments.
In a surprising win, the Jaguars demolished the Broncos 42-7.
Joe demolished an enormous plateful of chicken and fries.
158
drown out sth
(phr v) (sound) be loud enough to stop the sound of sth else from being heard
The sound of the telephone was drowned out by the vacuum cleaner.
159
go down as/in sth
(phr v) be remembered or recorded in a particular way
Hurricane Katrina will go down as one of the worst storms of this century.
160
grow on sb
(phr v) gradually like sth more
I wasn't sure about this album when I bought it, but it's really grown on me.
161
let sb/sth down
(phr v) (sb) disappoint sb, (sth) make clothes longer, cause the air to go out of sth
You will be there tomorrow - you won't let me down, will you?
My trousers shrank in the wash so I let them down.
Sb let my tyres down while I was at the gym.
162
take off
(phr v) suddenly start to be successful or popular
Her singing career had just begun to take off.
163
put sth on (a play, a show, etc.)
(phr v) produce or present a play, a show, etc.
The local drama club is putting on ‘Macbeth’.
164
make your way
(idiom) travel/move to a place/situation, make progress
Scientists do not think that these chemicals can make their way into our brains.
More women are making their way into politics.
He will teach you how to build a career and make your way in the world.
165
roar with sth
(phr v) express an emotion strongly
She roared with laughter when she saw what he was wearing.
166
make yourself at home
(idiom) make yourself comfortable at sb else's home
Don't be so formal here. Make yourself at home!
167
part with sth
(phr v) reluctantly give sth to sb else
I was going to give away her old baby clothes, but I couldn't bring myself to part with them.
168
on show
(phr) available for the public to observe
Her sculptures will be on show at the museum until the end of the month.
169
steal the show/scene
(idiom) be the most popular or the best part of an event or situation
The child with the dog stole the show.
170
show business
(idiom) showbiz
Stars of the entertainment world turned out to celebrate his 40th year in show business.
171
voice an opinion/objection/ideas/etc. (about sth)
(idiom) say what you think about a particular subject
I have voiced my objections to the plan to management.
172
suggestive
(adj) making you think about sth (especially sex)
Some of his lyrics are rather suggestive.
The amplified sounds are suggestive of dolphins chatting to each other under the sea.
173
invariable
(adj) staying the same and never changing
Michael's invariable reaction was anger and a reluctance to try anything new.
174
varying vs varied
(adj) changing or fluctuating in amount of level
The technology is able to convert handwriting into digital text with varying degrees of success.
(adj) containing or changing between several different things or types
With its varied climate, the country attracts both winter and summer sports enthusiasts.
175
immerse yourself in sth
(v) become completely involved in sth
She got some books out of the library and immersed herself in Jewish history and culture.
176
controversial
(adj) causing disagreement or discussion
The book was very controversial.
177
the limelight
(n) public attention and interest
She's been in the limelight recently, following the release of her controversial new film.
178
impersonation
(n) an act of pretending to be sb in order to trick people or entertain them
He did an extremely convincing impersonation of the singer.
179
indifferent (to sb/sth)
(adj) having no interest in sb/sth, not very good
The government cannot afford to be indifferent to public opinion.
The festival has the usual mixture of movies—good, bad and indifferent.
180
inferior
(adj) not good or not as good as sb/ else, lower (rank/league)
(inferior to sb/sth) Modern music is often considered inferior to that of the past.
an inferior officer
181
the breadline
(n) the level of income people have when they are extremely poor
Most students are on/close to/below the breadline.
182
have a crack
(idiom) have a try
I thought I’d have a crack at learning Japanese.
183
in the corner (of sth)
at/on the corner
(phr) the place inside a room or a box where two sides join
She spotted him sitting in the corner of the bar.
(phr) a place where two streets join
There’s a hotel on the corner of my street.
urn right at the corner of Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards.
184
deficient
(adj) not having enough of sth essential, not good enough
(deficient in sth) Their food is deficient in iron.
Deaf people are sometimes treated as being mentally deficient.
185
indignant
(adj) feeling or showing anger and surprise at having been treated unfairly
(indignant at/about sth) She was very indignant at the way she had been treated.
(indignant that…) They were indignant that they hadn't been invited.
186
interfere with sb/sth
(phr v) (sb) illegally try to tamper with court witnesses, touch a child in a sexual way; (sth) prevent sth from happening as planned, tamper with sth
I'd get fired if he found out I'd been interfering with his records.
187
irrigation
(n) the practice of supplying land with water so that crops and plants will grow
Hundreds of wells that provide irrigation to farmers have been shut down.
188
famine
(n) a lack of food during a long period of time in a region
Another crop failure could result in widespread famine.
189
surmount
(v) deal successfully with an issue, be on top of sth tall
There are still a few technical problems to be surmounted before the product can be put on sale to the public.
a high column surmounted by a statue
190
delicacy (C)
(n) sth especially rare or expensive that is good to eat or is considered special in a particular place
In some parts of the world, sheep's eyes are considered a great delicacy.
local delicacies
191
revolve
(v) (cause sth to) move around a central point or line
The earth revolves around the sun.
His life revolves around football.
192
subsequently
(v) after sth else
In 1982 he was arrested and subsequently convicted on drug trafficking charges.
193
culminate (in/with sth)
(v) ends with sth, having developed until it reaches this point
My arguments with the boss got worse and worse, and finally culminated in my resignation.
The discovery culminated many years of research.
194
harness
(v) a set of leather bands used to control a horse or to attach it to a vehicle it is pulling, a set of bands used to hold sb in a place or to stop them from falling; control and use the natural force or power of sth, fasten an animal to sth using a harness, put a harness on a horse
The sight of horses in harness hauling timber was common a hundred years ago.
She fastened the safety harness tightly around her waist before starting the descent.
We harnessed two ponies to the cart.
There is a great deal of interest in harnessing wind and waves as new sources of power.
195
ill-mannered
well mannered
(adj) rude and unpleasant
It would be ill-mannered to show up an hour late to your cousin's wedding reception with a carful of your friends.
(adj) behaving in a pleasant and polite way
The other visitors were too well mannered to complain.
196
lethargic
(adj) without any energy or enthusiasm for doing things
The weather made her lethargic.
197
allocate
(v) distribute sth from a total
As project leader, you will have to allocate people jobs/allocate jobs to people.
198
complement
(v) make sth else seem better or more attractive when combined with it
Strawberries and cream complement each other perfectly.
199
hideous
(adj) very ugly
They've just built some hideous new apartment blocks on the seafront.
200
downbeat
(adj) lacking in excitement or hope, (music) slow and sad
The actual signing of the treaty was a downbeat affair without any ceremony.
The music of political protest does not have to be downbeat.
201
recondite
(adj) not well-known and difficult to understand
We had to work from material that was both complex and recondite.
202
freeze (stop)
(n) a temporary stopping of sth
The government has imposed a freeze on wage increases.
203
sworn enemy
(n) kẻ thù không đội trời chung
The two kings remained sworn enemies from that day forth.
204
shed tears, blood, etc.
(phr) allow tears or blood to flow
So much blood has been shed in this war.
205
cast an eye over sth
(idiom) take a quick look at sth
Could you cast an eye over this report for me?
206
on the grounds that
(idiom) because
Many critics have objected to the proposal on the grounds that it would be too costly.
207
set sb up
(phr v) establish sb in a business or position, provide sb with money or energy or health, trick sb into doing sth they shouldn't have
After he left college, his father set him up in the family business.
Winning the lottery has set them up for life.
A good breakfast really sets you up for the day.
They claimed that they weren't selling drugs, but that they'd been set up by the police.
208
acquit
(v) decide officially that sb is not guilty of a crime
(acquit sb of sth) She was acquitted of all the charges against her.
(acquit sb on sth) Five months ago he was acquitted on a shoplifting charge.
209
overdue
(adj) not done or happening when expected or when needed
The baby is two weeks overdue.
Changes to the tax system are long overdue.
210
edifice
(n) an expressive large building
The town hall is the only edifice surviving from the 15th century.
211
acquainted with sb
(phr) know sb as an acquaintance
He had become acquainted with artists who were united by various modern ideas and a love of poetry.
212
assert
(v) claim sth to be true, show your power
He asserts that she stole money from him.
She very rarely asserts her authority over the children.
213
owing to
(phr) because of (negative)
The concert has been cancelled owing to lack of interest.
214
(under/below) the poverty line
(idiom) under the official level of income that is needed to achieve a basic living standard
In 1991 almost 36 million Americans were living below the poverty line.
215
in retrospect
(n) thinking now about sth in the past
I'm sure my university days seem happier in retrospect than they really were.
216
mobilize
(v) make use of the people and things available for a purpose
Representatives for all the main candidates are trying to mobilize voter support.
Troops have been mobilizing for the past three weeks.
217
make ends meet
(idiom) have enough money to buy what you need to live
It’s not easy to make ends meet with a big family, but somehow we manage.
218
sector
(n) the areas which the economic activity of a country is divided into, a territory that is divided into from an area of land or sea
Salaries in the public sector are expected to fall by 15% this year.
What is the total oil output from the British sector of the North Sea?
219
be tempted (to do sth)
(phr) want sth
I was sorely (= extremely, another meaning is "very much") tempted to resign after my boss screamed at me for the second time.
220
colander
(n) rổ rây
After four minutes, pour the pasta into a colander to drain.
221
conceive
(v) imagine sth, invent (plans or ideas), become pregnant or cause a baby to form
I can't conceive how anyone could behave so cruelly.
Language may be conceived of as a process that arises from social interaction.
Scientists first conceived the idea of the atomic bomb in the 1930s.
The baby was conceived in March, so will be born in December.
222
lift-off
(n) the action of a spacecraft or rocket leaving the ground
We have lift-off.
223
by no means
(idiom) not at all
It is by no means certain that we'll finish the project by June.
224
harrowing
(adj) extremely upsetting because connected with suffering
For many women, the harrowing prospect of giving evidence in a rape case can be too much to bear.
225
blistering
(adj) extremely hot
We went out in the blistering heat.
226
disconcerting
(adj) make sb feel uncertain or worried
It was rather disconcerting to see that the work had not even started.
227
monitor (v)
(v) watch and check a situation carefully for a period of time
The new findings suggest that women ought to monitor their cholesterol levels.
228
do justice to sb/sth
(idiom) treat sb/sth equally by showing their true qualities
This postcard doesn't do justice to the wonderful scenery.
229
daunting
(v) frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident
The country was faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming four decades of division.
230
absurd
(adj) silly and unreasonable
It's an absurd situation - neither of them will talk to the other.
231
jukebox
(n) a machine that plays recorded music when a coin is put into it
232
lossless vs lossy
(adj) not involving the loss of data or electrical energy
Lossless compression algorithms reduce file size with no loss in image quality.
(adj) involving the loss of data or of electrical energy
Lossy file compression results in lost data and quality from the original version.
233
compression
(n) the act of making sth smaller (using pressure, strength/ files on computer/ etc.)
Compression fractures of the spine are common in older people.
Advances in compression technology mean that you can now send even quite large files by email.
234
sample (v)
(v) try, experience sth (food, activities, etc.) for the first time
As the food looked so good, he decided to sample a little from each dish.
So you're going to sample the pleasures of the new restaurant?
235
start afresh/ start a new life from scratch
(idiom) completely change the way you live
The agreement allows old expectations to be forgotten and everyone can start afresh.
These people were brave enough to cross the Atlantic and start a new life in the wilderness.
236
go to/take the trouble to do sth
(idiom) make an effort to do sth
If the police had gone to the trouble of looking up his record, they would not have released him.
237
put sth into perspective
(phr) compare sth to other things so that it can be accurately and fairly judged
Let's look at how some other businesses are doing to put our results in some sort of perspective.
238
pronounced /prəˈnaʊnst/
(adj) very able and certain
I'm told I have a very pronounced English accent when I speak French.
239
keep your head above water
(idiom) able to manage financial difficulties
The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.
240
get a word in edgewise/edgeways
(idiom) have an opportunity to speak
Brad talked so much that nobody could get a word in edgewise.
241
launder
(v) do the laundry, make illegal money appear legal (through banks or businesses)
freshly laundered sheets
Officials were accused of laundering the stolen funds overseas before returning them to the US.
242
tighten your belt
(idiom) spend less money
I've had to tighten my belt since I stopped working full-time.
243
commonplace
(adj) happening often or common
Electric cars are increasingly commonplace.
244
biweekly
(adv) every two weeks or twice a weeks
The magazine is published biweekly.
245
homogeneity
(n) the quality in a group of people or things of being all the same or all of the same type
Cultural homogeneity is created by education and the media.
246
ambiguous
(adj) can be understood in different ways, not clearly
His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous.
His role has always been ambiguous.
247
discolour
(v) (cause sth) to change color and look unpleasant
The fire had discoloured the paintwork.
248
exorbitantly
(adv) in a way that is too much (price)
Loans are available at exorbitantly high interest rates.
249
conjure sb/sth up
(phr v) make sth appear as a picture in your mind, make sb/sth appear by using special magic words
That smell always conjures up memories of holidays in France.
250
reminiscent vs evocative
(adj) reminding you of sb/sth
The way he laughed was strongly reminiscent of his father.
(adj) making you think of or remember a strong image or feeling, in a pleasant way
Her new book is wonderfully evocative of village life.
251
slump
(v, n) (prices, values, sales) fall suddenly, sit or fall heavily or suddenly; a fall in the prices/values/ sales/etc., a period when an industry or the economy is in a bad state
Car sales have slumped dramatically over the past year.
She slumped into the chair, exhausted.
There's been a slump in the demand for new cars.
The airline industry is currently in a slump.
252
vague
(adj) unclear because sb does not elaborate or say precisely what they mean, not having a precise shape or form
The governor gave only a vague outline of his tax plan.
His vague manner concealed a brilliant mind.
Julia was vague about where and what she had been doing.
In the darkness, they could see the vague outline of a church.
253
dictate
(v, n) give orders to sb, influence sth, say words for sb else to write down or to be recorded; sth that you think you must follow
The rules dictate that only running shoes must be worn on the track.
I wanted to take a year off, but my financial situation dictated that I got a job.
She spent the morning dictating letters to her secretary.
the dictates of conscience
254
appreciation
(n) the pleasure felt when recognizing the good quality of sth, the feeling of being grateful, a full understanding of sth and what it involves, a piece of writing or speech that discusses a literature work or artwork, an increase in value/price
The crowd cheered in appreciation.
Children rarely show any appreciation for what their parents do for them.
I had no appreciation of the problems they faced.
They were asked to write an appreciation of a poem of their choice.
There has been little appreciation in the value of property recently.
