Phrase Flashcards
a growing respect for X fueled in part by the contentious interpretations of his thought developed by Y.
contentious: causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial.
“the silence of this infinite terrifies me”
Descartes
they have been found to be transient human constructs with no binding force in telling us how we ought to act
1
a nurturer role and a disciplinary role
!
Philosophers were at ground-zero during these innovations.
1
the other issues then new to linguistics
1
The notion of logical form is bequeathed to us by Russel
1
come clean or I would resign
be honest
the difficulties that ensued from their commitment to Cuba
result
The government had violently crushed an anti-government uprising in November.
1
it turned the public pinion around
changed it
Iranians were galvanized in/ into a moment of national unity
shock or excite (someone) into taking action.
reverting to pre-2017
return to (a previous state, practice, topic, etc.).
to peddle a lie
he criticized his fellow candidate for peddling risky ideas
try to sell (something, especially small goods) by going from house to house or place to place.:
something that you come up with completely on your own
independent of X
you list for things you deeply crave
1
an unquenchable desire for sex
1
do you pay out of your pocket
1
Bolton’s Words Upend Trump’s Denials, but Will It Upend Trump?
set or turn (something) on its end or upside down.
urges volunteers to pivot to door-to-door canvassing in their home state.
1
Campaign phone calls and text messages, when the volume runs into the millions, can be expensive
1
the virus that has sickened and killed many jumped the barrier to infect humans
1
A man in his 50s flew into Los Angeles International Airport in Wuhan earlier this month
1
respiratory symptoms
1
the hallmark of good reasoning
1
At about the same time that X was developing his Y, Z was developing his T.
1
The Aristotelian requirement that every conclusion be drawn from two premises is unduly restrictive and does not mirror the actual reasoning and argumentation.
1
recast the argument in formal logic terms.
1
cannot be incorporated within the Aristotelian framework.
1
philosophers discarded the idea of god
1
they shrug their shoulder and answer
1
plunge her into despair
1
it would force them to come to the table.
1
if they respond favorably
1
the plan’s pro-Israel slant
a sloping position.
a new slant on sth
view
granting the Palestinians a full-fledged state.
1
within this large, untapped reservoir
reservoir= a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.
who could bolster Trump’s numbers in a battleground state.
bolster= n, a kind of pillow that supports the other pillows. v, support or strengthen; prop up.
a deep animosity divided Catholic and Protestant Christians up until a few decades ago.
1
led to a schism in the church
a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.
it was not left as finished
1
in their day the question need not be answered.
1
I was loath to raise objections
reluctant, unwilling
he was ahead of his time in opposing royal absolutism
1
I have never satisfied with the understanding I could gain of Kant’s overall conception.
1
the lectures are narrow in focus
1
Witness X and Y
bengarid be X and Y
taming of royal power
1
what is the original contract an agreement about?
1
beneath the diversity and complexity, there is some unity
1
I have done X, in the hope that
1
in a book of this length
1
this chapter constitutes the heart of the book
1
that is a brief recap on the modern logic
1
the details of this needn’t concern us here.
1
we are less than two months away from Nowruz
1
we are less than two months away from Nowruz
1
Maine is not the most exciting of places
1
quicker than they could blink
in a blink of an eye
the interpretation of impeachment is split along party lines
1
before abandoning hope, there is one last ray of sunshine
1
to see things their way
1
they believe their perspective brings them closer to the truth rather than further from it.
1
partisans will have to try in good faith to set their preconceptions aside
1
he and his aides will bungle a smooth handover of power
1
even if it comes across as “presumptuous.”
(of a person or their behavior) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.
“I hope I won’t be considered presumptuous if I offer some advice”
don’t neglect to take it
1
ace the quiz
1
to pull sth out of a hat
To select someone or something entirely at random.
they will quickly tire of this.
1
to dip into sth
spend sth from the amount that you have/ to read or listen a little of sth
come to terms with
come to accept (a new and painful or difficult event or situation); reconcile oneself to.
This is devoted to topics that require attention before we embark upon our study of logic,
1
some theories have flouted it entirely
1
She still bore the scars of a very conflictive divorce, which made her wary of making any new commitment.
1
a caveat is apropos here
a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
she is providing %99 of the cuteness
1
understand the intricacies of social cooperation
1
his explanation of X invokes Y
1
plagued by feelings of guilt/injury
1
the contrast between x and y are so striking that it is helpful to note how the fit in with
1
Feel free to drop into any individual class you were particularly intrigued by.
1
a breach of any virtue may give rise to shame
1
what if any are the natural attitudes to which it is related?
q
the absence of X evidence s the absence of Y
1
we are not interested in exegesis of Frege.
1
bear with us! once we spell out the complete proposal, you will see that …
hamrah bashid!
Frege talks a great deal about ..
1
it will save us some ink in future chapters
1
it might be a subject not unworthy of onsideration
1
it maded him come to the view that
1
this explanation does not quite tally with his own, in which he says
1
the rejection of idealism left a void in political philospophy
1
get down in the weeds/ get lost …
go to the details..
tease apart
disentangle
subtle differences that are hard to detect
1
I am not signed up for that idea
1
his vehement critique of
1
he has a reputation for being a stylist
1
a perpetual onslaught of death on us
1
it was a commercial hub
1
they are spending immensely on social media
1
they have waged an uninterrupted campaign since his first day in office
1
His impeachment has generated a flurry of donations from loyalists
1
it keeps you up at night
1
the burdens of judgment is meant to explain
1
Acceptance of X will lead citizens to subject their views to critical scrutiny
1
can I see it? I wonder what’s in it
1
they had tested positive for the virus
1
it’s anxiety-provoking when we see the ambulances line up on the side of the ship
1
officials are undermining solar power in favor of natural gas.
1
government’s gruesome logic
causing repulsion or horror; grisly./ gruesome murder
TRUMP’S REGIME CHANGE POLICY FOR IRAN IS A FEVERED FANTASY — IT WILL ONLY PROMOTE CHAOS AND INSTABILITY
1
An internal challenge to the regime that arose during the 2009 Green Movement was put down with force
1
Everything was going Donald Trump’s way
1
to foster trust amongst citizens through their use of mutually acceptable justification
1
makes forceful use of the sweeping assumption of compliance with a specific kind of reasonable behavior
1
I feel worse with this test than ..
1
what is the chief end of man>
1
do you mind the first paragraph
1
it is no longer credible to believe in god
1
the horizon has been wiped away
1
the horizon has been wiped away
1
he gives us a gloss of what that means
1
it is wrapped around the axle of God
1
one point of reference here is the book by
1
His prose is crisp, elegant, and lucid.
1
by inviting us to reconsider what we have hitherto taken for granted, he puts in question not just this or that particular philosophical thesis, but some of the larger projects in which we are engaged.
1
Often enough Geuss does this with remarkable economy, provoking us into first making his questions our own and then discovering how difficult it is to answer them.
1
a teacher sobered me up
1
makes forceful use of the sweeping assumption of compliance with a specific kind of reasonable behavior
1
knocked him unconscious
1
a wave of anger spread across campus
1
it has gotten worse in the years since
1
She is particularly interested in bringing to light ways in which the field of ethics has contributed to, rather than corrected, marginalization and inequality.
1
we feel entitled
1
we guide each other towards redemption
1
how she pulled off a big surprise
to carry out despite difficulties : accomplish successfully against odds
we don’t seem to be suffering as a field from a shortage of articles
1
it is essential if we are to redeem the sacrifices of those who came before
1
sustainable activism is a work of lifetime, not just of youthful bravado
bravado: a bold manner or a show of boldness intended to impress or intimidate.
As I look around from the vantage point of philosophy
1
these efforts involve personal sacrifice
1
more alienated work in the name of alleged efficiency
1
to demand a role in decision making
1
those of us who are beneficiaries of the extraordinary privilege of senior academic life
1
one colleague took me aside
1
he had touched a nerve
1
he was the only student who had ridden the rails, hopping freight trains,
1
ranchers have bridled at excessive federal control
show one’s resentment or anger, especially by throwing up the head and drawing in the chin.
witches must be burned
1
we are not gonna go much into N’s critique of
1
the sense of possibility is stripped away from us
to remove or peel something from someone or something.
what are the obstacles to it?
1
what it is like for Nietzsche
1
I want to call your attention to the last paragraph.
1
I can’t remember which number it is
1
we should not not talk about it
1
how he conceives of it?
1
it is hard to deny that it has sometimes been effective
1
social safety net
The social safety net is a collection of services provided by the state or other institutions such as friendly societies
he is poisoning his own well
fallacy
he has stale ideas
stale bread
a dash of something
a small amount
I value Mill’s work more highly than him
1
his work called forth a strong intellectual reaction
1
if you had to pick a candidate to be stuck on a deserted island with who would it be?
:)
let’s call it a “civil rights demonstration”!
1
they are the joy of my life
1
what did you wanna be when you were a kid?
1
hold on to it
keep it
he seizes hold of a branch of a bush and clings on to it.
1
throw your hands up!
to Bernie :)
he doesn’t go on at length about it
1
parasite class
1
I can’t answer with respect to details
1
one can relate to his story
1
Nietzsche picks up on that question too.
I want to pick up on a point that Susan made about role models.
to reverse the order of priority
1
to build a coalition
1
just so you are aware
1
to peel off and
veer away to one side
plug sth in sth (function)
to replace
what would have to change in order for us to ..
1
we will pick it up there on Wednesday
1
don’t want to be pedantic
1
the book is signed by a pseudoname
Kierkegaard
it keeps coming up
1
get a vibe of the violence at the heart of it
1
it’s washed out of the culture
be excluded (or exclude someone) from a course or position after a failure to meet the required standards.
I will send around an email tomorrow
1
trying to pick up from where we left off last week
1
get people thinking about it
1
any thoughts about what he means by that?
1
something is in order
it is correct to say: congratulations are in order/ a quick note on X is in order
a sneak/ quick peek
an opportunity to see or experience something before it is officially presented or released to the public.
to put the cart before the horse
1
there is no denying that it complicates procedures of the kind that interested Frege
1
no X could be correct if it claims Y
1
Pythagorean theorem
the square of the hypotenuse (longest side of a right-angled triangle, the side opposite the right angle) of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the remaining sides
repeating the story for higher levels of the hierarchy disarms the objection
1
we are going to get introduced to Pythagorean theorom
1
doable but not a trivial challenge
1
good call
approval for a decision
Can you walk me through the process
!
We call it/begin anew
Adverb
they pump their own gas
1
throw someone under the bus
1
I am not here to point fingers
1
to hold information from the public
1
get it up and running
esp for a computer
I know where he is coming from
1
relationships are on the rocks because of self-isolation
informal: facing challenges
it is your call
you’ve got to decide
Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road
in the future
abortion has claimed the lives of black people more than twice as many
1
what probability was there when he got that information
1
that’s what counts
1
the facts of the matter is
1
I may be able to pull a few strings if you need the document urgently.
to use your power unfairly
getting enough fluids
1
we have to walk August notwithstanding the lockdown
:)
to put all doubts to rest but just in case there is any lingering doubts
1
we will go to New Hampshire victoriously
1
everybody has got things in their closet
Secrets
trickle down economics
gradually benefit the poorest as a result of the increasing wealth of the richest.
on the bright side
1
The company’s $1.6 million budget was predicated on selling 10,000 subscriptions.
if an action or event is predicated on a belief or situation, it is based on it or depends on it
get something out of the way
1
his scar is somewhat off-putting
unpleasant, disconcerting, or repellent
I am blanking on sth
forget
get hold of someone
I must get hold of Vanessa to see if she can babysit.
get hold of something
These books are hard to get hold of in the U.S.
1- to finally find someone and talk to them
2- to get something that you need or want
we just clicked
1
He shuffles around in his chair
you move your feet about while standing or you move your bottom about while sitting, often because you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.
for the time being
for now
check off sth
make sure you’ve satisfied them
broadly construed
1
operate under the assumption that
1
hopping into an uber
1
hit the road
start a journey
Boris has deputized his foreign secretary to fill in for him
1
what is the punchline?
the final phrase or sentence of a joke or story, providing the humor or some other crucial element.
planned obsolescence
1
we are not siding with one or the other
supporting
Don’t worry if you can’t pick up on the difference at first
1
They have repeatedly broken the law and gotten away with it.
1
a technology that is one degree above Amish
1
wash your hand and pick your nose
1
Breed’s decision to ban gatherings of more than 1,000 people forced the hand of the Bay Area’s beloved Golden State Warriors
made them do sth/ change
the navy found out that of the 100 members of the crew, 80 were positive for the virus
1
to lose sb/sth to sb/sth
it takes it away. Lost their lives to corona virus
I can say that unequivocally
1
it is difficult to square what critics are saying with facts on the ground
1
many who were proponents of what I consider to be a disastrous decision keep on playing the same note over and over again
1
to leave someone speechlesss
1
much of this claim centers around his most famous work ..
1
petty squabbling
Petty: of no importance
Squabbling:
to quarrel noisily and usually over petty matters
make a pitch
If someone makes a pitch for something, they try to persuade people to do or buy it.
The president speaks in New York today, making another pitch for his economic program.
make a bid to obtain a contract or other business.
to stand your ground
stand one’s ground. (idiomatic) To maintain or stick by an opinion or position; to remain resolute in the face of opposition. They expect their opponents to stand their ground on the issue.
swing voter
A swing voter is a person who is not a firm supporter of any political party, and whose vote in an election is difficult to predict.
release the criminals to prey upon the public
1
check and balances
counterbalancing influences by which an organization or system is regulated, typically those ensuring that political power is not concentrated in the hands of individuals or groups.
Threading this needle has proven difficult
To find harmony or strike a balance between conflicting forces, interests, etc
what does it speak to?
1
the social institution is designed to favor X over Y
2
A friend of x theory might here come to its defense and say ..
1
If you have a moment, I’d like to bounce an alternative plan off you.
to discuss something with someone in order to get their opinion and make a decision
where does the burden of proof about x lie?
q
the only game in town
1
some would begin to question that
1
areas that have been, as it were, pushed aside
as it were = less precise
similar objections, I conjecture, will apply
instead of: I conjecture that…
it’s hard to imagine anything at all passing the bar
1
it would quench your thirst
1
Change, after all, is the one constant when it comes to culture
1
after the first big layoff, the possibility of losing their jobs hovered over all of the factory’s workers
hover over: to remain poised to inflict harm, danger, or distress on
as of July 9th, 2020, the documented tally of his distortions and false statements numbered 20,055.
1
this is not a direct quote
1
treat them on a par
equally
don’t censor out the facts that go against evolution
1
you blew it
made a big mistake
We hate to be the ones to break it to you, but you are an ape.
to disclose some news or information to someone. (Often said of unpleasant news.)
On the domestic front, de Gaulle’s priority was to secure his government’s authority.
1
this point is tricky and merits more elaboration
1
hit on the knuckles with a ruler
school punishment
wacky ideas
1
Average americans are not poking around trying to figure out what their religious beliefs are
1
here is what I would say
1
that’s what our constitution guarantees
1
the issue with science is not restricted to what’s happening with respect to religion
2
thanks for giving us a shout out
an occasion when someone who is talking on the television or radio mentions someone in order to thank them or wish them well: I want to give a shout-out to my dad, who helped me a lot
I guess my question would be whether there is active persecution
1
Outside of that arena though
2
f-35s are stealth
Sneaky
one of the guys on the back nearly burst out laughing
1
it goes a long way
it’s important
no one that I knwo that supports Trump does X
1
the rule of law needs to supersede all these emotions
1
to point gun at someone
1
ever since I was little
1
they’re sweating bullets back there right now
1
as tragic the past few days have been, they have also been an incredible opportunity
1
tip jar
1
that “why” is lever you can pull to change behavior
1
when her knock elicited no response, she opened the door.
1
Blessed be, I had a meeting get cancelled in the middle of it all.
gift from God
squint
You have to squint to see how Biden’s lead won’t hold up on Election Day.
close your eyes to see more clear
debacle
a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.
“the economic debacle that became known as the Great Depression”
wane
I do moral philsoophy when my power is waning
siren
did you hear the siren?
a device that makes a loud prolonged sound as a signal or warning.
finesse
intricate and refined delicacy.
“orchestral playing of great finesse”
do something with finesse
finesse
intricate and refined delicacy.
“orchestral playing of great finesse”
do something with finesse
peccadilloe
a small, relatively unimportant offense or sin.
“the sexual peccadilloes of celebrities aren’t necessarily news”
turtleneck
a kind of sweater with high collar close fitting
permutation
a way, especially one of several possible variations, in which a set or number of things can be ordered or arranged.
“his thoughts raced ahead to fifty different permutations of what he must do”
heart sink
you feel disappointed and discouraged: My heart sank when I opened the letter and realized I had not been accepted into graduate school.
macabre
disturbing and horrifying because of involvement with or depiction of death and injury.
“a macabre series of murders”
haven
a place of safety or refuge.
“a haven for wildlife”
orthography
orthographically (not comparable) In an orthographical manner; using proper spelling, capitalization and grammar. According to orthography or spelling.
parricide
the killing of a parent or other near relative.
a person who commits parricide.
jittery
nervous or unable to relax.
“caffeine makes me jittery”
sheepfold
a sheep pen.
lent
a period of fasting and regret for one’s sins that is observed on the 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter by many churches.
ne’er-do-well
a person who is lazy and irresponsible.
“a bit of a ne’er-do-well whose only interests seemed to be cards and boozing”
honorarium
a payment given for professional services that are rendered nominally without charge.
proleptic
an anticipating; esp., the describing of an event as taking place before it could have done so, the treating of a future event as if it had already happened, or the anticipating and answering of an argument before one’s opponent has a chance to advance it. Derived forms. proleptic
chimeric
hoped for but illusory or impossible to achieve.
“the notion of tolerance is a chimeric dream”
upend
set or turn (something) on its end or upside down.
“Kitty upended her purse, dumping out all her money”
linchpin
a person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization.
“regular brushing is the linchpin of all good dental hygiene”
pamphlet
a small booklet or leaflet containing information or arguments about a single subject.
“he published a spate of pamphlets on the subjects about which he felt strongly”
A thumb on the scale
An act of bias or a tactic for cheating which creates a situation that unfairly benefits one party involved in an interaction.
You have to suspect that the casinos have their thumb on the scale when it comes to the slot machines. There’s no way you’re getting fair odds.
pelt
attack (someone) by repeatedly hurling things at them.
“two little boys pelted him with rotten apples”
circumspect
wary and unwilling to take risks.
“the officials were very circumspect in their statements”
gig economy
A gig economy is a labor market that relies heavily on temporary and part-time positions filled by independent contractors and freelancers rather than full-time permanent employees. Gig workers gain flexibility and independence but little or no job security.
pummel
to beat or thrash with or as if with the fists.
grid
a framework of spaced bars that are parallel to or cross each other; a grating.
to hit a home run
to do something that is very successful.
coif
style or arrange (someone’s hair), typically in an elaborate way.
“her elaborately coiffed hair”
grifter
a person who engages in petty or small-scale swindling.
“I saw him as a grifter who preys upon people”
snap at someone
Speak irritably or abruptly to someone, as in This teacher was always snapping at the children.
to lock horns
to begin to argue or fight:
The mayor and her deputy locked horns over plans for the new road.
meat and potato
of fundamental importance
: of fundamental importance : basic. also : concerned with or emphasizing the basic aspects of something. : unpretentious, simple. a real meat-and-potatoes guy.
overkill
excessive use, treatment, or action; too much of something.
“animators now face a dilemma of technology overkill”
2.
the amount by which destruction or the capacity for destruction exceeds what is necessary.
“the existing nuclear overkill”
vent emotions
give free expression to (a strong emotion).
“he had come to vent his rage and despair”
secede/secession
withdraw formally from membership of a federal union, an alliance, or a political or religious organization.
“the kingdom of Belgium seceded from the Netherlands in 1830”
third rale
an additional rail supplying electric current, used in some electric railroad systems.
INFORMAL*US
a subject or issue considered by politicians to be too controversial to discuss.
bray
(of a donkey or mule) utter a bray.
Similar:
neigh
whinny
hee-haw
hinny
(of a person) speak or laugh loudly and harshly.
“he brayed with laughter”
tongue (remain silnet
to hold your tongue
full-throated
produced or expressed with the full power of the voice : loud and powerful. a full-throated cry. Her supple voice can effortlessly move from an insinuating whisper to a full-throated roar to a clear, piping soprano
at the drop of a hat
without delay or good reason.
“he used to be very bashful, blushing at the drop of a hat”
demote
demote someone to a lower postiion
batshit
completely mad or crazy
raft of
a very large number of people or things. A whole raft of strategies were suggested in the report.
take down a notch
Also, take down a peg. Deflate or humble someone, as in He’s so arrogant that I wish someone would take him down a notch, or That defeat took them down a peg. Both notch and peg in this idiom allude to a series, the former of indentations, the latter of knobs, used to raise or lower something. Specifically, peg alludes to the pegs used to lower a ship’s colors. Their figurative use dates from the second half of the 1600s. Also see cut down, def. 4.
scintillating
sparkling or shining brightly.
“the scintillating sun”
brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful.
“the audience loved his scintillating wit”
interrobang
a non-standard punctuation mark (‽) indicating a question expressed in an exclamatory manner, as in what are you doing‽.
sauté
fry quickly in a little hot fat.
“sauté the onions in the olive oil”
راسو
weasel
espionage
the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information.
“the camouflage and secrecy of espionage”
espionage
the practice of spying or of using spies, typically by governments to obtain political and military information.
“the camouflage and secrecy of espionage”
gallows
execution by hanging.
plural noun: the gallows
“saved from the gallows by a last-minute reprieve”
etching
a print produced by the process of etching.
“etchings of animals and wildflowers”
Come upstairs to checkout my etchings.
despicable
deserving to be despised : so worthless or obnoxious as to rouse moral indignation. despicable behavior.
shebang
a matter, operation, or set of circumstances.
“the Mafia boss who’s running the whole shebang”
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater
is an idiomatic expression for an avoidable error in which something good or of value is eliminated when trying to get rid of something unwanted
propitious
giving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable:
“the timing for such a meeting seemed propitious”
cut corners
undertake something in what appears to be the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, especially by omitting to do something important or ignoring rules.
“there is always a temptation to cut corners when time is short”
cut corners
undertake something in what appears to be the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way, especially by omitting to do something important or ignoring rules.
“there is always a temptation to cut corners when time is short”
hors d’oeuvre
An hors d’oeuvre, appetiser or starter is a small dish served before a meal in European cuisine.
niggardly
grudgingly mean about spending or granting : BEGRUDGING
… management was being niggardly with raises.
—Dana Canedy
Propulsion
Propulsion is the generation of force by any combination of pushing or pulling to modify the translational motion of an object, which is typically a rigid body but may also concern a fluid. The term is derived from two Latin words: pro, meaning before or forward; and pellere, meaning to drive.
well-to-do
wealthy; prosperous.
“a well-to-do family”
none the wiser
not knowing or understanding anything
none the wiser
not knowing or understanding anything
tu quoque
tu quoque * \TOO-KWOH-kwee\ * noun. : a retort charging an adversary with being or doing what he or she criticizes in others.
prescient
having or showing knowledge of events before they take place.
superlative
what was your junior year high school superlative?
mendacious
not telling the truth; lying:
“mendacious propaganda”
shoot up
to grow in size, or increase in number or level, very quickly: David has really shot up since I saw him last.
bullseye
the center of the target in sports such as archery, shooting, and darts.
up your game
to try harder and improve the quality of what you are doing:
Abi has really upped her game this year, and is now in contention for a gold medal.
stint
a period of time spent at a particular activity. served a brief stint as a waiter. : a definite quantity of work assigned
trenchant
vigorous or incisive in expression or style.
“she heard angry voices, not loud, yet certainly trenchant”
polymath
a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning.
“a Renaissance polymath”
snowbird
A snowbird is a person who migrates from the colder northern parts of North America to warmer southern locales, typically during the winter. The southern locales include the Sun Belt, Hawaii and Puerto Rico in the United States, as well as Mexico and the Caribbean.
Pride comes before a fall
cc
whomp whomp
used as an expression of mock disappointment, often for humorous effect.
whomp whomp
used as an expression of mock disappointment, often for humorous effect.
Memoranda
are brief, informal reports used to establish a record. They generalize the communication process by transmitting the message from one or more authors to one or more recipients. E-mail messages typically take the form of memoranda. The memorandum is among the most versatile of organizational documents.
sit on the fence
avoid making a decision or choice.
take the Fifth
(in the US) exercise the right, guaranteed by the Fifth Am
Tragic mulatto
is a stereotypical mixed-race person
indomitable
incapable of being subdued or overcome. For example, you might describe someone as indomitable if they are very determined and impossible to defeat.
splurge
to spend excessive amount of mony on something
to splurge on sth
beacon
a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration.
“a chain of beacons carried the news”
pivot on a dime
When you literally have a very small turning radius, you can turn on a dime, whether you’re on foot or in a speed boat. This phrase is also commonly used figuratively, to mean instantly change focus or switch abruptly to something new.
incisive
(of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking.
(of an account) accurate and sharply focused.
“the songs offer incisive pictures of American ways”
mainstay
a person or thing on which something else is based or depends.
“farming is the mainstay of the rural economy”
obituray
a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.
“an obituary notice”
earshot
If you are within earshot of someone or something, you are close enough to be able to hear them. If you are out of earshot, you are too far away to hear them.
bosom
a woman’s chest.
“her ample bosom”
gimick
a trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business.
“it is not so much a program to improve services as a gimmick to gain votes”
to have a green thumb
To have a green thumb means to be very good at gardening and to have the ability to make plants grow well. For example, you might say “She has an unbelievably green thumb, she can grow anything”.
plough through
Ploughing through” is an idiom that means to make slow progress through something difficult or boring, especially a book or report. For example, “I’ve got an enormous pile of papers to plough through”.
cash in on sth
If you say that someone cashes in on a situation, you are criticizing them for using it to gain an advantage, often in an unfair or dishonest way.
Another egalitarian philosopher cashes in on justice
hit a high note
hit the high notes (third-person singular simple present hits the high notes, present participle hitting the high notes, simple past and past participle hit the high notes) (idiomatic) To produce or attain, at least for a period of time, an especially satisfactory degree of achievement or fulfilment. quotation
end on a high note
To end on a high note or to go out on a high note means to finish things well, to end something successfully or in a positive manner, to end something with a pleasing climax.
on the make
“On the make” is an informal, disapproving idiom that means someone is trying to get money or power, possibly by illegal or immoral methods. For example, “Jack was a young man on the make. Not so much for fame, but for money”.
badge of honor
he turned poverty to a badge of honor
a mark or expression of pride. He wore his ethnic heritage as a badge of honor/pride.
troupe
a group of dancers, actors, or other entertainers who tour to different venues.
“a dance troupe”
whirlwind
a column of air moving rapidly around and around in a cylindrical or funnel shape.
Similar:
tornado
hurricane
typhoon
cyclone
tropical storm
tropical cyclone
vortex
dust devil
waterspout
twister
willy-willy
used in similes and metaphors to describe a very energetic or tumultuous person or process.
“a whirlwind of activity”
“Come to the fore”
is an idiom that means to become obvious, visible, or prominent.
Exercitive
(pragmatics, hermeneutics) A speech act in which a decision is made regarding action; examples include orders and grants of permission.
spiel
A spiel is a long, often glib speech that is intended to persuade or make excuses. For example, a salesman might give a spiel about the benefits of joining a club.
grating
sounding harsh and unpleasant.
“a high, grating voice”
creaky
(of an object, typically a wooden one) making or liable to make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied.
“I climbed the creaky stairs”
prodigious
remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
“the stove consumed a prodigious amount of fuel”
duplicitous
deceitful.
“treacherous, duplicitous behavior”
mutiny
an open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers.
“a mutiny by those manning the weapons could trigger a global war”
to capitalize on something
capitalize on/upon something. to gain a further advantage for yourself from a situation synonym take advantage of. The team failed to capitalize on their early lead.
take a pew
a long wooden seat in a church
have a seat
strike a chord
If something strikes a chord, it causes people to approve of it or agree with it: Their policy on childcare has struck a responsive chord with women voters. Her speech struck a sympathetic chord among business leaders.
inkling
a slight knowledge or suspicion; a hint.
“the records give us an inkling of how people saw the world”
a blotter for academics inklings
blotter
a sheet or pad of blotting paper inserted into a frame and kept on a desk.
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
a temporary recording book, especially a police charge sheet.
“the boys ended up on police blotters for property crimes”
arbitrageur
An arbitrageur is a trader who aims to generate financial gains from the difference in a security’s price in different markets. They purchase financial assets from a market at a lower price and sell them in a different market at a higher price, thus generating a profit.
parlous
full of danger or uncertainty; precarious.
“the parlous state of the economy”
reboot in art form
Reboot: A new direction taken on by a pre-established story or character. Remake: A retelling of a story audiences have seen before, but typically with a difference.
venture out
- To proceed bravely out into some unknown or dangerous place.
The group of explorers is getting ready to venture out into the wilds of Antarctica.
It was nearly midnight by the time we arrived at our hotel, so we had to wait until the next morning to venture out and explore Tokyo. - To exit through (some passageway), especially in a cautious or wary manner.
The sirens may have stopped blaring, but I wasn’t about to venture out my door just yet.
We weren’t allowed to venture out the gate of the military compound unless we were accompanied by armed guards.
sham
A sham is something that is not what it appears to be and is intended to deceive people. For example, a time-share deal that is a sham is a fake imitation that purports to be genuine.
Synonyms of sham include fraud, imitation, hoax, and pretence.
Sham can also refer to a pillow sham, which is a removable, decorative case that covers a regular pillow.
jerry-rigged
chiefly US. : made in a quick or careless way : not built or designed well.
“Jerry-rigged” means something was made quickly and carelessly, without much attention to detail or quality. For example, “jury-rigged” means something was assembled quickly with the materials on hand.
“Jerry-rigged” is a variant of “jury-rigged”. “Jerry-rigged” may have been influenced by “jerry-built”, which means something was cheaply or poorly built.
jerry-rigged
chiefly US. : made in a quick or careless way : not built or designed well.
“Jerry-rigged” means something was made quickly and carelessly, without much attention to detail or quality. For example, “jury-rigged” means something was assembled quickly with the materials on hand.
“Jerry-rigged” is a variant of “jury-rigged”. “Jerry-rigged” may have been influenced by “jerry-built”, which means something was cheaply or poorly built.
jerry-rigged
chiefly US. : made in a quick or careless way : not built or designed well.
“Jerry-rigged” means something was made quickly and carelessly, without much attention to detail or quality. For example, “jury-rigged” means something was assembled quickly with the materials on hand.
“Jerry-rigged” is a variant of “jury-rigged”. “Jerry-rigged” may have been influenced by “jerry-built”, which means something was cheaply or poorly built.
feather in your cap
“A feather in your cap” is an idiom that means to be recognized for doing something well. It can also mean to have an achievement that you can be proud of. For example, you might say “It’s a real feather in his cap to represent his country in the Olympics”.
deep trance
A deep trance is a state of profound relaxation and loss of control over the body. It can be characterized by:
consign
deliver (something) to a person’s custody, typically in order for it to be sold.
“he consigned three paintings to Sotheby’s”
consigned to negligence
look up to someone
to admire and respect someone:
He’d always looked up to his uncle.
swerve
change or cause to change direction abruptly.
“a car swerved around a corner”
staunch
loyal and committed in attitude.
“a staunch supporter of the antinuclear lobby”
2.
(of a wall) of strong or firm construction.
“these staunch walls could withstand attack by cannon”
the most staunch defender of the dialogue.
doxxing
search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the internet, typically with malicious intent.
“hackers and online vigilantes routinely dox both public and private figures”
itinerary
a planned route or journey.
“his itinerary included an official visit to Canada”
a travel document recording a route or journey.
“we will send you an itinerary”
Escape hatch
a hatch for use as an emergency exit, especially from a submarine, ship, or aircraft.
simulacrum
an image or representation of someone or something.
“a small-scale simulacrum of a skyscraper”
an unsatisfactory imitation or substitute.
“a bland simulacrum of American soul music”
ejection seat
An ejection seat is a system designed to rescue the pilot or other crew of an aircraft (usually military) in an emergency. In most designs, the seat is propelled out of the aircraft by an explosive charge or rocket motor, carrying the pilot with it. The purpose of the ejection seat is to lift the pilot straight out of the aircraft to a safe distance, then deploy a parachute to allow the pilot to land safely.
cut to the chase
get to the main point
mince words
To mince words means to obfuscate, to speak vaguely, to be indirect. The negative, don’t mince words or let’s not mince words, is more commonly used as an admonishment to speak directly and plainly.
kindred
similar in kind; related.
“books on kindred subjects”
diaeresis
Diacritical marks of two dots ¨, placed side-by-side over or under a letter, are used in a number of languages for several different purposes. The most familiar to English-language speakers are the diaeresis and the umlaut, though there are numerous others. For example, in Albanian, ë represents a schwa.
make allowance
1
: to think about or plan for (something that will or might happen in the future)
When purchasing property, the company should make allowance for possible future growth/expansion.
2
: to consider (something) when one makes a calculation
When you’re comparing costs from different decades, you need to make allowance for inflation.
feline
belonging or relating to the cat family:
feline leukemia
appearing or behaving like a cat:
bring home the bacon
.
supply material provision or support; earn a living.
“I have to go to work because it brings home the bacon”
2.
achieve success.
“you don’t have to be in a high-tech industry to bring home the bacon”
split second
a very brief moment of time:
“for a split second, I hesitated”
skid
(of a vehicle) slide, typically sideways or obliquely, on slippery ground or as a result of stopping or turning too quickly.
“the taxicab skidded to a halt”
skim along
“Skim along” could be a crossword clue that means to move along rapidly and lightly, or to skim or dart. For example, “The hummingbird flitted among the branches”. It could also mean a secret move to avoid paying debts, or a sudden quick movement.
reach a plateau
to reach a state or level of little or no growth or decline, especially to stop increasing or progressing; remain at a stable level of achievement; level off: After a period of uninterrupted growth, sales began to plateau.
sea change
a marked change : TRANSFORMATION
a sea change in public policy
befuddled
unable to think clearly; confused or perplexed.
“even in my befuddled state I could see that they meant trouble”
discombobulated
informal
: characterized by confusion or disorder
He was discombobulated, utterly confused as to what had happened.
—Michael Hall
bone to pick
Having a “bone to pick with someone” means having a grievance that needs to be talked out: “I have a bone to pick with you, Wallace; I heard how you criticized me at the meeting last night.”
nymph
a mythological spirit of nature imagined as a beautiful maiden inhabiting rivers, woods, or other locations.
“the idyllic world of nymphs and shepherds”
get wrecked
“Get wrecked” is a slang phrase that means to be defeated or humiliated in a thorough way. It can also mean to be injured or beat up. For example, you might say “We all got completely wrecked after prom”.
cut corners
“Cut corners” is an idiom used in American English that means taking shortcuts or taking the easy way out of something.
chips are down
“When the chips are down” is an idiom that means when things are difficult, desperate, or hard to recover from. For example, you might say “When the chips are down, she’s very tough”.
tattle
“Tattle” means to tell secrets or gossip about someone else’s personal matters or secrets. For example, you might tattle on your sister to your parents if she snuck out. Synonyms of “tattle” include “tell on”, “blab”, “idle talk”, “chatter”, and “gossip”
nabbing
catch (someone) doing something wrong.
“Olympic drug tests nabbed another athlete yesterday”
notarize
: to acknowledge or attest as a notary public
Franklin’s sons have already agreed that the other document, written and notarized in 2010, meets those requirements and qualifies as a will.
—Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2023
stroke of luck
It was a stroke of luck
“Stroke of luck” is an idiom that means an instance of unexpected luck, usually good luck. It can also mean something good that happens by chance.
bosom
(of a friend) close or intimate.
“the two girls had become bosom friends”
eerie
strange and frightening.
“an eerie green glow in the sky”
pedigee
the record of descent of an animal, showing it to be purebred.
“they are looking for animals with pedigrees”
2.
the recorded ancestry, especially upper-class ancestry, of a person or family.
“with a pedigree equal to many of the gentry”
rookie
beginner, recruit
rookie. noun. rook·ie ˈru̇k-ē : beginner, recruit. especially : a first-year player in a professional sport.
tread lightly
to be careful or cautious
“Tread lightly” means to be careful or cautious in one’s actions or words, often to avoid causing harm or offense
thither
to or toward that place.
“no trickery had been necessary to attract him thither”
marry someone off
“Marry someone off” is an idiom that means to force someone to get married, usually a relative
Lacunose
Lacunose has multiple meanings:
Unfriendly or unfavorable
Lacking in decisiveness or strength of character
Having or full of lacunæ, or marked by gaps, cavities, or depressions
A manuscript, text, or section with gap
go to great length
“Go to great lengths” is an idiom that means to put in a lot of effort, energy, or work to achieve something. For example, you might say “I appreciate that the tutor went to great lengths to make sure I understood the assignment”t
throw ones hat into the ring
throw your hat into the ring
to announce your intention of entering a competition or election
silver lining
A silver lining is a comforting or hopeful aspect of a difficult or unhappy situation.
For example, if you lose your job, a silver lining could be that you can go to school full-time and finish your degree earlier.
make good on something
“Make good on something” is an idiom that means to fulfill an obligation, such as keeping a promise or paying a debt.
For example, “You better make good on all the things you said you would deliver, or the client is not going to be happy”.
unbridled
uncontrolled; unconstrained.
“a moment of unbridled ambition”
unbridled inflation
crest and trough
The crest and trough of a wave are the highest and lowest points of a wave, respectively. The crest is the point where the medium has the maximum displacement. The trough is the opposite of the crest, and is the minimum or lowest point in a cycle
Come to a head
“Come to a head” is an idiom that means a situation has reached a point where action must be taken. For example, you might say “Things hadn’t been good between us for a while and this incident just brought it to a head”.
Here are some synonyms for “come to a head”:
Cap, Climax, Conclude, Culminate, End, Finish.
dotted with
“Dotted with” means a place or object has many things scattered over its surface. For example, you might say “The maps were dotted with the names of small towns” or “The ski slopes were dotted with skiers and snowboarders”.
infighting
hidden conflict or competitiveness within an organization.
“infighting between departments grew worse”
boxing closer to an opponent than at arm’s length.
pen-up
“Pent-up” is an adjective meaning something is held back or not expressed.
For example, you might say “He still had a lot of pent-up anger to release”. Synonyms of “pent-up” include suppressed, checked, curbed, and inhibited.
penology
Penology is the scientific study of punishment, including its administration, effects, and purposes. It is a branch of criminology that focuses on the philosophy and practice of society in its efforts to repress criminal activities. Penology is also the study of prison management.
The term penology comes from the Latin word poena which means “punishment” and the Greek suffix -logia which means “study of”.
hair splitting
Hair-splitting is an idiom that means to argue about differences that are too small to be important. For example, if you are accused of being 45 minutes late for an appointment, you are splitting hairs if you say you were only 40 minutes late.
Hair-splitting is also used as a synonym for “quibble”.
rekindle
“Rekindle” means to start or stir up something again. For example, you might rekindle a romance or rekindle interest in something. Synonyms of “rekindle” include “arouse”, “enkindle”, “evoke”, and “kindle”.
“The pair have recently rekindled their romance but this might be taking things a bit too fast”.
ring hollow
“Ring hollow” is an idiom that means something seems false, insincere, or unconvincing. For example, you might say “His apology rang hollow” or “The dialogue in the film rings hollow”.
mutilate
inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on.
“the leg was badly mutilated”
inflict serious damage on.
“the 14th-century church had been partly mutilated in the 18th century”
pate
the top of a person’s head
a shining smooth pate
magniloquent
using high-flown or bombastic language.
Similar:
grandiloquent
high-sounding
high-flown
lofty
heroic
grandiose
hew
: to cut with blows of a heavy cutting instrument
roughly hewn logs
2
: to cut down by blows of an ax
hew a tree
Comparanda
Comparanda are things that are compared. In art history, comparanda are materials that can be compared to each other. Comparanda can come from the same place or time period, use the same materials, or have the same iconography.
nubbin
a small lump or residual part.
“nubbins of bone or cartilage”
gargoyle
a grotesque carved human or animal face or figure projecting from the gutter of a building, typically acting as a spout to carry water clear of a wall.
penumbra
the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object.
ASTRONOMY
the shadow cast by the earth or moon over an area experiencing a partial eclipse.
ASTRONOMY
the less dark outer part of a sunspot, surrounding the dark core.
skimpily/ skimpy
barely enough : scanty. skimpily
When something is skimpy, there’s not quite enough of it. A skimpy lunch won’t fill you up, and a skimpy sweater won’t cover you up.
disband
“Disband” means to break up or cause to cease to function. For example, “The principal disbanded the political student organization”. Synonyms of “disband” include “dismiss”, “separate”, “break up”, and “scatter”.
chip at/ chip away at
to gradually reduce something so that it becomes smaller or weaker: He gradually chipped away at her confidence.
shake (someone) loose
To rid or free oneself from someone who has been persistently pursuing or pestering one.
My little brother has been following me around all day. I need to shake him loose.
You’re a private investigator—your job is to follow people! How did they shake you loose?
against the grain
contrary to the natural inclination or feeling of someone or something.
“it goes against the grain to tell outright lies”
at first blush
at the first glimpse or impression.
“his next decision was at first blush disconcerting”
prowess
skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
“his prowess as a fisherman”
Similar:
skill
Opposite:
inability
ineptitude
2.
bravery in battle.
“the hereditary nobility had no monopoly of skill and prowess in war”
Similar:
courage
bravery
gallantry
valor
heroism
intrepidness
affidavit
a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.
“a former employee swore an affidavit relating to his claim for unfair dismissal”
irascible
having or showing a tendency to be easily angered.
“an irascible man”
ferocity
the state or quality of being ferocious.
“the ferocity of the storm caught them by surprise”
make the cut
equal or better a required score, thus avoiding elimination from the last two rounds of a four-round tournament.
“she shot rounds of 86 and 86 and failed to make the cut”
salad days
one’s salad days
the period when one is young and inexperienced.
“the war seemed to be ending and so were my salad days”
the peak or heyday of something.
“journey back to the salad days of the railways”
charade
an absurd pretense intended to create a pleasant or respectable appearance.
“talk of unity was nothing more than a charade”
connive
secretly allow (something considered immoral, illegal, wrong, or harmful) to occur.
“you have it in your power to connive at my escape”
conspire to do something considered immoral, illegal, or harmful.
“they connived with bank officials to launder money”
legtee
a person who receives a legacy.
“his sister Alice was his principal legatee
power trip
an activity or way of behaving that makes a person feel powerful : something that a person does for the pleasure of using power to control other people. She’s been on a power trip since she was promoted to manager.
rotisserie
sokhari
detonate
explode or cause to explode.
“two other bombs failed to detonate”
not…. into conclusion
leaping
muted response
not strongly expressed
(of emotions, opinions, etc.) not strongly expressed. The proposals received only a muted response. a distinctly muted and moderate sermon.
deal someone a fatal blow
“Deal a fatal blow” means to hit someone or something in a way that causes harm. For example, “a hit on the head was the fatal blow that finally killed him”
maimed
wound or injure (someone) so that part of the body is permanently damaged.
“100,000 soldiers were killed or maimed”
catch-22
a dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.
“a catch-22 situation”
speaks volumes
“Speaks volumes” is an idiom that means to express something clearly without using words. It can also mean to provide a lot of information about something.
For example, “She said very little but her face spoke volumes”. This means that her face made her opinion, characteristic, or situation very clear without the use of wordsu
unadulterated
unadulterated evil
not mixed or diluted with any different or extra elements; complete and absolute.
“pure, unadulterated jealousy”
mortar
خمپاره انداز
afire
with a soul set afire by desire for
licentious
.
promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters.
“the ruler’s tyrannical and licentious behavior”
preamble
a preliminary or preparatory statement; an introduction.
“what she said was by way of a preamble”
compare notes
of two or more people) exchange ideas, opinions, or information about a particular subject.
“we compared notes on the best games”
saying: we have done something difficult
we have marched a steep hill
at the helm
In charge, in command, as in With Charles at the helm, the company is bound to prosper. This phrase transfers the idea of steering a ship to directing other enterprises. [Early 1500s] Also see the synonym at the wheel.
evocation
the act of bringing or recalling a feeling, memory, or image to the conscious mind.
“the vivid evocation of stillness in the title poem”
2.
the action of invoking a spirit or deity.
“the evocation of wandering spirits”
V courage
phrasal verb. If you work up the enthusiasm or courage to do something, you succeed in making yourself feel it.
faction
a small organized dissenting group within a larger one, especially in politics.
“the left-wing faction of the party”
Similar:
clique
coterie
caucus
cabal
a state of conflict within an organization; dissension.
“a council increasingly split by faction”
in toto
as a whole.
“such proposals should be subjected to specific criticism rather than rejected in toto”
in all; overall.
“there was, in toto, an increase in legal regulation and public surveillance”
masquerade
a false show or pretense.
“his masquerade ended when he was arrested”
bluff
subterfuge
verb
pretend to be someone one is not.
“a journalist masquerading as a man in distress”
misgiving
“Misgiving” is a noun that means feelings of doubt or worry about what might happen, or about whether or not something is the right thing to do. For example, “She decided to go despite her misgivings”.
draconian
(of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe.
“the Nazis destroyed the independence of the press by a series of draconian laws”jo
join the fray
participate in a fight, argument or competition that had already started.
Lie …teeth
“Lie through one’s teeth” is an idiom that means to say something that is completely untrue. For example, “She was obviously lying through her teeth”
no quarter
no pity or mercy
literary. : no pity or mercy. used to say that an enemy, opponent, etc., is treated in a very harsh way. The soldiers showed/gave no quarter to the enemy.
reap
cut or gather (a crop or harvest).
“large numbers of men were employed to reap the harvest”
harvest the crop from (a piece of land).
“farmers agreed to continue reaping the land by traditional means”
receive (a reward or benefit) as a consequence of one’s own or other people’s actions.
“the company is poised to reap the benefits of this investment”
front and center
in a prominent or important position.
“standing front and center here today are our bravest heroes”
adjective
of the greatest importance; prominent.
“why is this matter suddenly front and center?”
age-old
having existed for a very long time.
“the haunting, age-old love call of the prairie chicken”
prop open
to support something by putting something else under or against it: She propped the door open with a footstool.
broker (n, v)
one who acts as an intermediary: such as
a
: an agent who arranges marriages
b
: an agent who negotiates contracts of purchase and sale (as of real estate, commodities, or securities)
2
: POWER BROKER
arrange or negotiate (a settlement, deal, or plan).
“fighting continued despite attempts to broker a ceasefire”
the whole nine yard
the whole
Give ‘em the whole nine yards’ means an item-by-item report on any project,”
a dime a dozen
very common and of no particular value.
“experts in this field are a dime a dozen”
break a leg
good luck!
“Remember, the show must go on! Good luck and break a leg!”
perspicacity
the quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness.
“the perspicacity of her remarks”
quandary
a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation.
“Kate is in a quandary”
prop up
lean something against something else.
“she propped the picture up on the mantlepiece”
provide support or assistance for a person or thing that would otherwise fail or decline.
“these attempts to prop up struggling industries are foolish”
sesuous
relating to or affecting the senses rather than the intellect.
“the work showed a deliberate disregard of the more sensuous and immediately appealing aspects of painting”
2.
attractive or gratifying physically, especially sexually.
“her voice was rather deep but very sensuous”
cesspool
an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.
a disgusting or corrupt place.
“they should clean out their own political cesspool”
c-section
سزارین
cavalier
showing a lack of proper concern; offhand.
“Anne was irritated by his cavalier attitude”
for my money
in my opinion or judgment.
“for my money, they’re one of the best bands around”
play coy
to avoid giving a direct or complete answer
play coy. US. : to avoid giving a direct or complete answer.
When asked about his next book, he played coy.
emblematic
serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept; symbolic.
“this case is emblematic of a larger problem”
environs
the surrounding area or district.
“the picturesque environs of the lake”
upsurge
an upward surge in the strength or quantity of something; an increase.
“an upsurge in violent crime”
abridge
shorten (a piece of writing) without losing the sense.
“the introduction is abridged from the author’s afterword to the novel”
“even the right to free speech can be abridged”
abridgment
the action of abridging a text.
2.
LAW
curtailment of rights.
“the abridgment of the rights of ownership”
“add-in salt to injury
“add-in salt to injury” is a mishearing and combination of two idioms: “add insult to injury,” (to mock, ridicule, or worsen something that is already bad) and “rub salt in a wound” (to worsen physical or emotional pain.)
specious
superficially plausible, but actually wrong.
“a specious argument”
leeway
Leeway is the freedom that someone has to take the action they want to or to change their plans. Rarely do schoolteachers have leeway to teach classes the way they want.
pigheaded
willfully or perversely unyielding : OBSTINATE
the kind of pigheaded person who seems to believe that facts only confuse an issue
botch
carry out (a task) badly or carelessly.
“the ability to take on any task without botching it”
Similar:
bungle
do badly
do clumsily
make a mess of
noun
a bungled or badly carried out task or action.
“I’ve probably made a botch of things”
strange bedfellows
Political interests can bring together people who otherwise have little in common. This saying is adapted from a line in the play The Tempest, by William Shakespeare: “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” It is spoken by a man who has been shipwrecked and finds himself seeking shelter beside a sleeping monster.
the battle lines are drawn
f you say that the battle lines are drawn between opposing groups or people, you mean that they are ready to start fighting or arguing, and that it has become clear what the main points of conflict or disagreement will be.
The battle lines were drawn after the government refused to budge from its final offer.
signatory
a party that has signed an agreement, especially a country that has signed a treaty.
“the signatory states”
disband
(of an organized group) break up or cause to break up and stop functioning.
They’ve decided to disband the club.
gobsmacked
utterly astonished; astounded.
the last straw
the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc. It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the last straw.
a tall order
an unreasonable or difficult demand.something that is very difficult to do
“they thought that the deadline was a tall order”
drawing the target around the arrow
texas shooter fallacy
tunnel vision
: extreme narrowness of viewpoint : NARROW-MINDEDNESS
also : single-minded concentration on one objective
His tunnel vision made sensible discussions on political issues nearly impossible.
making the rounds
“Making the rounds” is an idiom that means to pass a rumor or piece of news from one person to another until it becomes widely known. For example, “Rumors about his resignation were making the rounds”
cry ….pillow
into
freebie
a thing given free of charge.
“he was never able to resist a bargain or a freebie”
outwit
deceive or defeat by greater ingenuity.
“Ray had outwitted many an opponent
fall flat
“Fall flat” is an idiom that means to fail to achieve the desired result or to be ineffective. For example, “His attempts at humor fell flat
quotidian
of or occurring every day; daily.
“the car sped noisily off through the quotidian traffic”
ordinary or everyday, especially when mundane.
“his story is an achingly human one, mired in quotidian details”
actuate
As a verb, “actuate” means to incite, move to action, impel, or motivate. For example, “actuated by selfish motives”. It can also mean to put into action, start a process, or turn on. For example, “to actuate a machine”.
As an adjective, “actuating” means causing motion, action, or change. Synonyms include activating and causative.
appellate
(especially of a court) concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed.
“courts of appellate jurisdiction”
hearken back
mention or remember something from the past.
“he hearkened back to his first decision”
evoke an older style or genre.
“the 50s decor hearkens back to simpler times”
auto-da-fé
the burning of a heretic by the Spanish Inquisition.
“he was burned at the stake in what was arguably the biggest auto-da-fé ever in New Spain”
a sentence condemning a person to an auto-da-fé.
pull.. rug
abruptly withdraw support from (someone).
“I couldn’t just pull the rug out from under her feet like that”
subpar
used to describe something that is below average, or below what is expected: The economy posted sub-par annual growth of less than 2% for moofour straight quarters.
moot
subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty.
“whether they had been successful or not was a moot point”
Similar:
debatable
open to debate
open to discussion
arguable
contestable
2.
having little or no practical relevance, typically because the subject is too uncertain to allow a decision.
Take the Fifth
“Take the Fifth” is a colloquial term that refers to someone invoking their right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution
sandbag
Also, to sandbag someone is to trick or bully them into doing something.
compel by coercion, threats, or crude means
“They sandbagged him to make dinner for everyone”
have a falling out
The phrase “they had a huge falling out” typically refers to a significant and often public disagreement or conflict between two or more people.
fixture
a familiar or invariably present element or feature in some particular setting
especially : a person long associated with a place or activity.
don’t yuck someone’s yum
To disparage someone’s tastes or preferences.
conduit
a channel for conveying water or other fluid.
“a conduit for conveying water to the power plant”
2.
a tube or trough for protecting electric wiring.
“the gas pipe should not be close to any electrical conduit”
trifle with
Trifle with” is a phrasal verb that means to treat someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect or seriousness. For example, “You shouldn’t trifle with their feelings” or “Crime is not a subject to be trifled with”
dote on someone
“Dote on someone” means to love or care about someone very much and ignore any faults they may have. For example, “He dotes on his nine-year-old son”
loudmoth
a person who tends to talk too much in an offensive or tactless way.
“the bar had its fair share of loudmouths and drunks”
occult
supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena.
“a secret society to study alchemy and the occult”
resuscitate
Resuscitate means to bring someone back to a conscious or active state who is unconscious, not breathing, or close to death. It can also be used figuratively.
kaleidoscopic
having complex patterns of colors; multicolored.
“kaleidoscopic diamond patterns”
knockoff
Counterfeit, Copycat, Forgery, Fake, Hoax, Phoney, Reproduction.
Now I am of a xxx mind
differnet
vixen
female fox
An ill-tempered, shrewish, or malicious woman
A hot-headed or ill-tempered person
A bad-tempered scolding woman
overrule
“Overruled” means to decide against a decision that has already been made. For example, in tennis, the umpire can overrule the line judge.
goodwill
the favor or advantage that a business has acquired especially through its brands and its good reputation.
top of one’s lungs
With an extremely loud voice. For example, The babies in the nursery all were crying at the top of their lungs.
unary
especially of a mathematical operation) consisting of or involving a single component or element.
make nice
“Make nice” is an informal American English phrase that means to be friendly, polite, or cooperative towards someone. It can also mean to be courteous or casual in conversation. It often appears in the context of maintaining good relations or resolving a conflict with someone. For example, “They need to make nice with each other and get to work”
abet
encourage or assist (someone) to do something wrong, in particular, to commit a crime or other offense.
“he was not guilty of murder but was guilty of aiding and abetting others”
acquiesce
accept something reluctantly but without protest.
“Sara acquiesced in his decision”
espoinage
he practice of spying or using spies to obtain information about the plans and activities especially of a foreign government or a competing company.
forbearance
patient self-control; restraint and tolerance.
“forbearance from taking action”
stifle
make (someone) unable to breathe properly; suffocate.
“those in the streets were stifled by the fumes”
Similar:
suffocate
2.
restrain (a reaction) or stop oneself acting on (an emotion).
“she stifled a giggle”
dissensus
widespread dissent.
“analysis reveals notable dissensus in evaluations of occupational roles”
exhort
verb (used with object)
to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.
verb (used without object)
to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings.
dispense with
verb (used with object)
to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.
verb (used without object)
to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings
forgo
to give up the enjoyment or advantage of : do without. never forwent an opportunity of honest profit R. L. Stevenson. decided to forgo dessert for a few days. 2. archaic : forsake.5
falter
start to lose strength or momentum.
“her smile faltered and then faded”
drag one’s feet
stall
get cold feet
speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice.
““I c-c-can’t,” he faltered”
stammer
stutter
move unsteadily or in a way that shows lack of confidence.
“he faltered and finally stopped in midstride”
shtick
a person’s special talent, interest, or area of activity.
“movies about ordinary women who do extraordinary things—that’s my shtick”
adage
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.
“the old adage “out of sight out of mind.””
Taniwha
In Māori mythology, taniwha are large supernatural beings that live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers.
dawn on
to begin to be understood or realized by (someone) for the first time
The solution finally dawned on him.
prerogative
a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class.
“owning an automobile was still the prerogative of the rich”
alibi
a claim or piece of evidence that one was elsewhere when an act, especially a criminal one, is alleged to have taken place.
“she has an alibi for the whole of yesterday evening”
