Part 2 Flashcards
hoax
[hoʊks]
A hoax is a trick in which someone tells people a lie, for example that there is a bomb somewhere when there is not, or that a picture is genuine when it is not.
He denied making the hoax call but was convicted after a short trial.
no-nonsense style
If you describe someone as a no-nonsense person, you approve of the fact that they are efficient, direct, and quite tough.
If you describe something as a no-nonsense thing, you approve of the fact that it is plain and does not have unnecessary parts.
esteemed
You use esteemed to describe someone who you greatly admire and respect.
It is indeed an honor to serve my country in such an esteemed position.
callus
[ˈkæləs]
A callus is an unwanted area of thick skin, usually on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet, which has been caused by something rubbing against it.
I walked to him and took his outstretched hand which was rough with callus.
scrap
Scrap metal or paper is no longer wanted for its original purpose, but may have some other use.
resolutely
If you describe someone as resolute, you approve of them because they are very determined not to change their mind or not to give up a course of action.
residue
A residue of something is a small amount that remains after most of it has gone.
Always using the same shampoo means that a residue can build up on the hair.
be at stake
at risk
bellwether
predictor; indicator
toss-up
unknown result, unpredictable situation
A:Who do you think is going to get Employee of the Month in January?
B: I think it’s a toss-up between Jack and Ahmed.
hasty
impulsive, do things suddenly without thinking about them carefully
return
result from the polls on election night
it’s fun to watch the returns come in.
adrenalin
[əˈdrɛnəlɪn]
Adrenalin is a substance which your body produces when you are angry, scared, or excited. It makes your heart beat faster and gives you more energy.
Seeing the crowd really got my adrenalin pumping.
void
noun. ..If you describe a situation or a feeling as a void, you mean that it seems empty because there is nothing interesting or worthwhile about it.
adj. .. If you are void of something, you do not have any of it.
verb. ..To void something means to officially say that it is not valid.
The treaty is now void of absolute commitments.
device
A device is a method of achieving something.
Similes and metaphors are literary devices we can use to enhance the way we express our emotions.
sartorial
[sɑ:rˈtɔ:riəl]
Sartorial means relating to clothes and to the way they are made or worn.
James gave him some sartorial advice.
squirt
=spray
If you squirt a liquid somewhere or if it squirts somewhere, the liquid comes out of a narrow opening in a thin fast stream.
delectable
If you describe something, especially food or drink, as delectable, you mean that it is very pleasant.
I spent 150 dollars on a bottle of delectable old French champagne.
sleek
If you describe someone as sleek, you mean that they look rich and stylish.
Sleek vehicles, furniture, or other objects look smooth, shiny, and expensive.
dry and cutting
dry=boring
cutting=unkind and likely to hurt someone’s feelings
But that’s not to say that the witty sarcasm and irony on the program can’t also be dry and cutting.
comeback
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
I think Elaine is the only person who can beat Jerry at clever comebacks
off the cuff
This is not the kind of question that one can answer off the cuff.
I don’t know how people are able to come up with off the cuff remarks.
lanky
If you describe someone as lanky, you mean that they are tall and thin and move rather awkwardly.
stocky
A stocky person has a body that is broad, solid, and often short.
in proportion to
If one thing increases or decreases in proportion to another thing, it increases or decreases to the same degree as that thing.
The pressure in the cylinders would go up in proportion to the boiler pressure.
stiff
Something that is stiff is firm or does not bend easily.
brittle
An object or substance that is brittle is hard but easily broken.
…the dry, brittle ends of the hair.
‘lethargy
le’thargic
Lethargy is the condition or state of being lethargic.
If you are lethargic, you do not have much energy or enthusiasm.
docile
[ˈdɑ:sl]
A person or animal that is docile is quiet, not aggressive, and easily controlled.
They wanted a low-cost, docile workforce.
opinionated
If you describe someone as opinionated, you mean that they have very strong opinions and refuse to accept that they may be wrong.
Sue is the extrovert in the family; opinionated, talkative and passionate about politics.
withdrawn
Someone who is withdrawn is very quiet, and does not want to talk to other people.
argumentative
Someone who is argumentative is always ready to disagree or start quarrelling with other people.
Great chess players have a reputation for being both eccentric and argumentative…
probe
If you probe into something, you ask questions or try to discover facts about it.
The more they probed into his background, the more inflamed their suspicions would become…
He skillfully parried all the interviewer’s most probing questions.
他回避了采访者所有刨根究底的提问.
If he remains here, he’ll be away from the press and their probings.
inflame
If something inflames a situation or inflames people’s feelings, it makes people feel even more strongly about something.
The shooting has only inflamed passions further.
grudge
If you have or bear a grudge against someone, you have unfriendly feelings towards them because of something they did in the past.
He appears to have a grudge against certain players…
onomatopoeia
[ˌɑ:nəˌmætəˈpi:ə]
Onomatopoeia refers to the use of words which sound like the noise they refer to. ‘Hiss’, ‘buzz’, and ‘rat-a-tat-tat’ are examples of onomatopoeia.
commencement
Commencement is a ceremony at a university, college, or high school at which students formally receive their degrees or diplomas.
condescend
[ˌkɑ:ndɪˈsend]
If someone condescends to do something, they agree to do it, but in a way which shows that they think they are better than other people and should not have to do it.
When he condescended to speak, he contradicted himself three or four times in the space of half an hour.
patronize
If someone patronizes you, they speak or behave towards you in a way which seems friendly, but which shows that they think they are superior to you in some way.
Don’t you patronize me!
Someone who patronizes artists, writers, or musicians supports them and gives them money.
The Japanese Imperial family patronizes the Japanese Art Association.
If someone patronizes a place such as a pub, bar, or hotel, they are one of its customers.
I’ll never patronize that store again.
at its lowest ebb
If someone or something is at a low ebb or at their lowest ebb, they are not being very successful or profitable.
The Government’s popularity is at its lowest ebb.
wallow
If you say that someone is wallowing in an unpleasant situation, you are criticizing them for being deliberately unhappy.
His tired mind continued to wallow in self-pity…
unremitting
Something that is unremitting continues without stopping or becoming less intense.
I was sent to boarding school, where I spent six years of unremitting misery…
He represented a people who had prevailed by unremitting tenacity.
prevail
If one side in a battle, contest, or dispute prevails, it wins.
He appears to have the votes he needs to prevail…
tenacity
If you have tenacity, you are very determined and do not give up easily.
Talent, hard work and sheer tenacity are all crucial to career success.
revive
When something such as the economy, a business, a trend, or a feeling is revived or when it revives, it becomes active, popular, or successful again.
…an attempt to revive the British economy…
Here is a dish that will revive jaded palates.
indignant
If you are indignant, you are shocked and angry, because you think that something is unjust or unfair.
She was very indignant at the way she had been treated.
wax
If you say that someone, for example, waxes lyrical or waxes indignant about a subject, you mean that they talk about it in an enthusiastic or indignant way.
She waxes righteously indignant if anyone tries to contradict her.
My mother waxed eloquent on the theme of wifely duty.
eloquent
Speech or writing that is eloquent is well expressed and effective in persuading people.
He was eloquent about his love of books.
contradict
f you contradict someone, you say that what they have just said is wrong, or suggest that it is wrong by saying something different.
He often talks in circles, frequently contradicting himself and often ends up saying nothing.
to resit
to take the exam again
on the dole
unemployed
wind on
If you wind down, you relax after doing something that has made you feel tired or tense.
I regularly have a drink to wind down.
sift
to sort through information
Brook has sifted the evidence and summarises it clearly.
constraint
A constraint is something that limits or controls what you can do.
Their decision to abandon the trip was made because of financial constraints…
polarize
If something polarizes people or if something polarizes, two separate groups are formed with opposite opinions or positions.
The green debate tends to polarize into science-as-savior versus science-as-devil camps.
clique
If you describe a group of people as a clique, you mean that they spend a lot of time together and seem unfriendly towards people who are not in the group.
Anna Ford recently hit out at the male clique which she believes holds back women in television.
homophily
[hə’mɔfəli]
同質性、物以類聚
rowdy
When people are rowdy, they are noisy, rough, and likely to cause trouble.
If you describe people as rowdies, you mean that they are noisy, rough, and likely to cause trouble.
…a bar in New York where the owner kept a baseball bat to deal with rowdies.
vandalism
[‘vændəlɪzəm]
Vandalism is the deliberate damaging of things, especially public property.
..adolescent behavior like vandalism and rowdiness.
…a 13-year-old boy whose crime file includes violence, theft, vandalism and bullying.
justify
To justify a decision, action, or idea means to show or prove that it is reasonable or necessary.
I felt quite justified in not leaving a tip.
No argument can justify a war..
hen party
stag do
a party women have before they get married
Traditionally only women attend the hen night and only men attend the stag do.
causative
Causative factors are ones which are responsible for causing something.
Both nicotine and carbon monoxide inhaled with cigarette smoking have been incriminated as causative factors.
carbon monoxide
[ˈkɑrbən məˈnɑkˌsaɪd]
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is produced especially by the engines of vehicles.
The heavy traffic tinctures the air with carbon monoxide.
incriminate
If something incriminates you, it suggests that you are responsible for something bad, especially a crime.
He claimed that the drugs had been planted to incriminate him…
They are afraid of incriminating themselves and say no more than is necessary.
causative verbs
let: be allowed to
make: be forced to do
have: be given the responsibility to do
get: be convinced to do
geriatric
[ˌdʒɛriˈætrɪk]
Geriatric is used to describe things relating to the illnesses and medical care of old people.
There is a question mark over the future of geriatric care…
on sb’s behalf
I’m writing on behalf of my mother to express her thanks for your gift.
sub-standard
endure
premise
I am a regular patron of your restaurant, but am deeply unhappy with the sub-standard service and food that I endured on your premises last night.
