P351-400 Vocabulary Flashcards
Recline
to lie or lean back in a relaxed way
recline in/on
A solitary figure was reclining on the grass.
Militant
a militant organization or person is willing to use strong or violent action in order to achieve political or social change:
After the assassination of Martin Luther King, black leaders became more militant.
- Hue
a color or type of color ⇨ tint, shade
a golden hue
- cordial
friendly but quite polite and formal
The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere.
▪ friendly ▪ warm ▪ nice ▪ amiable ▪ welcoming
▪ hospitable ▪ approachable
▪ genial
▪ cordial
- Rouse
- formal to wake someone who is sleeping deeply:
A persistent ringing roused Christina from a pleasant dream. - to make someone feel a particular emotion, such as anger or fear ⇨ arouse:
We don’t want to rouse any suspicions.
- Chagrin /ʃəˈɡrɪn/
annoyance and disappointment because something has not happened the way you hoped
to sb’s chagrin
And, much to Walton’s chagrin, competitors popped up all over the world.
- Transcendent
going far beyond ordinary limits
Transcendent power/ beauty / love
Groove
■a long narrow hollow space cut into a surface
*The window slides along a deep metal groove to open and close.
Be in the Groove
■to be operating or performing successfully
*Alex Popov proved he was back in the groove by winning the 100 meters freestyle.
Momentous
a momentous event, change, or decision is very important because it will have a great influence on the future:
Momentous events are taking place in the US.
His colleagues all recognized that this was a momentous occasion.
▪ essential ▪ vital/crucial
▪ key ▪ of great/considerable importance
▪ momentous
Counterfeit
made to look exactly like something else, in order to deceive people
Well, then someone’s just sold me a counterfeit T-shirt.
Upsurge
a sudden increase
The President acknowledged that some parts of the country were dealing with an upsurge in cases and the outbreak was far from over.
spearhead
to lead an attack or organized action:
the troops who spearheaded the rescue mission
Adobe
earth and straw that are made into bricks for building houses
Renovate
to repair a building or old furniture so that it is in good condition again
The hotel has been renovated and redecorated.
Coil
to wind or twist into a series of rings, or to make something do this
The snake coiled around the branches of the tree.
Obituary /əˈbɪtʃuəri $ -tʃueri/
an article in a newspaper about the life of someone who has just died
He’s stealing the identity of corpses, getting their names from the obituary columns.
Pliant
■Pliant people are easily influenced or controlled by other people
*I don’t think it’s a good thing for children to be too pliant.
■being able and willing to accept change or new ideas
Pliant boards are not the only problem.
Obscene
relating to sex in a way that is shocking and offensive ⇨ rude
When given the chance to speak, Lane made an obscene remark to the families of the victims and showed them his middle finger.
Ooze
if a thick liquid oozes from something or if something oozes a thick liquid, that liquid flows from it very slowly
A cut on his cheek was still oozing blood.
Braid
a length of hair that has been separated into three parts and then woven together
in braids
I have my hair in braids because I am shooting “Atlanta” actually.
Platitude
a statement that has been made many times before and is not interesting or clever – used to show disapproval:
His excuse was the platitude ‘boys will be boys.’
Cliche
an idea or phrase that has been used so much that it is not effective or does not have any meaning any longer
My wedding day – and I know it is a cliché – was just the happiest day of my life.
Paucity
less than is needed of something
SYN lack
Boosted by a paucity of campaigning because of covid-19, the 90-minute, ad-free event in Cleveland was watched by an estimate 80 million ,over half the electorate.
Verbose
using or containing too many words:
Legal writing is often unclear and verbose.
Verbiage
speech or writing that has many unnecessary words in it
meaningless verbiage
Endow
■to give a large amount of money to pay for creating a college or hospital, etc. or to provide an income for it
*The state of Michigan has endowed three institutes to do research for industry.
Extol
formal to praise something very much
People who extol free markets often blame such stagnation on excessive regulation.
Acumen
the ability to think quickly and make good judgments
business/political/financial etc acumen
The firm’s success is largely due to Brannon’s commercial acumen.
Desolate /ˈdesələt/
a place that is desolate is empty and looks sad because there are no people there
The house stood in a bleak and desolate landscape.
Culpable
deserving blame
Both parties were held to be to some extent culpable.
Concord
the state of having a friendly relationship, so that you agree on things and live in peace
OPP discord
All my confidence is bestowed on him, all his confidence is devoted to me; we are precisely suited in character – perfect concord is the result.
Decree
an official order or decision, especially one made by the ruler of a country:
The decree drew immediate and widespread condemnation.
Inert
not producing a chemical reaction when combined with other substances
inert gases
Canvass
- [intransitive and transitive] to try to persuade people to support a political party, politician, plan etc by going to see them and talking to them, especially when you want them to vote for you in an election
We can canvass the neighborhood, put up signs, go door to door. - [intransitive and transitive] to ask people about something in order to get their opinion or to get information
Police canvassed the neighborhood but didn’t find any witnesses.
Racket
SPORT
■a net fixed tightly to an oval frame with a long handle, used in various sports for hitting a ball
*a tennis/squash/badminton racket
NOISE
■an unpleasant loud continuous noise
*They were making such a racket outside that I couldn’t get to sleep.
CRIME
■a dishonest or illegal activity that makes money
*They were jailed for running a protection/prostitution racket.
Sheer
sheer luck/happiness/stupidity etc luck, happiness etc with no other feeling or quality mixed with it
SYN pure
I’ll never forget the look of sheer joy on her face.
Forfeit
to lose a right, position, possession etc or have it taken away from you because you have broken a law or rule
If we leave, we forfeit this tournament. If we stay, Dondre can’t play.
Swindle
to get money from someone by deceiving them
SYN cheat / con
Madoff swindled customers and employees out of almost 65 billion dollars through one of the most costly and destructive Ponzi schemes of all time.
Pact
a formal agreement between two groups, countries, or people, especially to help each other or to stop fighting
SYN treaty
We have a pact not to have sex again until the wedding.
Belie
to show that something cannot be true or real:
His cheerful smile belied his words.
Heyday
the time when someone or something was most popular, successful, or powerful
in sb’s heyday
Greta Garbo in her heyday
Tow
■to pull a car, boat, etc. along, using a rope or a chain tied to another vehicle or boat
*The road was closed while the vehicles that had been involved in the accident were towed away
tow sth away
■to lift a vehicle that has been parked illegally onto an official truck and take it to a place from which you have to pay to collect it
*You’re not allowed to park here - your car will be towed away.
The lion’s share
the largest part of something
The lion’s share of his money went to his grandchildren.
Ballroom
a very large room used for dancing on formal occasions
Emcee
someone who introduces the performers on a television or radio programme or at a social event
“Ladies and gentlemen.” The emcee said, “our special guest, Dondre Green.”
Chaperone
someone, usually a parent or teacher, who is responsible for young people on social occasions
Three parents went on the school ski trip as chaperones.
- Ghetto /ˈɡetəʊ $ -toʊ/
a part of a city where people of a particular race or class, especially people who are poor, live separately from the rest of the people in the city. This word is sometimes considered offensive
I was 13 years old, a poor black kid living with my mom and stepfather in a small black ghetto on XXX.
Brew - be brewing
if something unpleasant is brewing, it will happen soon
Having escaped one disaster, I could feel another brewing.
Clannish
a group of people who are clannish are very close to each other, and seem unfriendly towards strangers
The older boys tended to be a bit clannish.
Screech
- shout loudly in an unpleasant high voice because you are angry, afraid, or excited
SYN shriek, scream
‘Look out__’ she screeched. - if a vehicle screeches, its wheels make a high unpleasant noise as it moves along or stops
A loud horn and a screech of brakes somewhere behind the bus startled Frank.
Pry
to force something open, or force it away from something else
pry something open/away/off etc
We finally managed to pry the door open with a screwdriver.
Pry the toe of one shoe into the heel of the other.
Shrewd
good at judging what people or situations are really like
She was shrewd enough to guess who was responsible.
Solemn
very serious and not happy, for example because something bad has happened or because you are at an important occasion
a solemn expression
Tenet
a principle or belief, especially one that is part of a larger system of beliefs
one of the basic tenets of democracy
Ruthless
- so determined to get what you want that you do not care if you have to hurt other people in order to do it:
They have shown a ruthless disregard for basic human rights.
Perpetual
continuing all the time without changing or stopping
SYN continuous
the perpetual noise of the machines
Errand
a short journey in order to do something for someone, for example delivering or collecting something for them
on errand
She was always sending me on errands.
Sanctuary
a peaceful place that is safe and provides protection, especially for people who are in danger
SYN refuge
The sanctuary abandoned over 50 years ago.
Dearth
a situation in which there are very few of something that people want or need
dearth of
That is in large part because of a dearth of money.
Staunch
giving strong loyal support to another person, organization, belief etc
a staunch conservative
Forsake
to stop doing, using, or having something that you enjoy
SYN give up
She will never forsake her vegetarian principles.
Surmise - surmount
to guess that something is true, using the information you know already
When he came in, he didn’t look up, so she surmised that he was in a bad mood.
Ardent
showing strong positive feelings about an activity and determination to succeed at it
an ardent supporter of free trade
– Harvest
the crops that have been gathered, or the amount and quality of the crops gathered
Plum growers are expecting a bumper harvest this year.
Per capita
used to describe the average amount of something in a particular place, calculated according to the number of people who live there
Yearly sugar sales in the U.S. passes 100 pounds per capita for the first time.
Awry - go awry
go awry if something goes awry, it does not happen in the way that was planned
That key function apparently goes awry when we consume too much sugar, and our cells resist the hormone.
Gobble up
- to quickly use a lot of a supply of something such as money or land
Inflation has gobbled up our wage increases. - to eat something very quickly, especially in an impolite or greedy way
We gobbled up all of the cake in one evening.
Isotope
a form of an atom which has a different atomic weight from other forms of the same atom but the same chemical structure
For example, lack of water caused changes in ratios of stable isotope in specific layers of cave formations.
Plod
To walk along slowly, especially when this is difficult
To make some money, I plodded down a quiet street of older homes, selling books door-to-door.
▪ trudge /trʌdʒ/ to walk in a slow tired way because it is difficult to continue walking, or you do not want to go somewhere
▪ plod to walk slowly in a tired way – often used about a horse, donkey etc
▪ shuffle to walk very slowly and noisily without lifting your feet off the ground
Wilt
if a plant wilts, it bends over because it is too dry or old ⇨ droop
Mrs. Link showed me how to plant bulbs, what flowers and weeds to pull up, and where to haul the wilted plants.
Chauffeur
someone whose job is to drive a car for someone else
▪ driver ▪ motorist ▪ chauffeur ▪ trucker
Some weeks I got to be a chauffeur.
Bouquet
/bəʊˈkeɪ/
an arrangement of flowers, especially one that you give to someone
Gracious
behaving in a polite, kind, and generous way, especially to people of a lower rank
On Valentine’s Day, I self-consciously presented Mrs. Link a small bouquet, which she graciously accepted.
Throttle - full throttle
full throttle as fast or as much as possible
You’re running full throttle for 20 seconds.
Reap
■to get the benefit, etc. that is the result of your own actions
But even if you’re already fit, you can still reap measurable benefits from adding HIIT to your training regimen.
Niggle
slight physical pain
While nursing a little injury or niggle.
Bounce back
to feel better quickly after being ill, or to become successful again after failing or having been defeated
SYN recover
Indeed, news are spreading that the world economy is bouncing back, hopefully to pre-crisis level.
On regular basis
every day
New studies on the benefits of HIIT make the news on a regular basis.
– Exact
to demand and get something from someone by using threats, force etc
exact something from somebody
The blackmailers exacted a total of $100000 from their victims.
Cursor
■a marker (= small sign) usually an arrow or a vertical line, on a computer screen which moves to show the point where work is being done
Rhombus
a shape with four equal straight sides, especially one that is not a square
Lackluster
not exciting, impressive etc
SYN dull
The basketball team’s performance has been lackluster this season.
Ear to ear
Mike assured him as he grinned from ear to ear, displaying the bright smile that became his trademark.
Stranded
■unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money.
She and her children were stranded on the roadside when Mike came by.
Ribbon
a narrow piece of attractive cloth that you use, for example, to tie your hair or hold things together ⇨ bow
Yellow ribbon project
Stint
a period of time spent doing a particular job or activity
Mark did a two-year stint in the army.
Amputate
to cut off someone’s arm, leg, finger etc during a medical operation
Two of her toes were amputated because of frostbite.
– Bail
to escape from a situation that you do not want to be in any more
What was wrong with me? Why is it so hard to love me and why is it that when it gets hard, everyone bails?
Gruesome
very unpleasant or shocking, and involving someone being killed or badly injured
I will spare you the gruesome details of what followed.
Puke
to bring food back up from your stomach through your mouth
SYN vomit
He puked all over the carpet
Cringe
to move away from someone or something because you are afraid
I cringe every time someone else finds out. I did not want to write this story.
Get home in one piece
I got into my own car, sure to get home in one piece, never knowing what was coming.
Swerve
to change direction, especially suddenly
Suddenly, they swerved into opposite lane, colliding with an oncoming car.
Meek
very quiet and gentle and unwilling to argue with people
A meek and tidy soul, he has a need for order and structure and a passion for detail.
Dogmatic
someone who is dogmatic is completely certain of their beliefs and expects other people to accept them without arguing
Having seen themselves fail, they became more likely to question the dogmatic assumption, prevalent at the time, that the human mind is rational and logical.
Self-reliant
able to do or decide things by yourself, without depending on the help or advice of other people
Our aim is to teach our son to become an independent self-reliant adult.
Cord
an electrical wire or wires with a protective covering, usually for connecting electrical equipment to the supply of electricity
the phone cord
Socket
a place in a wall where you can connect electrical equipment to the supply of electricity
Premonition
a strange feeling that something, especially something bad, is going to happen
When Anne didn’t arrive, Paul had a premonition that she was in danger.
Gown
a woman’s dress, especially a long one worn on formal occasions, or a long loose piece of clothing worn over other clothes for a particular purpose
a graduation gown**
**a hospital gown
Jersey
a shirt made of soft material, worn by players of sports such as football and rugby
– Statistic
a statistic informal if someone is just a statistic, they are just another example of someone who has died because of a particular type of accident or disease
Agony claws my mind. I am a statistic.
Wheedle
to persuade someone to do or give you something, for example by saying nice things to them that you do not mean – used to show disapproval
I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out of mom.
Chain smoke
to smoke cigarettes one immediately after another
As an offering, Uncle Bob gave up smoking – and you know what a chain smoker he is!
Pedal
to ride a bicycle ⇨ cycle, ride
Because a new study shows that people on a stationary bike pedaled faster when they simultaneously tackled some sort of mental test.
Brain-teaser
■a problem for which it is hard to find the answer, especially one which people enjoy trying to solve as a game
When confronted with tough brain-teasers, their cycling speeds were about the same as when they had nothing in particular to think about.
Rancid
oily or fatty food that is rancid smells or tastes unpleasant because it is no longer fresh
a smell that reminds some people of blue cheese, rancid butter or rotten coconut.
– Vogue
a popular and fashionable style, activity, method etc
SYN fashion
be in vogue/be the vogue
The term has been around for years, but it has come into vogue in the past year or so.
Outdistance
to be faster in a race than other competitors, or (more generally) to be much better than someone
Our team outdistanced our opponents by at least three touchdowns.
Awestruck
■filled with feelings of admiration or respect
The regular starter whom he replaced sat awestruck on the bench.
Backdrop
the conditions or situation in which something happens
against a backdrop of something
Jason received a volley of body slams against the backdrop of thunderous applause from the crowd.
Adulation
praise and admiration for someone that is more than they really deserve
Despite all the adulation, Jason managed to maintain his characteristic humble, low-key manner.
Wipe eyes and pinch myself
By the second touchdowns, I had to wipe my eyes and pinch myself.
Legible
written or printed clearly enough for you to read
OPP illegible
Written on a lined paper, such as schoolboy would use, were words of excitement penned in a barely legible scrawl
- Written on a lined paper torn from a spiral notebook.
- Written on a lined paper torn from a spiral notebook.
Lid
a cover on a container, which can be lifted up or removed
“Going home” was scripted inside the lid.
Pinstripe
pinstripe suit a suit made from cloth with a pinstripe pattern, worn especially by business people
a navy-blue pinstripe suit
rat race
the rat race the unpleasant situation experienced by people working in big cities, when they continuously compete for success and have a lot of stress in their lives
My father wasn’t too knee on the idea of being back in the rat race, but I assured him that this time, it would be nothing like that.
Gnaw
to keep biting something hard
SYN chew
A rat had gnawed a hole in the box.
The dark void that gnawed inside me began to fade.
Serene /səˈriːn, sɪˈriːn
very calm or peaceful:
The child’s face was serene and beautiful.
—serenity /sɪˈrenəti/
a sense of serenity and balance returned to my soul.
– Grace
ways of behaving that are considered polite and pleasant
He moved with the grace of young manhood.
Sullen
angry and silent, especially because you feel life has been unfair to you ⇨ morose
Now she was not eating at all and was withdrawn and sullen.
jerk
to move with a quick sudden movement, or to make part of your body move in this way:
As I spoke, Jesse jerked convulsively away from me.
– Gesture
to move your hand, arm, or head to tell someone something, or show them what you mean
Jesse paced and gestured, and his voice broke a few times, but when he hung up, he turned to me with dry eyes and said they had decided to put her to sleep.
– Well up
if a feeling wells or wells up in you, you start to feel it strongly
I could not control the tears streaming down my face, or the grief I felt welling up inside for Jesse, who had to become a man so quickly and so alone.
Drift off
to gradually fall asleep
He felt himself drifting off to sleep.
–Cradle
to hold something gently, as if to protect it
She drifted off to sleep, her head cradled in his hand.
– Booth
a small partly enclosed place where one person can do something privately, such as use the telephone or vote
At the carnival, they had all kind of booths.
Vibrant
a vibrant color is bright and strong:
The boy sitting next to me was painting a heart, buy it was dark, empty, lifeless. It lacked the bright, vibrant colors that his fellow artists had used.
Captivity
when a person or animal is kept in a prison, cage etc and not allowed to go where they want
OPP freedom
The young orphan girl carefully released the butterfly from its captivity.
Clamber
to climb or move slowly somewhere, using your hands and feet because it is difficult or steep
He only pretended to listen to the chatter of his friends, Norm and ed, as they all clambered aboard the number 10 bus after school.
Ace
to do very well in an examination, a piece of written work etc:
I aced the History test.
Flop
to sit or lie down in a relaxed way, by letting all your weight fall heavily onto a chair etc
Frank and his friends flopped down in the back of the xx city bus along with several other boys.
Belch
to send out a large amount of smoke, flames etc, or to come out of something in large amounts
The bus belched a gray cloud out the back and headed west on Blue Mound Road.
Slouch
■to stand, sit or walk with the shoulders hanging forward and the head bent slightly over so that you look tired and bored
Straighten your back - try not to slouch.
Frank slouched into his seat.
Lurch
to walk or move suddenly in an uncontrolled or unsteady way
lurch forward/to/towards/into etc
The train lurched forward and some of the people standing fell over.
– Brace
to push part of your body against something solid in order to make yourself more steady
brace something against something
The bus lurched away from a curb, and Frank instinctively braced his Nikes against the floor.
Tell on
to tell someone in authority about something wrong that someone you know has done – used especially by children.
Did the fat lady tell on us?
– Grow
to change and become different quite slowly
One the way to the stadium, we grew silent as our driver paused before the Lincoln Memorial.
Billfold
a small flat leather case, used for carrying paper money, credit cards etc in your pocket
Idle
lazy
Go and wake up that idle brother of yours.
Freebie
■something which is given to you without you having to pay for it, especially as a way of attracting your support for or interest in something
*The company’s marketing rep was giving out pens and mugs - the usual freebies.
This will be my freebie of the day.
Write off
to decide that someone or something is useless, unimportant, or a failure
A lot of companies seem to write people off if they are over 50.
Malignant
medical a malignant disease is one such as cancer, which can develop in an uncontrolled way and is likely to cause someone’s death
OPP benign
She developed a malignant tumor in her breast.
Smart
if a part of your body smarts, it hurts with a stinging pain
My eyes were smarted with the smoke.
Craig’s words smarted.
Tint
to slightly change the color of something, especially hair
As the morning sun began to tint the horizon, he grabbed my hand and looked me.
Regale
to entertain someone by telling them about something
Soon, over coffee, they regaled me with stories of huge saltwater crocodiles.
Hobo
someone who travels around and has no home or regular job
An old hobo told me how he’d fed his family during the depression.
Smitten
suddenly affected by an illness or a feeling:
we never saw him again, but looking back I wonder if he was smitten with Grandma S.
Squat
short and thick or low and wide, especially in a way which is not attractive.
She is short and a little squat.
Inconsequential
not important
an inconsequential matter/remark
Tardy
arriving or done late
He’s been tardy three times this semester.
Gasp
to breathe in suddenly in a way that can be heard, especially because you are surprised or in pain
The class seemed to gasp in unison. Professions?
Glow
- a soft steady light
Yes, you will all be searching for your professions, she said with a glow on her face.
2, the pink color in your face or body that you have when you are healthy, have been doing exercise, or are excited
She had a healthy glow in her cheeks.
– Round
■to go around something
As she rounded a corner, they shoved a pie into her face as hard as they could.
– Shield
to protect someone or something from being harmed or damaged shield somebody/something from somebody/something
He held up his hands, shielding his eyes from the sun.
At sb’s expense
if you make jokes at someone’s expense, you laugh about them and make them seem stupid or silly
Louis kept making jokes at his wife’s expense.
Commendation
an official statement praising someone, especially someone who has been brave or very successful
Very slowly, his average started to rise, he earned a commendation for improvements, and you could see his self-esteem start to grow.
Gingerly
if you move gingerly, or touch something gingerly, you do it in a slow careful way, because you are afraid it will be dangerous or painful
SYN carefully
The pupil gingerly followed his instruction and walked into the sea, joining Socrates where the water was just below their chins.
– Gasp
to breathe quickly in a way that can be heard because you are having difficulty breathing
gasp for air/breath
The boy raced to the surface, gasping for air and choking from the salt water.
Retaliation
action against someone who has done something bad to you ⇨ revenge
The pupil looked around for Socrates in order to seek his retaliation.
Salvation
something that prevents or saves someone or something from danger, loss, or failure
salvation of
The Internet turned out to be the salvation of the company.
Flunk
to fail a test
He flunked physics in high school getting a grade of zero.
– Promptly
-
at the right time without being late
SYN on time
She arrived promptly. -
immediately:
She turned off the alarm and promptly went back to sleep.
Mediocrity
■the quality of being not very good; a person who is not very good at something
Otherwise, he would content himself with what appeared to be his inevitable mediocrity.
Make ends meet
balance one’s budget, meet one’s payments.
To make ends meet, Karen and her children moved in with her mother in Texas, for a short period of time.
Varsity
the main team that represents a university, college, or school in a sport
the varsity football team
Euphoria
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement which usually only lasts for a short time
There was a general atmosphere of pessimism after the euphoria of last year.
Euphoric
feeling very happy and excited
Scientists are euphoric at the success of the test.
Caption
words printed above or below a picture in a book or newspaper or on a television screen to explain what the picture is showing ⇨ subtitle
The caption said we dated.
Sentimental
someone who is sentimental is easily affected by emotions such as love, sympathy, sadness etc, often in a way that seems silly to other people
Sometimes when her mother was feeling especially impatient and sentimental, she called Anne by her real name.
Precocious
a precocious child shows intelligence or skill at a very young age, or behaves in an adult way – sometimes used to show disapproval in British English
She wasn’t precocious and brilliant.
Spunk
courage
She had a lot of spunk.
Ovation
if a group of people give someone an ovation, they clap to show approval
At the end of my speech the whole audience jumped to its feet with a standing ovation.
– Body
a large amount or mass of something, especially something that has been collected
The student body of 3200 was a melting pot of ethnic differences.
Berate
to speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong.
As he left the meeting, he was berated by angry demonstrators.
Aglow
having a soft light, or a strong warm color
The evening sky was still aglow.
– Twitch
if a part of someone’s body twitches, or if they twitch it, it makes a small sudden movement.
His mouth twitched slightly, and then he smiled.
Melinda’s nose twitched at the smoky odor in the air.
Thump
to hit someone very hard with your hand closed
If you don’t shut up, I’m going to thump you!
His tail thumped alongside her bed as she rubbed his fur
Tingle
if a part of your body tingles, you feel a slight stinging feeling, especially on your skin
My body tingled all over and I had a terrible headache.
Latch
a small metal or plastic object used to keep a door, gate, or window closed
Gwen lifted the latch and opened the gate.
Yank
to suddenly pull something quickly and with force
Nick yanked the door open.
I am yanking!!
Budge
to move, or to make someone or something move
Suddenly the window budged, then slipped open.
Acrid
an acrid smell or taste is strong and unpleasant and stings your nose or throat
She coughed and choked in the acrid fumes.
– Sting
to cause sharp but usually temporary pain
*The soap/smoke/sweat stung my eyes.
Trooper
a police officer in one of the forces of the 50 political areas of the United States
*Troopers are called out in emergencies or dangerous situations.
Siren
a piece of equipment that makes very loud warning sounds, used on police cars, fire engines etc
I heard police sirens in the distance.
– Swarm
if people swarm somewhere, they go there as a large uncontrolled crowd
As soon as the bell that ended the last morning class started ringing, the students swarmed toward their lockers.
Sack lunch
packed lunch
Then those who didn’t eat in the cafeteria headed with their sack lunches.
Oblivious
not knowing about or not noticing something that is happening around you
SYN unaware
shifting the books from arm to arm , focusing on the balanced book, shuffling forward, oblivious to her surroundings.
Splay
■to spread wide apart
*At one point the dancers flipped onto their backs and splayed their legs.
Imminent
an event that is imminent, especially an unpleasant one, will happen very soon
The teachers left the meeting shaking their heads in disgust, firmly convinced that failure was imminent.
Merchandise
goods that are being sold
A range of official Disney merchandise was on sale.
Alimony
ˈæləməni/
money that a court orders someone to pay regularly to their former wife or husband after their marriage has ended ⇨ maintenance
Coterie /ˈkəʊtəri $ ˈkoʊ-/
a small group of people who enjoy doing the same things together, and do not like including others ⇨ clique
xxxxx where a small coterie of aids awaited him.
Jab
to push or hit something forcefully and quickly, often with a thin or sharp object
Scientists jabbed hypertensive rats with three doses of the formulation.
jab somebody with something
Stop jabbing me with your elbow!
Blow your nose
to clean your nose by forcing air through it into a cloth or a piece of soft paper
Blowing my nose because I have a little cold right now, so be careful.
Snot
an impolite word for the thick mucus (=liquid) produced in your nose
And they found that the secret ingredient is snot.
Booger
a thick piece of mucus from your nose
I am very sorry I chases you with a booger on my finger.
– Tilt - full tilt
as fast as possible
If you wish to experience your System 2 working at full tilt, the following exercise will do.
Eureka
used to show how happy you are that you have discovered the answer to a problem, found something etc
This was a eureka moment: I realized that xxxx.
Trapezoid
a shape with four sides, only two of which are parallel
Reminiscent
reminiscent of something reminding you of something
And all of this is very reminiscent of the history of Atlantis.
Metastasize
■If cancer cells metastasize, they spread to other parts of the body and cause tumours (= a mass of cells) to grow there.
Since then, the cancer has returned twice and metastasized.
Chore /tʃɔː $ tʃɔːr/
Chore /tʃɔː $ tʃɔːr/
Mob
- a large noisy crowd, especially one that is angry and violent
This is Africa, so mob justice in action.
Oversight
Watchful and responsible care
The lack of oversight made maintaining quality impossible.
– Overlook
to not notice something, or not see how important it is
SYN miss
To each member of each family represented in the senior class, whose support, sacrifice, and dedication has not been overlooked, we thank you.
Annex
to take control of a country or area next to your own, especially by using force
Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia on Sep 30th 2022.
On Assignment
■Someone who is on assignment is doing a particular job or piece of work, usually in a specified place where they have been sent for a period of time.
*Both journalists were killed by terrorists whilst on assignment in Colombia.
Janitor
someone whose job is to look after a school or other large building
Espouse
to support an idea, belief etc, especially a political one
He espoused a variety of scientific, social and political causes.
– Overwhelm
FORCE ■to defeat someone or something by using a lot of force
*Government troops have overwhelmed the rebels and seized control of the capital.
Industrious
■having the characteristic of regularly working hard
I was in an industrious mood last Saturday. So I cleaned the house, did the laundry, and baked four loaves of bread.
Riddled
very full of something bad or unpleasant
By this time her body was riddled with cancer.
– Grid
a system of wires through which electricity is connected to different power stations across a region
At the very least, better advance warning would give people more time to finally back up their hard drives before the grid goes down.
– Zero
zero in on sth
■to direct all your attention towards a particular thing
*We must decide on our target market, then zero in on it.
Clove
one of the separate parts that form a garlic plant
a clove of garlic
Bun
if a woman has her hair in a bun, she fastens it in a small round shape at the back of her head
I tie my hair into a low bun.
Photographic memory
if you have a photographic memory, you can remember exactly every detail of something you have seen
It is a good thing I’ve got a photographic memory.
Press charges
to officially accuse someone of committing a crime
Nobody’s pressing charges, but don’t ever do that again.
Crumb
a very small piece of dry food, especially bread or cake
Coat with bread crumbs and bake.
Discord
formal disagreement or arguing between people
Discord within NATO
Imperceptible
almost impossible to see or notice
= undetectable
Your face twisted slightly in an expression of disgust, and you may have pushed this book imperceptibly farther away.
Attenuate
to make something weaker or less
With an attenuated version of how you would react to the actual event.
Crop up
if a problem crops up, it happens or appears suddenly and in an unexpected way
SYN arise
Questions are probably cropping up in your minds as well.
– Tip
to move into a sloping position, so that one end or side is higher than the other, or to make something do this
SYN tilt
But a few percent could tip an election.
Fluke
something good that happens because of luck:
The results are not made up, nor are they statistical fluke.
Bask
■to take pleasure from something that makes you feel good
And think of all the internet glory you could bask in.
He basked in his moment of glory, holding the trophy up to the crowd.
Seam
JOIN ■a line where two things join, especially a line of sewing joining two pieces of cloth or leather
She was repairing Billy’s trousers, where the seam had come undone.
Dim-witted
stupid
But until those solutions are developed, sending brain-damaged humans to Mars would be a dim-witted thing to do.
Susceptible
- likely to suffer from a particular illness or be affected by a particular problem ⇨ immune
Older people are more susceptible to infections. - a susceptible person is easily influenced or attracted by someone or something
A lot of TV advertising is aimed at susceptible young children.
Sleet
half-frozen rain that falls when it is very cold
scattered sleet and snow showers
—sleety adjective
That sleety afternoon of December 23, 1988, their 15-year-old son ,Chris had been riding with five friends xx.
Catapult
to push or throw something very hard so that it moves through the air very quickly
Three of the kids, including Chris, were catapulted out the rear window.
Gush
if a liquid gushes, it flows or pours out quickly and in large quantities
SYN spurt
at torrent of blood gushing from his left thigh.
Prosthesis
an artificial leg, tooth, or other part of the body which takes the place of a missing part
From the start, his surgeons saw that the jumble of torn nerves, arteries an muscles made it impossible to reattach the severed limb. Chris would need a prosthesis.
Indomitable
having great determination or courage
Behind his strong spirits lay an indomitable will forged by religious faith.
Impregnable
a building that is impregnable is so strong that it cannot be entered by force
Homes are never impregnable against determined thieves.
Well up
if a liquid wells or wells up, it comes to the surface of something and starts to flow out
Tears welled up in the boy’s eyes. It was a night he would never forget.
– Rock
■to (cause someone or something to) move backwards and forwards or from side to side in a regular way
*If you rock back on that chair, you’re going to break it.
Hobble
to walk with difficulty, especially because your legs or feet hurt ⇨ limp
He hobbled into the room on crutches.
Stump
- the bottom part of a tree that is left in the ground after the rest of it has been cut down
an old tree stump - the short part of someone’s leg, arm etc that remains after the rest of it has been cut off
He rocked back and forth in silent reaction to the ache radiating from his stump.
Swish
to move or make something move quickly through the air with a quiet sound
From the first, Chris began shooting from the outside, and he felt a thrill whenever the ball swished through the net.
Regimen
a special plan of food, exercise etc that is intended to improve your health
regimen of
So he began a daily regimen of shooting, dribbling and weightlifting.
Dribble
to move the ball along with you by short kicks, bounces, or hits in a game of football, basketball etc
He was trying to dribble the ball past his opponents.
Sail
■to move quickly, easily, and (of a person) confidently
*The ball went sailing over the garden fence.
The ball sailed toward the rim – and swished cleanly through the net.
Entree
the main dish of a meal, or a dish served before the main course – used in restaurants or on formal occasions
an entrée of roast duck
Irrevocable
an irrevocable decision, action etc cannot be changed or stopped
While many in the world see the Chinese spy balloon as a sign of Beijing’s growing aggressiveness, China has sought to cast the controversy as a symptom of the US’s irrevocable decline.
Nasal
related to the nose
Dr. xx explains during a CNN town hall about the fentanyl crisis how to use Narcan, a nasal spray that blocks the effects of fentanyl and other opioids.
Sear
to burn something with a sudden powerful heat
Physical pain-sometimes searing – was part of his daily life.
By shy of
to have less than a particular amount of something
The Democrats are three votes shy of a majority.
One the night of December 15, just eight days shy of a year since the accident.
Lousy
very bad
*lousy food/service
We’re always going to have these lousy seasons but that has not been the case this season.
Pole vault
the sport of jumping over a high bar using a long pole
Track and field
sports such as running and jumping.
The pole vault is truly the glamour event of any track-and-field competition.
– Vault
jump over something in one movement, using your hands or a pole to help you:
The robber vaulted over the counter and took $200 in cash.
– Deafening
deafening silence a complete silence, when it is uncomfortable or you are expecting someone to say something
The silence was deafening.
Blight
an unhealthy condition of plants in which parts of them dry up and die
Cockpit
the area in a plane, small boat, or racing car where the pilot or driver sits
Pretentious
if someone or something is pretentious, they try to seem more important, intelligent, or high class than they really are in order to be impressive
The novel deals with grand themes but is never heavy or pretentious.
Gullible
too ready to believe what other people tell you, so that you are easily tricked
The psychologists who do these experiments don’t believe that people are stupid or infinitely gullible.
Wince
to show pain suddenly and for a short time in the face, often moving the head back at the same time
The first guest to taste the soup winces.
Ludicrous
completely unreasonable, stupid, or wrong
SYN ridiculous
System 2 knew this was a ludicrous idea.
Corporal
of or relating to the body
Corporal punishment is particularly common in Mississippi.
Majesty
the quality that something big has of being impressive, powerful, or beautiful
SYN grandeur
Michael was soaring with the majesty of an eagle.
– Anchor
someone or something that provides a feeling of support and safety
She was afraid, alone and without any anchor.
Tussle
DISAGREE
■to have difficult disagreements or strong arguments
DISAGREEMENT
■a difficult disagreement or violent argument
Earlier in the day we had had a tussle over the words “mug” and “water”.
– Gush
to express your praise, pleasure etc in a way that other people think is too strong
‘I simply loved your book,’ she gushed.
