No.70 Flashcards
We live in an acquisitive society which views success primarily in terms of material possessions.
eager to own and collect things
They plan to hold the Olympics’ equestrian events in another part of the city.
connected with the riding of horses
the downtrodden masses
badly and unfairly treated
a high-flying investment banker
extremely successful
The water lapped against the side of the pool.
(of waves) to hit something gently, producing quiet sounds
Syria’s civil war has been lapping at Lebanon’s edges since it began three years ago, breaking over its border at regular intervals and disturbing Lebanon’s hard-earned calm.
If something such as a holiday is hard-earned, you deserve it because you have been working very hard.
She sloshed (= poured without care) some more brandy into her glass.
(of a liquid) to move around noisily in the bottom of a container, or to cause liquid to move around in this way by making rough movements
Repairing a watch is a very fiddly job .
difficult to do because the parts involved are small
Such a difficult choice placed her in an invidious position .
likely to cause unhappiness or be unpleasant, especially because unfair
Some argue that money has debased football.
to reduce the quality or value of something
I’m afraid my concentration began to waver as lunch approached.
to lose strength, determination or purpose, especially temporarily
He gave a bravura performance .
unnecessary actions to make what is being done look more exciting or clever than it is
The phrase ‘born again’ is used metaphorically to mean that someone has suddenly become very religious.
describes language which contains metaphors
The government can’t afford to wobble on this issue.
to be uncertain what to do or to change repeatedly between two opinions
He accused the government of dissembling.
to hide your real intentions and feelings or the facts
Due to a slight technical hitch the concert will be starting half an hour late.
a temporary difficulty which causes a short delay
We’ve decided to go to Scotland to get away from it all .
to go somewhere to have a holiday, often because you need to rest
Easy access to a railway network weighed heavily with us when we chose a site for the new factory.
(of something such as a fact or an event) to have an influence or be important
Both countries had thrown off the communist yoke.
something which connects two things or people, usually in a way that unfairly limits freedom
the wellspring of the creative spirit
the place something comes from or starts at, or the cause of something; the source
We view future developments with some trepidation.
fear or worry about what is going to happen
the silent grandeur of the desert
the quality of being very large and special or beautiful
I seem to have a constant compulsion to eat.
a very strong or uncontrollable wish (to do something repeatedly)
You’d better keep your gob shut about what happened.
to not say anything
I’ve always been deeply cynical about politicians.
believing that people are only interested in themselves and are not sincere
He launched a feisty attack on the government.
active, forceful and full of determination
Yesterday’s coup brought further upheaval to a country already struggling with famine.
(a) great change, especially causing or involving much difficulty, activity or trouble
This contravenes the Race Relations Act.
to do something that a law or rule does not allow, or to break a law or rule
Despite the wind and the rain, they plodded on until they reached the cottage.
to walk taking slow steps, as if your feet are heavy
With a knife clenched in/between his teeth, he climbed up the tree to cut some coconuts.
to close or hold something very tightly, often in a determined or angry way
Regular exercise can result in a general diminution in stress levels.
reduction in size or importance
Despite his kindly, sometimes whimsical air, he was a shrewd observer of people.
unusual and strange in a way that might be funny or annoying
That could rise to nearly $25 billion if underwriters opt to sell more shares, surpassing Agricultural Bank of China’s $22.1 billion listing in 2010.
the one who gives the activity financial support and takes responsibility for paying any costs if it fails.
In a multicultural society is it not anomalous to have a blasphemy law which only protects one religious faith?
different from what is usual, or not in agreement with something else and therefore not satisfactory
He remembered the old adage ‘Look before you leap’.
a wise saying; proverb
This year’s biology prize went to a study showing that dogs prefer to defecate along a north-south axis.
to pass the contents of the bowels out of the body
I love the tranquillity of the countryside.
a peaceful calm state, without noise, violence, worry, etc.; the quality of being tranquil
The mansion had an atmosphere of genteel elegance and decay.
having or typical of a high social class
David Cameron will take the historic step of meeting Iran’s president as he reaches out to the pariah state in an attempt to secure support in the increasingly desperate battle against Islamic State militants.
a person who is not accepted by a social group, especially because he or she is not liked, respected or trusted
The airline authorities are not expecting a let-up in delays (= are not expecting delays to stop) for the rest of the summer.
a reduction in strength or intensity
