PEOPLE AND PLACES Flashcards
HACKNEYED
A hackneyed phrase or idea has been said or used so often that it has become boring and has no meaning
Example: The plot of the film is just a hackneyed boy-meets-girl scenario
The book’s storyline is so hackneyed, a girl alone in the world and the popular guy
MUNDANE
Very ordinary and therefore not interesting
Example: Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her
His project was so mundane, a soda volcano
ECCENTRIC
Strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way
Example: eccentric behaviour
His clothes were very eccentric that night
COMPULSIVE
**Doing something a lot and unable to stop doing it
Example: a compulsive liar/thief/eater
**If a film, play, sports event, book, etc. is compulsive, it is so interesting or exciting that you do not want to stop watching or reading it
Example: Her latest book is compulsive reading/a compulsive read
CORNY
(especially of jokes, films, stories, etc.) showing no new ideas or too often repeated, and therefore not funny or interesting
Example: I couldn’t watch the whole movie - it was just too corny
The situation in the book is so corny, the writer is not original at all
CLIFFHANGER
A story or a situation that is exciting because its ending or result is uncertain until it happens
Example: Many of Hitchcock’s films are real cliffhangers
The story had a cliffhanger ending
UNCONVINCING
Not sound or seem true or real
Example: They gave some unconvincing explanations for the system failure
He told me and stupid and unconvincing explanation about why he was late
ATROCIOUS
**Violent and shocking
Exampe: An atrocious crime
**Of very bad quality
Example: An atrocious film/piece of acting
The weather has been atrocious all week
FAR-FETCHED
Very unlikely to be true, and difficult to believe
Example: A far-fetched idea/story
He told me a far-fetched explanation of why he didn’t called
DISTURBING (memory)
Making you feel worried or upset
Example: The following programme contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers
That memory was so disturbing that till this day gives me shaking chills
BITTERLY (memory)
In a way that shows strong negative emotion such as anger or disappointment
Example: She wept bitterly at the news
That meory was so bitter that it still makes me upset
CONTRIVED
Artificial and difficult to believe
Example: I enjoyed the film, but felt the ending was a bit contrived
His excuse sounded a bit contrived
TOPICAL
Of interest at the present time; relating to things that are happening at present
Example: The discussion focused on topical issues in medicine
In Argentina, people make topical jokes about poitics and every other random situation
NEGATIVE
Bad or harmful
Example: The warm winter has had a very negative effect/impact on the ski industry
The test resaults were negative
GLAMOROUS
Attractive in an exciting and special way
Example:a glamorous job
Her party dress was so glamorous
FEATURELESS
Looking the same in every part, usually in a way that most people consider to be boring
Example: A grey featureless landscape
A featureless desert
VIVID (memory)
Vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful, and detailed images in the mind
Examen: He’s one of those people with a very vivid imagination - every time he hears a noise he’s convinced it’s someone breaking in
He gave a very vivid and often shocking account/description of his time in prison
DISTANT (memory)
Far away
Example: This memory is quite distant, I don’t remember very well
She could hear the distant sound of fireworks exploding.
SHORT-TERM (memory)
Relating to a short period of time or lasting a short period of time
Example: short-term memory
Our short-term aim is to deal with our current financial difficulties
LONG-TERM (memory)
Continuing a long time into the future
Example: the long-term effects of the drug
This memory is a long-term one, it was so funny I never want to forget
DREADFUL (memory)
**Causing fear, shock, or suffering
Example: The news report was so dreadful that I just had to switch it off
**Of very low quality or very unpleasant
Example: The food was bad and the service was dreadful
FADED (memory)
Having weakened or diminished with the passage of time
Example: a faded memory
It all seems quite faded now
CHERISHED (memory)
Bringing the pleasure of love or caring about someone or something that is important to you
Example: Her most cherished possession is a 1926 letter from F. Scott Fitzgerald
That was my mos cherished memory ever
NOSTALGIC (memory)
Feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the past
Example: alking about our old family holidays has made me feel all nostalgic
Remembering that mekes me so nostalgic
FUZZY (memory)
Not clear
Example: The basic facts of the story are starting to emerge though the details are still fuzzy
My head’s a little fuzzy this morning after all that wine last night
PRECIOUS (memory)
Of great value because of being rare, expensive, or important
Example: A precious moment/memory
Clean water is a precious commodity in many parts of the world
TREASURED (memory)
To take great care of something because you love it or consider it very valuable
Example: I will always treasure those memories of my dad
This pen that my grandfather gave me is one of my most treasured possessions
BITTER-SWEET (memory)
Containing a mixture of sadness and happiness
Example: The bittersweet end to the movie is just right
This memory is bittersweet, so much happened good and bad
HAUNTING (memory)
Beautiful, but in a sad way and often in a way that cannot be forgotten
Example: a haunting melody
The memory of the trip is a haunting one, so sad it end but so happy we lived it
VAGUE (memory)
Not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided
Example: I do have a vague memory of meeting her many years ago
The patient had complained of vague pains and backache
TRAUMATIC (memory)
Causing severe and lasting emotional shock and pain
Example: Some of the most disturbed children had witnessed really traumatic things, such as rape and murder
That memory must be so traumatic that her brain forbides her to remember
LINGERING (memory)
Lasting a long time
Example: She gave him a long, lingering kiss
She says she stopped seeing him, but I still have lingering doubts
FLEETING (memory)
Short or quick
Example: A fleeting glimpse
This is just a fleeting visit
REKINDLE
To make someone have a feeling that they had in the past
Example: The holiday was a last chance to rekindle their love
She tried to rekindle the happiness of the relationship but it didn’t work
TRIGGER
To cause something to start
Example: Some people find that certain foods trigger their headaches
The racial killings at the weekend have triggered off a wave of protests
CONJURE STH UP
To make a picture or idea appear in someone’s mind
Example: For some people, the word “England” may still conjure up images of pretty gardens and tea parties
Her speach conjured up images of food in my mind
BLOT OUT
To cause something to disappear, or to remove something unpleasant from your thoughts
Example: He blots out the painful memories by keeping very busy
A dark cloud blotted out the sun
HECTIC
Full of activity, or very busy and fast
Example: The area has become a haven for people tired of the hectic pace of city life
She always has a hectic schedule
FALL FOT STH. HOOK INE AND SINKER
**to fell completely in love
Example: The moment I met my wife, I fell for her hook, line, and sinker
**to completely believe something that someone tells you that is not true
Example: She told him she needed the money for her baby and he fell for it hook, line, and sinker
(TAKE) HEED
Pay attention
Example: The company took no heed of (= did not consider) public opposition to the plans
The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines
STRANDED
Unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money
Example: He left me stranded in town with no car and no money for a bus
If the tide comes in, we’ll be stranded on these rocks
DERELICT (buildings, places)
Derelict buildings or places are not cared for and are in bad condition
Example: The theatre has been left to stand/lie derelict
A derelict site over there
GIVE IN (to comeone)
To finally agree to something that someone wants after first refusing or to accept that you have been defeated and stop arguing or fighting
Example: If you want them to give in you’ll have to offer them more than that
After months of resisting the takeover, the company was forced by its shareholders to give in
NOVELLA
a short novel
Example: his last novella was amazing
MAR
To spoil something, making it less good or less enjoyable
Example: Sadly, the text is marred by careless errors
It was a really nice day, marred only by a little argument in the car on the way home
LADEN
Carrying or holding a lot of something
Example: He always comes back from France laden with presents for everyone
The table, as always, was laden with food
MOUNT
**To gradually increase, rise, or get bigger
Example: The children’s excitement is mounting as Christmas gets nearer
Tension was mounting as the minutes went by
**To get on a horse, bicycle, etc.. in order to ride
Example: She mounted her horse and rode off
**To organize and begin an activity or event
Example: to mount an attack/campaign/challenge/protest
DOOM
Death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided; to make something bad certain to happen
Example: The newspapers are always full of doom and gloom (= bad news and unhappiness) these days
Mounting debts doomed the factory to closure
GRIP
**To keep someone’s attention completely
Example: This trial has gripped the whole nation
**When an emotion such as fear grips you, you feel it strongly
Then he turned towards me, and I was suddenly gripped by fear
BACKDROP
**The view behind something
Example: The mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the little village
**The general situation in which particular events happen
Their love affair began against a backdrop of war
RESONATE
**If an experience or memory resonates, it makes you think of another similar one
Example: Her experiences resonate powerfully with me, living, as I do, in a similar family situation
**To produce, increase, or fill with sound, by vibrating (= shaking) objects that are near; or to be filed with a particular quality
Example The building resonates with historic significance
The noise of the bell resonated through the building
IN TATTERS
Badly damaged or completely spoiled
Example: After the newspaper story appeared his reputation was in tatters
The book was marveous, it’s a shame it had to end in tatters
ESOTERIC
Very unusual and understood or liked by only a small number of people, especially those with special knowledge
Example: She has a somewhat esoteric taste in clothes
Literary readings can sometimes seem esoteric, but we are trying to make them more attractive to more people
TRITE
Lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse
Example: I know it will sound trite, but I’ve loved being part of this club
His lyrics about love and peace are too trite for me to take them seriously
CONCEALMENT
The act of hiding something
Example: The concealment of evidence/facts/weapons
He was arrested for the concealment of the suspect
AT PLAY
Active or existing as something to be considered
Example. It’s a complicated matter with several important issues at play
This plan has to work, there are several things at pay
