PSLE Prelim Flashcards

Question

iridescent /ˌɪrɪˈdesnt/

Answer 1

showing many bright colours that seem to change in different lights "a bird with iridescent blue feathers" "A magnificent dragonfly with its iridescent wings settled on her shoulder."

Answer 2

expressed clearly and in a few words SYNONYM concise "Keep your answers as succinct as possible." "his inimitably succinct style."

Answer 3

using or containing more words than are needed SYNONYM long-winded, wordy OPP succinct "a verbose speaker" "For once, his usually verbose wife was content to listen." "Much academic language is obscure and verbose." "The editors received streams of verbose articles from young hopeful journalists."

Answer 4

(usually disapproving) strange or extremely unusual SYNONYM bizarre "outlandish costumes/ideas" "Her story seemed so outlandish." "As the show progressed, it got ever more outlandish."

Answer 5

to walk in a very confident but relaxed way, especially in order to be noticed "I watched her as she sashayed across the room." "Models sashayed down the aisle." "She sashays just out of my reach."

Answer 6

rich and successful SYNONYM affluent "prosperous countries" "Farmers are more prosperous in the south of the country."

Answer 7

having a lot of money and a good standard of living SYNONYM prosperous, wealthy "affluent Western countries" "a very affluent neighbourhood"

Answer 8

having no money, no food, no home etc "The floods left many people destitute." "When he died, his family was left completely destitute." "The war left her completely destitute."

Answer 9

[noun] the period during which somebody is in charge of an organization, a team, etc. "The story only came out during the final days of his reign as the CEO." [verb] to rule as king, queen, emperor, etc. [verb] to be the best or most important in a particular situation or area of skill "Silence reigned while we waited for news."

Answer 10

1. to officially decide who is right in a disagreement and decide what should be done "Their purpose is to adjudicate disputes between employers and employees." "The owner can appeal to the court to adjudicate on the matter." "The judge adjudicated that he should be released." 2. to be the judge in a competition "He adjudicated at all the regional music competitions."

Answer 11

to force somebody to do something by using threats "They tried to coerce him to sign away his rights." "The rebels coerced the villagers into hiding them from the army."

Answer 12

to ask somebody for something in an anxious way because you want or need it very much SYNONYM implore, beg "Let him go, I beseech you!" "I was crouching over these poor men, who were looking-up to me, eyes raised, beseeching."

Answer 13

1. feeling that you have been treated unfairly "The villagers felt deeply aggrieved by the closing of the railway station." "‘What am I supposed to do about it?’ he said in an aggrieved tone." 2. (law) suffering unfair or illegal treatment and making a complaint "the aggrieved party (=the person who has suffered)"

Answer 14

nearness in distance or time, how near something is to another thing. "the town’s proximity to the mountains" "We chose the house for its proximity to the school." "Here the rich and the poor live in close proximity (=very near to each other)." "Families are no longer in close proximity to each other."

Answer 15

take to: 1) to start to like someone or something "I took to my new boss immediately." "He hasn't taken to his new school." take to: 2) to start doing something regularly "Dee’s taken to getting up at 6 and going jogging." take down: "Workmen arrived to take down the scaffolding." "Reporters took down every word of his speech."

Answer 16

1. to decorate cloth with a design of colored stitches "an embroidered handkerchief" 2. to make a story more interesting by adding details that are not always true SYNONYM embellish "He is inclined to embroider the facts." "He embroidered his stories and kept us entertained for hours."

Answer 17

to argue with somebody in order to reach an agreement, especially about the price of something "He is haggling over the price of a shirt." "We spent a long time haggling with the authorities over our visas." "You can sometimes haggle a good discount." "I managed to haggle the price down to something more reasonable."

Answer 18

[verb] to be different from something; to do something in a different way from what is usual or expected "Try not to deviate too much from the script." "The bus had to deviate from its usual route because of a road closure." "He never deviated from his original plan."

Answer 19

to make something less painful, severe, or serious "The doctor has prescribed some drugs to alleviate the pain." "A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem." "a new medicine to alleviate the symptoms of flu" " measures to alleviate poverty"

Answer 20

[adv] [adj] without preparation or planning "Roy came up and just started speaking impromptu." "The band gave an impromptu concert."

Answer 21

done by accident, without being intended SYNONYM unintentional "Viruses can be spread inadvertently by email users." "I’m afraid I inadvertently took your calculator when I left."

Answer 22

a hospital that cares for people who are dying "Volunteers caring for hospice patients commonly report how their own lives were changed." "She founded an AIDS hospice with the help of a local doctor."

Answer 23

dwell on: to think or talk a lot about sth, especially sth it would be better to forget "So you made a mistake, but there's no need to dwell on it." "He tends to dwell on the negative aspects of his performance." dwell: to live somewhere. "The gorillas dwell in the high rainforests of Rwanda."

Answer 24

1. chew sb out: to tell somebody angrily that you do not approve of their actions "He got chewed out by the boss for lying." "Mom really chewed me out the time I got in a fight." 2. chew up: damage/destroy "the old video recorder tends to chew tapes up." bite many times: "The dog’s chewed up my slippers again." 3. chew on / over: to think carefully about something for a period of time "Let me chew it over for a few days." "The investors have several economic reports to chew on."

Answer 25

1. (of an artist, a writer, etc.) producing many works, etc. "a prolific author" 2. (of plants, animals, etc.) producing a lot of fruit, flowers, young, etc. "The kiwi fruit is known for its prolific yield and good export price." 3. able to produce enough food, etc. to keep many animals and plants alive "prolific rivers" 4. existing in large numbers "a pop star with a prolific following of teenage fans"

Answer 26

1. SYNONYM decorate "The huge carved door was embellished with brass door knockers." 2. to make a story more interesting by adding details that are not always true SYNONYM embroider "His account of his travels was embellished with details of famous people he met."

Answer 27

the quality of being great and impressive in appearance SYNONYM splendour "We admired the grandeur and simplicity of the Roman architecture." "The hotel had an air of faded grandeur."

Answer 28

a line of people or vehicles that move along slowly, especially as part of a ceremony "a funeral procession". (Cortège) "The procession made its way down the hill." "Groups of unemployed people from all over the country marched in procession to the capital."

Answer 29

bend/lean over backwards (to do something) to make a great effort, especially in order to be helpful or fair "I've bent over backwards to help him."

Answer 30

[adj] very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized "elaborate designs" "She had prepared a very elaborate meal." [verb] to give more details or information about something elaborate on: The police refused to elaborate on the circumstances of the arrest.

Answer 31

1. fabricate something to invent false information in order to trick people SYNONYM make up "The evidence was totally fabricated." "The prisoner claimed the police had fabricated his confession." 2. to make or produce goods, equipment, etc. from various different materials SYNONYM manufacture "These specialized chips will be fabricated by Mykrokorp Inc."

Answer 32

TB. a serious disease, caused by bacteria, in which swellings appear on the lungs and other parts of the body

Answer 33

1. to separate people of different races, religions or sexes and treat them in a different way "a culture in which women are segregated from men" "White people and black people were segregated into different parts of town." 2. to keep one thing separate from another "Pedestrians are segregated from the traffic by a metal barrier."

Answer 34

1. used to emphasize the size, degree or amount of something "The area is under threat from the sheer number of tourists using it." "We were impressed by the sheer size of the cathedral." 2. complete and not mixed with anything else SYNONYM utter "The concert was sheer delight." "I only agreed out of sheer desperation."

Answer 35

[verb] stud something: to be in many different parts of a place or area "a dark sky studded with stars" [noun] a small piece of jewellery with a part that is pushed through a hole in your ear, nose, etc. "diamond studs" "He has a small stud."

Answer 36

covered with small marks or spots SYNONYM flecked "speckled eggs" "orange-speckled fish" speckle [noun] a small coloured mark or spot on a background of a different colour

Answer 37

the extreme edge of land. on the brink of something: in a very new, dangerous or exciting situation "Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery." "animals hovering on the very brink of extinction" "He's pulled the company back from the brink (= he has saved it from disaster)."

Answer 38

1. an area of activity, interest or knowledge "an idea that belongs in the realm of science fiction" "At the end of the speech he seemed to be moving into the realms of fantasy." 2. a country ruled by a king or queen SYNONYM kingdom "The Crown maintains armed forces for the defence of the realm."

Answer 39

only present in small amounts or numbers and often spread over a large area "the sparse population of the islands" "The information available on the subject is sparse." "He combed back his sparse hair."

Answer 40

existing or being produced in large quantities SYNONYM abundant "copious (= large) amounts of water" "She listened to me and took copious notes." "She supports her theory with copious evidence." "He could drink copious amounts of beer without ill effect."

Answer 41

happening only occasionally or at intervals that are not regular SYNONYM intermittent "There has been sporadic violence downtown." "sporadic outbreaks of the disease" "He attends school sporadically."

Answer 42

people moving around a place in different directions without any particular purpose "Crowds of students were milling around in the street." "There were a lot of people milling around the entrance." "Fans were milling around outside the hotel."

Answer 43

natural ability or skill at doing something SYNONYM talent "He has a natural aptitude for teaching." "His aptitude for dealing with children got him the job." I had no aptitude for accountancy and began to hate it.

Answer 44

1. flair for something: a natural ability to do something well SYNONYM talent; close to aptitude "He has a flair for languages." "Kevin has a flair for photography, and his wife a flair for near-romantic disasters." 2. an attractive, skillful, or interesting way of doing something "She always dresses with flair." "a job for which artistic flair is essential" "She credits her father for her business flair."

Answer 45

[noun] the quality of not giving up something easily; the quality of being determined "They competed with skill and tenacity." tenacious [adjective] /təˈneɪʃəs/ very determined and is not willing to give up "They were saved only by their tenacious solidarity." "Lung cancer is one of the more aggressive and tenacious forms of cancer."

Answer 46

to state clearly or publicly that something is true or that you support something strongly SYNONYM confirm "Both sides affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire." "The decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeal." "I can affirm that no one will lose their job."

Answer 47

to agree / accept that you are responsible for a piece of work, and start to do it "University professors both teach and undertake research." "The company has announced that it will undertake a full investigation into the accident." "He undertook to finish the job by Friday."

Answer 48

happening as a result of something. SYNONYM resultant "the lowering of taxes and the consequent increase in spending" "factory closures and the consequent loss of local jobs" [noun] consequence "Remember that actions have consequences." "Don't worry. It's of no consequence. (not important)"

Answer 49

happening, done, published, etc. after a person has died "a posthumous collection of his articles" "He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross."

Answer 50

not variable, unchanging "This is an invariable law: true at all times and places." "His invariable answer was always ‘Wait and see.’"

Answer 51

1. drop by/in or drop in on somebody, or drop into something: to pay an informal visit "Drop by sometime." "I thought I'd drop in on you while I was passing." "Sorry we're late—we dropped into the pub on the way." 2. drop off: 1) to fall into a light sleep. "I dropped off and missed the end of the film." 2) to become fewer or less: "Traffic in the town has dropped off since the bypass opened."

Answer 52

to involve yourself in something that should not really involve you SYNONYM interfere "He had no right to meddle in her affairs." "He’s just a meddling old fool!" "Somebody had been meddling with her computer."

Answer 53

respected and admired as very important or of very high quality "My parents wanted me to go to a more prestigious university." "the city’s most prestigious and exclusive hotel" "an opportunity to work for one of the world’s most prestigious companies"

Answer 54

1. a complete change in ways of thinking, methods of working etc "In the last ten years there has been a revolution in education." "They led the electronics revolution but have been left behind by the IT revolution." 2. a time when people change a ruler or political system by using force or violence "the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789" "The shooting and killing of thirty people started a revolution." "The country appears to be on the brink of revolution."

Answer 55

SYNONYM disclosure "He resigned after revelations about his affair." "He was dismissed after revelations that confidential files were missing." [verb] reveal

Answer 56

frequent changes in the amount, value, or level of something "Even a minor fluctuation in the water temperature can affect the fish." [verb] fluctuate: to change frequently in size, amount, quality, up & down SYNONYM vary [verb] fluctuate

Answer 57

[verb] 1. to direct money, feelings, ideas, etc. towards a particular thing or purpose "Water is channeled into the lakes from the hillsides." "She channeled all her energies into her studies." "He channels his aggression into sport." "All the company’s sales are channeled through outside distributors."

Answer 58

needing great effort; causing trouble or worry about because it is very difficult to deal with SYNONYM taxing "an onerous responsibility/job" "...parents who have had the onerous task of bringing up a very difficult child." onus [noun] the responsibility for something "The onus is on employers to follow health and safety laws." "The onus of proof lies with the prosecution." "The report puts the onus of children’s early education firmly on the parents."

Answer 59

to accept behaviour that is morally wrong or to treat it as if it were not serious "Terrorism can never be condoned." "The college cannot condone any behaviour that involves illicit drugs." "I cannot condone the use of violence under any circumstances." "I couldn't condone what she was doing."

Answer 60

to play and move around in a lively, happy way "children frolicking on the beach" "Lambs frolicked in the next field." frolic [noun] a fun enjoyable game or activity "Everyone joined in the Saturday night frolics."

Answer 61

put up: 1) to let somebody stay at your home "We can put you up for the night." "No, Ican put up at a hotel for the night." 2) to show great determination or get out of a difficult situation "Gina put up a real fight to overcome the disease." put in: "Wendy has been putting in more hours at the office recently." "All the actors put in great performances." put off: "I put off going to the doctor but I wish I hadn’t." "When he calls, put him off as long as you can." put away: "We’re putting some money away for retirement. (saving)" "If you are found guilty, the judge is going to put you away for life."

Answer 62

1. to make somebody/something have a particular quality "Her novels are infused with sadness." "These new designers are infusing fresh interest into the New York fashion scene." 2. to have an effect on all parts of something "Politics infuses all aspects of our lives."

Answer 63

thrift [noun] the habit of saving money and spending it carefully so that none is wasted spendthrift: a person who spends too much money or who wastes money "I remember him as a charming but irresponsible spendthrift."

Answer 64

a short performance given by an actor, a singer, etc., so that somebody can decide whether they are suitable to act in a play, sing in a concert, etc. "Entry to the course, as might be expected, depends largely on auditions." "Auditions will be held from 9–12 on Friday." "She had an audition for drama school."

Answer 65

lethargic [adj] without any energy or enthusiasm for doing things. SYNONYM listless "The weather made her lethargic." lethargy [noun]: SYNONYM listlessness, inertia "New mothers often complain of lethargy and mild depression."

Answer 66

the act of collecting information together from different sources in order to examine and compare it "the collation of information"

Answer 67

to make something, especially food or drink, by mixing different things "The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish." 2. to invent a story, an excuse, etc. SYNONYM cook up, make up "She concocted some elaborate story to explain her absence." [noun] concoction: a strange or unusual mixture of things

Answer 68

to become different, or made different "She didn't alter her behaviour in any way." "Nothing can alter the fact that we are to blame." "The recipe has been altered to suit American tastes." "We can have the dress altered to fit you."

Answer 69

1. to prevent something bad or dangerous from happening "A disaster was narrowly averted." "He did his best to avert suspicion." 2. to turn your eyes, etc. away from something that you do not want to see "She averted her eyes from the terrible scene in front of her."

Answer 70

to bring a feeling, a memory or an image into your mind "The music evoked memories of her youth." "His case is unlikely to evoke public sympathy."

Answer 71

1. curious about what other people are doing "Don't be so inquisitive. It's none of your business! 2. enquiring, very interested in learning about many different things "a highly inquisitive mind"

Answer 72

call on: to ask or invite that somebody do something. "She called on the government to hold a vote." call out: "The firemen called out to him." "The army was called out to help fight fires." to criticize publicly "People were calling him out for his negative comments."

Answer 73

1. to move in a very unsteady way SYNONYM stagger "I punched him on the chin, sending him reeling backwards." "She was reeling after several glasses of wine." 2. to feel very shocked or upset about something "I was still reeling from the shock." 3. to seem to be turning round and round "When he opened his eyes, the room was reeling."

Answer 74

reel in/out: to wind something on/off a reel. "I slowly reeled the fish in." reel off: to say or repeat something quickly without having to stop or think about it "She immediately reeled off several names."

Answer 75

continuing for only a short time SYNONYM fleeting, temporary "the transient nature of speech" "...the transient nature of high fashion. " "In most cases, pain is transient."

Answer 76

by a mile: by a very large amount "He was the best player on the pitch by a mile." by a show of hands: a way of voting "The vote was passed by a show of hands." by the skin of one's teeth: just manage to do it or very nearly failed "He escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth." "The business survived, only by the skin of its teeth." by the scruff of the neck: roughly holding the back of an animal’s or person’s neck "She grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him out."

Answer 77

to speak or complain about something in a loud and/or angry way "She was ranting on about the unfairness of it all." "Stop ranting at me!" "Why don’t you stop ranting and raving for a minute and listen?"

Answer 78

[adv] high in the air "She held the glass aloft." "He held the trophy proudly aloft." "The national flag was flying aloft." "Four of the nine starting balloons were still aloft the next day."

Answer 79

1. a boat that is adrift is not fastened to anything or controlled by anyone "The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days." "Several of the lifeboats were still afloat a month after being cast adrift." 2. someone who is adrift is feeling alone and without a direction or an aim in life "young people adrift in the big city" "She felt cast adrift in a vulgar, materialistic society."

Answer 80

if a ship runs/goes aground, it touches the ground in shallow water and cannot move 搁浅 "The oil tanker ran/went aground off the Spanish coast." "He was unwilling to accept that his corporate strategy had run aground."

Answer 81

a particular point or stage in an activity or a series of events "The battle had reached a crucial juncture." "At this juncture, I would like to make an important announcement."

Answer 82

done secretly or quickly, in the hope that other people will not notice SYNONYM furtive "She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch." "He made a surreptitious entrance to the club through the little door in the brick wall. " "They had several surreptitious conversations."

Answer 83

deride: to treat somebody/something as silly and not worth considering seriously SYNONYM mock "His views were derided as old-fashioned." "You shouldn’t deride their efforts." derisive /dɪˈraɪsɪv/: showing that you think someone or something is stupid or silly derision: SYNONYM scorn

Answer 84

1. to send someone back to the country that is legally their own "The refugees were forcibly repatriated." "Tourists who are injured or fall sick are repatriated." 2. to send money or profits back to your own country "An agreement between the countries enables companies to repatriate their profits freely."

Answer 85

come by: 1) manage to get: "How did you come by these pictures?" 2) make a short visit: "He said he’d come by later." come over: 1) visit/come "Do you want to come over tomorrow" 2) feeling: "A wave of sleepiness came over me." 3) idea: "the points he was making came across/over quite clearly." 4) = come across "She comes over/across as a very good teacher" come across: 1) discover "I came across an old diary in her desk." 2) idea easily understood "Your point really came across at the meeting." 3) "She sometimes comes across/over as being rather arrogant."

Answer 86

disparity: a difference, especially one connected with unfair treatment "The wide disparity between rich and poor was highlighted." "There are growing regional disparities in economic prosperity." "a disparity between the rates of pay for men and women' disparate: consisting of things or people that are very different "a meeting covering many disparate subjects"

Answer 87

disagreement; arguing between people "marital/family discord" "A note of discord surfaced during the proceedings." "The contrasts between rich and poor nations are a source of discord."

Answer 88

indigenous people lived in a place for a very long time before other people came to live there "the indigenous peoples of North America" "She campaigns for indigenous rights." "The kangaroo is indigenous to Australia."

Answer 89

to interrupt what somebody is saying with your opinion or a remark ‘You're wrong,’ interjected Susan. ‘That’s absolute rubbish!’ he interjected. "He listened thoughtfully, interjecting only the odd word."

Answer 90

make up for: to do something that corrects a bad situation. SYNONYM compensate "The good days more than make up for the bad ones." make up to: to do something to show that you are sorry "He was looking for a way to make up to her for what he had done." make over: to change or improve the appearance of someone or something "The old warehouse has been made over into apartments."

Answer 91

1. to admit that something is true, logical, etc. after first denying it or resisting it "I conceded that I had made a number of errors." 2. to admit that you have lost a game, an election, etc. "Injury forced the team to concede defeat." 3. to give something away, especially unwillingly "Women were only conceded full voting rights in the 1950s."

Answer 92

1. the end or failure of an institution, an idea, a company, etc. "the demise of the typewriter in this computer age" "He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise." 2. death. SYN decease "the senator’s untimely demise" "Smoking, rather than genetics, was the cause of his early demise."

Answer 93

that makes you feel sad; not bright or interesting SYNONYM dull "a dreary winter’s day" "a long and dreary journey on the train"

Answer 94

difficult to control "a wayward child" "wayward emotions"

Answer 95

1. willing to obey or to agree to other people’s wishes and demands "For years I had tried to be a compliant and dutiful wife." 2. in agreement with a set of rules "This site is HTML compliant."

Answer 96

simultaneously: at the same time as something else "The game will be broadcast simultaneously on TV and radio." instantaneously: immediately "The show sold out instantaneously."

Answer 97

pick at: 1) to eat food slowly, taking small amounts or bites because you are not hungry "She sat at the table in silence, picking at her dinner." 2) to pull or touch something several times "She was picking at her skirt." "Sometimes she picks at her pick up: to get better, stronger; to start again, to continue "Trade usually picks up in the spring." "Let's pick up where we left off yesterday."

Answer 98

nomad: a member of a community that moves with its animals from place to place nomadic: belonging to a community that moves with its animals from place to place "nomadic tribes"

Answer 99

spreading over a wide area in an untidy or unattractive way "sprawling handwriting" "The sprawling city contained some 10m people."

Answer 100

a very large city that is the most important city in a country or area "The city has become a huge, bustling metropolis."

Answer 101

present in large numbers; full of people, animals, etc. that are moving around "teeming insects" "the teeming streets of the city" "Families were attempting to survive on their own on the teeming streets of Manila."

Answer 102

determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded about something "She begged me to change my mind, but I remained adamant." "Eva was adamant that she would not come." "The government remained adamant that there was no more money available."

Answer 103

As adjectives the difference between scant and scanty is that scant is very little, very few while scanty is somewhat less than is needed in amplitude or extent. scanty 1. too little in amount for what is needed "His theory is based on rather scanty evidence." scanty 2. (of clothes) very small and not covering much of your body. SYN skimpy "a scanty bikini" scant: hardly any; not very much and not as much as there should be "I paid scant attention to what she was saying." "The firefighters went back into the house with scant regard for their own safety." "The story has received scant attention in the press." "They produce goods with scant regard for quality."

Answer 104

only present in small amounts or numbers and often spread over a large area "the sparse population of the islands" "Vegetation becomes sparse higher up the mountains." "The information available on the subject is sparse."

Answer 105

marked by or practicing careful restraint (as in the use of resources, uses it or gives it only in very small quantities) "a sparing couple who are trying to save up enough for a house" "Doctors now advise only sparing use of such creams." "He was always sparing with his praise." "Her sparing use of make-up only seemed to enhance her classically beautiful features."

Answer 106

decease: the death of a person. SYN: demise "On your decease, the house passes to your wife." deceased: 1) dead "her deceased parents"" 2) a person who has died, especially recently "the family of the deceased"

Answer 107

fall off: to decrease in quantity or quality "Attendance at my lectures has fallen off considerably." fall over: (of a computer or program) to stop working suddenly "My spreadsheet keeps falling over." fall over yourself to do: to try very hard or want very much to do something "He was falling over himself to be nice to me."

Answer 108

[noun] the quality of not giving up something easily; the quality of being determined "They competed with skill and tenacity." tenacious [adj] not giving up something easily; determined "She's a tenacious woman. She never gives up."

Answer 109

relating to the treatment or cure of an illness → therapy "the therapeutic benefits of herbs" making you feel calm and relaxed "I find swimming very therapeutic." " the therapeutic effect of gardening"

Answer 110

[noun] a short struggle, fight or argument especially in order to get something "He was injured during a tussle for the ball." "There was a legal tussle over the closure of the hospital." "She had a brief tussle with her conscience before telling the whole story." [verb] to fight or compete with somebody/something, especially in order to get something "The children were tussling with one another for the ball."

Answer 111

pull off/through: to succeed in doing something difficult "We pulled off the deal." "I never thought you'd pull it off." "It's going to be tough but we'll pull through it together." pull out: withdraw, stop being involved in it "The project became so expensive that we had to pull out." pull back: withdraw, and not to do sth "Their sponsors pulled back at the last minute." pull somebody down: to make someone less successful, happy, or healthy "Her problems have really pulled her down."

Answer 112

an argument that is complicated and continues over a long period of time "a legal wrangle between the company and their suppliers" "He is currently locked in a bitter wrangle with his wife over custody of the children."

Answer 113

not planned but done because you suddenly want to do it "a spontaneous offer of help" "The audience burst into spontaneous applause." "Jo's a cheerful, spontaneous person, always ready for some fun."

Answer 114

shy and easily embarrassed "He was too bashful to talk about sex." "She looked bashful when he asked her what she wanted." "When being asked if she had a boyfriend, she came over all bashful and wouldn’t say a thing."

Answer 115

pass up: to choose not to make use of a chance, an opportunity, etc. "I don’t think you should pass up the opportunity to go to university." pass over: to decide not to promote somebody in a job, especially he deserves it "He was passed over in favour of a younger man." pass for/as: to be accepted as somebody/something "With my hair cut short, I could have passed for a boy."

Answer 116

to make something continue to exist or happen for a period of time "She found it difficult to sustain the children’s interest." " I only had a little chocolate to sustain me on my walk.." " the policies necessary to sustain economic growth"

Answer 117

deserving pity or causing you to feel pity "The animals were in a pitiable state." "Her life was pitiable and sad." "the pitiable victims of war"

Answer 118

1. (of food or drink) having a pleasant or acceptable taste "a very palatable wine" "Hospitals must serve palatable and healthy food." 2. pleasant or acceptable to somebody "The truth, as always, is slightly less palatable." "Some of the dialogue has been changed to make it more palatable to an American audience." "They changed the wording of the advertisement to make it more palatable to women."

Answer 119

adornment: 1. something that you wear to make yourself look more attractive; something used to decorate a place or an object "A plain necklace was her only adornment." adornment 2. the action of making something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it or them with something "Precious stones have been used for the purposes of adornment for over 7000 years." adorn: to decorate something. "church walls adorned with religious paintings"

Answer 120

the act of stating officially that something, usually a marriage, is not legally recognized "The king sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon." annul [verb] to state officially that something is not legally recognized "Their marriage was annulled after just six months." "Amid renewed protests, the regime annulled the elections." null [noun] value of zero

Answer 121

a decoration or other addition that is intended to make something more beautiful or interesting "a sixteenth-century church with eighteenth-century embellishments" "She laid out the facts without embellishment or exaggeration."

Answer 122

to have or express very sad feelings about somebody/something SYNONYM bemoan, bewail "She sat alone weeping, lamenting her fate." "The nation lamented the death of its great war leader." "He lamented that people had expected too much of him too soon."

Answer 123

prone: likely to suffer from something or to do something bad "Kids are all prone to eat junk food." "He’s always been accident-prone." "Working without a break makes you more prone to error." the word "prone" usually describes a predisposition or a TEMPERAMENT. 'Your upbringing might make you 'prone' to be loud and talkative.' inclined: having inclination, disposition, or tendency to do sth "There'll be time for a swim if you feel so inclined." The word " inclined" is used to describe a PREFERENCE ''I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.'' "He's inclined to be lazy."

Answer 124

give somebody the benefit of the doubt to accept that somebody has told the truth or behaved well because you cannot prove that they have not "She may have been lying, but I felt I had to give her the benefit of the doubt."

Answer 125

to deal with (something difficult or upsetting) in a calm way; to not allow something to annoy, embarrass, or upset you "Liz seems to be taking the divorce in her stride." "When the boss asked Judy to stay late, she took it in stride." "I thought she'd be upset, but she has taken the news in stride." "Most kids get teased a bit at school - they have to learn to take it in their stride."

Answer 126

Historic describes something momentous or important in history. Historical simply describes something that belongs to an earlier period of history. "These battlefields and military installations were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1985." "Scientists have pieced together historical records to reconstruct Arctic sea ice extent over the past 125 years."

Answer 127

to avoid doing something you should do, especially because you are too lazy "She never shirked her responsibilities." "A determined burglar will not shirk from breaking a window to gain entry." "He never shirked from doing his duty." "They did their duty without shirking or complaining."

Answer 128

let somebody in on something: to tell something that is secret or only known by a few people "Are you going to let them in on your plans?" let up: to become less strong; to make less effort "The pain finally let up." "the rain gradually let up." "We mustn't let up now." let out: (US) (of school classes, films/movies, meetings, etc.) to come to an end, so that it is time for people to leave: "The movie has just let out."

Answer 129

to climb to the top of something very high and steep "the first woman to scale the world's five highest peaks" "He somehow managed to scale the sheer outside wall of the tower."

Answer 130

complement: to add to something in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive "The team needs players who complement each other." "John and Bob complemented each other well." compliment sb on sth: to say something nice to someone in order to praise them "Bob complimented me on my new hairstyle." "She complimented him on his excellent German." "All of us complimented Joe on his cooking."

Answer 131

in a confident and skilful way, often in a difficult situation "He delivered the speech with his usual aplomb." "She concealed the problem with remarkable aplomb." "Ms Sharpe handled their questions with great aplomb."

Answer 132

to change what you are doing so that you are not following an expected plan, idea, or type of behaviour "The plane had to deviate from its normal flight path." "He never deviated from his original plan." deviation [noun] "This is a deviation from the original plan." "The sudden rise in market prices was an unexpected deviation from the norm."

Answer 133

deceive: mislead or cheat "Unless my eyes deceive (mislead) me, that's his wife." "Her husband had been deceiving (cheating) her for years." deception [nuon] = deceit /dɪˈsiːt/ "a drama full of lies and deception" "He was accused of obtaining property by deception."

Answer 134

to talk or write about something that is not your main subject "Do you mind if I digress for a moment?" "He digressed so often that it was hard to follow what he was saying." "During the lecture, Miller often digressed to give the history behind each theory." digression [noun] "After several digressions, he finally got to the point." "Ok, that was a digression, but some of you as parents feel me on that."

Answer 135

If you describe someone as living in an ivory tower, you mean that they have no knowledge or experience of the practical problems of everyday life. "an academic in an ivory tower" "ivory-tower intellectuals." "the university as an ivory tower" "his ivory tower of complacency"

Answer 136

complacent: too satisfied with yourself or with a situation, so that you do not feel that any change is necessary. [noun] complacency "We must not become complacent about progress." complaisant: willingness to do what pleases other people, inclined to please or oblige "She carried on passionate love affairs with the consent of her complaisant husband." "Marsha’s complaisant character made her the perfect servant." "During the flight, I was lucky enough to have an attendant who was friendly and complaisant and made sure all my needs were met."

Answer 137

inconsequential: not important or worth considering SYNONYM trivial "The speech was full of inconsequential details." consequential: 1) happening as a result or an effect of something SYNONYM resultant "retirement and the consequential reduction in income" "insurance against consequential loss" "The consequential result of not working hard is failure" 2) important; that will have important results. "a grave and consequential event"

Answer 138

to give a lot of something, often too much, to somebody/something "She lavishes most of her attention on her youngest son." "Hug your children and lavish them with love." lavish [adj] 1) expensive, extravagant, luxurious "They lived a very lavish lifestyle." "It was one of the most lavish weddings I’ve ever been to." 2) +with/in: very generous "the government was often lavish with financial aid in times of crisis." "He was always lavish in his praise of my efforts."

Answer 139

a person’s face or their expression "her calmly smiling countenance" "All colour drained from her countenance." complexion: the natural colour and condition of the skin on a person’s face "a pale/bad complexion" "Alice is lighter in complexion than her mother."

Answer 140

based on reason rather than emotions "There is no rational explanation for his actions." "No rational person would ever behave like that."

Answer 141

1. in an excited state and not able to think or speak clearly, usually because of a high temperature or illness "He suffered an attack of malaria and was delirious." "He became delirious and couldn't recognize people." 2. extremely excited and happy "The crowd went delirious." "a group of delirious fans celebrating the team's victory"

Answer 142

not serious or sensible, not suitable for a particular occasion "Her words seemed utterly frivolous." "I just decided I was a bit too frivolous to be a doctor." "The court discourages frivolous lawsuits." a frivolous person likes having fun rather than doing serious or sensible things

Answer 143

to make somebody do something by talking to them and being very nice to them SYNONYM coax "He cajoled me into agreeing to do the work." "We do our best to cajole rich countries into helping." "He managed to have cajoled her into doing his laundry for him"

Answer 144

to speak angrily to or criticize someone, because they have done something wrong "She berated herself for being a bad mother." "The minister was berated by angry demonstrators" "Marion berated Joe for the noise he made."

Answer 145

to stand or move in an unsteady way as if you are going to fall "She teetered after him in her high-heeled shoes." "The pile of books teetered and fell to the floor." "The car teetered on the edge of the cliff for a moment before plunging down."

Answer 146

if you look or smile at somebody in an unpleasant way, because you are sexually interested in the person. "the drunk man is leering at passing females" "She was sick of old men leering at her."

Answer 147

the act of supplying somebody with something that they need or want "The government is responsible for the provision of healthcare." "He made provisions for his wife and his children in his will."

Answer 148

1. to exist or be very common at a particular time or in a particular place "I admired the creativity which prevailed among the young writers." "We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons." "Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups." 2. (of ideas, opinions, etc.) to succeed in the end, especially after a struggle or an argument "Justice will prevail over tyranny." "Fortunately, common sense prevailed."

Answer 149

1. a formal written statement describing someone’s character and abilities "Her employer could provide testimonials to her character and ability." 2. expressive of appreciation or esteem "a testimonial dinner"

Answer 150

1. anger between people who disagree SYNONYM dispute "One area of contention is the availability of nursery care." "Privatization of the health service remains a point of contention." "There is no contention between the two groups." 2. a belief or an opinion that you express, especially in an argument "It is our client's contention that the fire was an accident." "I would reject that contention." contentious [adj]

Answer 151

to force somebody to do something by using threats "They were coerced into negotiating a settlement." "They tried to coerce him to sign away his rights."

Answer 152

1. to move along quickly over a surface, never touching it or not touching it often "seagulls skimming the waves" "We watched the birds skimming over the lake." "We skimmed across the water in a small sailing boat." 2. to read something quickly to find the main facts or ideas in it SYN scan "He skimmed through the article trying to find his name." "I always skim the financial section of the newspaper." 3. to remove something from the surface of a liquid

Answer 153

1. (of a person or an animal) to search widely for food "The female only leaves the young when she forages for food." "The pigs are allowed to forage around in a large orchard." 2. (of a person) to search for something, especially using the hands SYNONYM rummage "Her assistant was foraging in a cupboard for some envelopes." "She foraged around in her purse and produced her ticket." [noun] food supplies for horses and cattle forager: A person or animal that searches widely for food or provisions.

Answer 154

[noun] the act of killing another person, especially when it is a crime "detectives investigating a homicide" "He has been arrested on homicide and assault charges." "The number of homicides increased last year."

Answer 155

1. to happen before something or come before something/somebody in order "the years preceding the war" "His resignation was preceded by weeks of speculation." "She preceded me in the job." "in the moments which immediately preceded the earthquake" 2. go somewhere before someone else "The guard preceded them down the corridor." "She preceded him out of the room."

Answer 156

1. to suppose that something is true, without proof. SYNONYM assume " I presumed him to be her husband." 2. to accept that something is true until it is shown not to be true "Twelve passengers are missing, presumed dead." "In English law, a person is presumed innocent until proved guilty." presume on/upon: to unfairly ask someone for more than you should, because they are your friend, are generous etc. "It would be presuming on his generosity to ask him for money." " I felt it would be presuming on our personal relationship to keep asking her for help."

Answer 157

having a lot of different parts and small details that fit together "an amazingly intricate structure" "an intricate network of loyalties and relationships" "the intricate workings of a watch"

Answer 158

1. to make something such as time, money, or workers available for someone, especially when this is difficult for you to do "Sorry, I can’t spare the time." "I’d like you to come over when you can spare a couple of hours." "Could you spare one of your staff to help us out?" "We can only spare one room for you." 2. to not damage or harm someone or something, even though other people or things are being damaged, killed "She begged them to spare her life." "I could not understand why I had been spared and they had not." "During the bombing only one house was spared (= was not hit by a bomb)."

Answer 159

[verb] 1. to give part of your work, power or authority to somebody in a lower position than you. "A good manager knows when to delegate." [verb] 2. [usually passive] to choose somebody to do something. "I've been delegated to organize the Christmas party." [noun] someone who has been elected or chosen to speak, vote, or take decisions for a group "Congress delegates rejected the proposals." "The conference was attended by delegates from 56 countries."

Answer 160

1. to make an illness or a bad or unpleasant situation worse SYNONYM worsen "Pollution can aggravate asthma." "Their money problems were further aggravated by a rise in interest rates." 2. to annoy somebody, especially deliberately SYNONYM irritate "What really aggravates me is the way she won’t listen."

Answer 161

quiet and easy to control "a docile child/horse/temperament" "Labradors are gentle, docile dogs."

Answer 162

doing everything that you are expected to do; willing to obey and to show respect SYNONYM obedient "a dutiful daughter/son/wife" "the dutiful way he took care of his sick mother"

Answer 163

an opinion that all members of a group agree with SYN agreement "She is skilled at achieving consensus on sensitive issues." "There is a general consensus among teachers about the need for greater security in schools." "They have always governed by consensus."

Answer 164

1. large in amount, value, number or importance "substantial sums of money" "Substantial numbers of people support the reforms." "He ate a substantial breakfast." "There are substantial differences between the two groups." "We were able to see a substantial improvement." 2. large and solid; strongly built "a substantial piece of furniture"

Answer 165

wrong; not as it should be "She sensed something was amiss and called the police." "They had noticed something amiss with the engines." "Elsa continued as if nothing was amiss." "There’s something amiss in their relationship."

Answer 166

to feel and show great love for somebody, ignoring their faults "He dotes on his children." "Everyone doted on Sally, the only girl in the family." "a doting parent" 惯孩子的父母

Answer 167

always showing strong support in your opinions and attitude SYNONYM faithful, steadfast "a staunch supporter of the monarchy" "one of the president’s staunchest allies" "She is a staunch advocate of women's rights."

Answer 168

1. highest in rank or position "the Supreme Commander of the armed forces" "The board has supreme authority over such issues." 2. very great or the greatest in degree "to make the supreme sacrifice (= die for what you believe in)" "She smiled with supreme confidence." "a problem of supreme importance"

Answer 169

to hinder or prevent somebody from doing what they want to do SYNONYM frustrate "His ambition to be a painter was thwarted by poor eyesight." "Fierce opposition thwarted the government’s plans."

Answer 170

1. (of goods) made and sold by a company and protected by a registered trademark OPPOSITE non-proprietary "a proprietary medicine" "proprietary brands" 2. relating to an owner or to the fact of owning something "The company has a proprietary right to the property." "They have proprietary rights to the data." proprietorship: the fact or state of being the owner of a business, a hotel, etc. "Under his proprietorship the Journal continued to prosper."

Answer 171

the act of retaining 1. keeping something rather than losing it or stopping it "The company needs to improve its training and retention of staff." 2. the ability to remember things "Visual material aids the retention of information."

Answer 172

1. the legal right or duty to take care of or keep somebody/something "The divorce court awarded custody to the child's mother." "The parents were locked in a bitter battle for custody." "The bank provides safe custody for valuables." 2. the state of being in prison, especially while waiting for trial "After the riot, 32 people were taken into police custody."

Answer 173

to damage something or make something less good or successful SYNONYM blight, ruin "The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans." "Their wedding was marred by the death of Jenny’s mother a week earlier."

Answer 174

to injure somebody seriously, causing permanent damage to their body SYNONYM incapacitate "Hundreds of people are killed or maimed in car accidents every week." "Landmines still kill or maim about 300 people every month." incapacitate: to make somebody/something unable to live or work normally "He was incapacitated by old age and sickness." "mentally incapacitated people"

Answer 175

very obvious, easy to notice or strongly expressed "He walked with a pronounced limp." "She has very pronounced views on art." "He has a pronounced Japanese accent"

Answer 176

(usually in negative sentences) to understand or find an explanation for something "She knew he was angry with her, for some reason she couldn't fathom." "It is hard to fathom the pain felt at the death of a child." "Mark couldn’t fathom why she resented him so much." unfathomable [adj] too strange or difficult to be understood "an unfathomable mystery" "His glance at her was unfathomable." "We are confronted with the unfathomable nature of human motivation."

Answer 177

serene: calm and peaceful "a lake, still and serene in the sunlight" serenity: the quality of being calm and peaceful "The hotel offers a haven of peace and serenity away from the bustle of the city."

Answer 178

very firm grip.

Answer 179

1. land that is rugged is rough and uneven "The countryside around here is very rugged." "They admired the rugged beauty of the coastline." 2. (approving) (of somebody's face) having strong, attractive features "She was attracted by his rugged good looks." 3. (of a person) determined to succeed in a difficult situation, even if this means using force or upsetting other people "a rugged individualist"

Answer 180

1. very frightening and unpleasant, because it involves pain, death, etc. SYNONYM horrible "a ghastly crime/murder" "She woke up in the middle of a ghastly nightmare." 2. (of an experience or a situation) very bad; unpleasant SYNONYM terrible "The weather was ghastly." "It's all been a ghastly mistake."

Answer 181

1. (of a thing) in poor condition because they have been used a lot SYNONYM scruffy "The outside of the house was beginning to look shabby." "She wore shabby old jeans and a T-shirt." 2. (of a person) badly dressed in clothes that have been worn a lot SYNONYM scruffy "The man was shabby and unkempt." "I suddenly felt rather shabby and uncomfortable." 3. (of behaviour) unfair or unreasonable SYNONYM shoddy "She tried to make up for her shabby treatment of him." "It was a shabby way to treat visitors."

Answer 182

done without care; doing things without care SYNONYM careless, slovenly "The work was done in a slipshod manner." "This is a dangerous time to be slipshod about anything" "The research project was shelved due to slipshod management."

Answer 183

1. perfectly clean and tidy, with no marks or flaws SYNONYM spotless "She always looks immaculate." "The suit he was wearing was immaculate." 2. containing no mistakes or faults SYNONYM perfect "an immaculate performance" "The incident ruined an otherwise immaculate safety record."

Answer 184

the feeling of being extremely annoyed, especially because you cannot do anything to improve a situation "He shook his head in exasperation." "He looked at her with exasperation " "They had all experienced the exasperation and frustration of holiday shopping." "add people who use cell phones inconsiderately to the list of daily exasperations" exasperating [adj] extremely annoying SYN infuriating

Answer 185

to make sure that… "Can you see to it that the email goes out this afternoon?"

Answer 186

to make something less severe, less painful / difficult to deal with SYNONYM ease, palliate, mitigate "to alleviate suffering" "A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem." "a new medicine to alleviate the symptoms of flu" "measures to alleviate poverty"

Answer 187

attenuate: to make something weaker or less effective "The drug attenuates the effects of the virus." "an attenuated form of the polio virus"

Answer 188

facts or reasons which make you feel that it was reasonable for someone to break the usual rules, or make you have sympathy for someone who did something wrong or illegal "There were extenuating circumstances and the defendant did not receive a prison sentence." "Cases of illness and other extenuating circumstances that may have affected a student’s performance will be dealt with by a personal tutor."

Answer 189

1. to make a bad situation, an illness, or an injury worse. SUN worsen "Pollution can aggravate asthma." "Their money problems were further aggravated by a rise in interest rates." "Building the new road will only aggravate the situation." 2. to make someone angry or annoyed SYN irritate "What really aggravates me is the way she won’t listen."

Answer 190

to obey a rule, an order, etc.; to meet particular standards "They refused to comply with the UN resolution." "All furniture must comply with the fire safety regulations." "When requested to leave, they refused to comply."

Answer 191

1. to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society "There is considerable pressure on teenagers to conform." "He refused to conform to the local customs." 2. to obey a rule, law, etc. SYNONYM comply "The building does not conform with safety regulations."

Answer 192

[verb] to put or store a document or other material in an archive or save into a computer disk. "Once a month the files will be archived." [noun] a collection of historical documents or records "the National Sound Archive" "The BBC's archives are bulging with material." "Optical disk is perfect for storing archives of critical corporate data, such as financial records."

Answer 193

[noun] a written record of events in the order in which they happened "the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" "a chronicle of his life during the war years" "Her latest novel is a chronicle of life in a Devon village." [verb] to record events in the order in which they happened "Her achievements are chronicled in a new biography out this week." "His life is chronicled in a new biography published last week." "The book chronicles the events leading up to the war."

Answer 194

disconcerting [adj]: making you feel worried, confused or embarrassed SYNONYM disturbing "She had the disconcerting habit of saying exactly what she thought." disconcert [verb]: to make somebody feel anxious, confused or embarrassed SYNONYM disturb "His answer rather disconcerted her." concerted [adj] agreeing with each other, performed simultaneously

Answer 195

connected with mental processes of knowing, understanding, and learning something "a child’s cognitive development" "cognitive psychology" "This is both a cognitive and an emotional process." "The extra time significantly increased the driver’s cognitive load." cognition [noun] the process by which knowledge and understanding is developed in the mind

Answer 196

to become gradually less in number, amount, degree, etc. "The number of applicants for teaching posts has tapered off." "They are gradually tapering off production of the older models." "Profits may be tapering off in the near future."

Answer 197

1. to force or knock something out of its position "The wind dislodged one or two tiles from the roof." "Ian dislodged a few stones as he climbed up the rock." "It was 30 minutes before rescuers could dislodge the food from his throat." 2. to force somebody to leave a place, position or job "The rebels have so far failed to dislodge the President."

Answer 198

to tell somebody secrets and personal information because you feel you can trust them "It is important to have someone you can confide in." "She used to confide in her husband whenever she had a problem." "I’ve never felt able to confide in my sister."

Answer 199

break away: to escape or to leave a party/state "The prisoner broke away from his guards." "The people of the province wished to break away and form a new state." break through: to make new and important discoveries "Scientists are beginning to break through in the fight against cancer." break off: to become separated; or to stop speaking "The back section of the plane had broken off." "He broke off abruptly when Jo walked in." break out: to start suddenly or to escape "Fire broke out during the night." "Several prisoners broke out of the jail."

Answer 200

1. that can be understood in more than one way; having different meanings "Her account was deliberately ambiguous." "The paragraph is rendered ambiguous by the writer's careless use of pronouns." 2. not clearly stated or defined "His role has always been ambiguous."

Answer 201

not ashamed, embarrassed or affected by people’s negative opinions, when other people would be "He is a nasty unabashed racist." "He appeared unabashed by all the media attention." "The ruling classes live in unabashed luxury."

Answer 202

done secretly or quickly, in the hope that other people will not notice SYNONYM furtive "She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch." "They were seen leaving the premises in a surreptitious manner."

Answer 203

1. tending to follow what is done or considered acceptable by society in general "She's very conventional in her views." 2. following what is traditional or the way something has been done for a long time "Conventional treatments for this condition have been only partially successful." [noun] convention

Answer 204

Lustre: quality of being shining or exciting 1. not interesting or exciting; not bright "There were signs of discontent at the party's lacklustre performance." "Tokyo stocks ended mixed after lackluster trading and prices moved just slightly." 2. (of the hair or eyes) not bright or shining; dull "The conditioner will revitalize lacklustre hair."

Answer 205

1. to prevent something bad or dangerous from happening "A disaster was narrowly averted." "He did his best to avert suspicion." 2. to turn your eyes, etc. away from something that you do not want to see "She averted her eyes from the terrible scene in front of her."

Answer 206

(disapproving) to do something in the easiest, cheapest or quickest way, often by ignoring rules or leaving something out "To be competitive, they paid low wages and cut corners on health and safety."

Answer 207

the act of avoiding somebody or of avoiding something "His behaviour was an evasion of his responsibilities as a father." "She's been charged with tax evasion." "His speech was full of evasions and half-truths." [verb] evade. [adj] evasive

Answer 208

to be so worried by a problem that you do not know what to do next "She was at her wits’ end wondering how she’d pay all the bills. "I'm at my wits' end trying to cope with his moods." "I don't know what I can do to keep our marriage together -- I'm at my wits' end!"

Answer 209

1. eating or wanting large amounts of food SYNONYM greedy "a voracious eater" "to have a voracious appetite" 2. wanting a lot of new information and knowledge SYNONYM avid "a voracious reader" "a boy with a voracious and undiscriminating appetite for facts" veracious: speaking or representing the truth.

Answer 210

1. (of a situation) not safe or certain; dangerous "He earned a precarious living as an artist." "The world is a precarious and unstable place." 2. likely to fall or cause somebody to fall "That ladder looks very precarious." "The path down to the beach is very precarious in wet weather."

Answer 211

to look at or examine somebody/something carefully "She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces." "The statement was carefully scrutinized before publication." "He scrutinized the document."

Answer 212

1. a smell, especially one that you only smell for a short time "a whiff of cigar smoke" "He caught a whiff of perfume as he leaned towards her." 2. a slight sign or feeling of something "a whiff of danger"

Answer 213

cut up: 1) to cut something into small pieces 2) to behave in a noisy and silly way cut off: 1) to interrupt somebody who is speaking on the phone by breaking the connection "We were cut off in the middle of our conversation." 2) to refuse to let somebody receive any of your property after you die "He cut his son off without a penny." cut out: to stop or stop doing sth, to remove cut in: cut in a queue, or to interrupt somebody whos is talking "She kept cutting in on our conversation."

Answer 214

natural ability or skill at doing something SYNONYM talent "He has a natural aptitude for singing."

Answer 215

having bad habits that cannot be changed or improved SYNONYM incurable "She thought the children were incorrigible brats." "He was an incorrigible liar too." "Then she said I was incorrigible, and I said that was a compliment." corrigible: capable of being corrected, rectified, or reformed.

Answer 216

curious and inquiring "Don't be so inquisitive. It's none of your business!" "The young man possessed a sharp and inquisitive mind."

Answer 217

to become gradually weaker or less important SYNONYM decrease, fade "Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly." "Their popularity waned during that period." "Demand for the product shows no signs of waning." "The group’s influence had begun to wane by this time."

Answer 218

override [verb] to use your authority to reject somebody’s decision, order, importance, etc. SYNONYM overrule "The chairman overrode the committee's objections and signed the agreement." "The needs of the mother should not override the needs of the child." overriding [adj] more important than anything else in a particular situation "Their overriding aim was to keep costs low." "Time was of overriding importance."

Answer 219

[adj] 1. able to use language and express your opinions well "He was eloquent about his love of books." "I heard him make a very eloquent speech at that dinner." [adj] 2. showing a feeling or meaning without using words "The photographs are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war." [noun] eloquence "a speech of passionate eloquence" "the eloquence of his smile"

Answer 220

1. to make a book or event into a play or film "a novel dramatized for television" "Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ was dramatized on television recently." 2. to make something seem more exciting or important than it really is "Don't worry too much about what she said—she tends to dramatize things." "Why do you have to dramatize everything?" [noun] dramatisation "a television dramatization of the trial" "She has a tendency to dramatization."

Answer 221

to become worse "Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards." "They had to cope with deteriorating weather conditions." "Relations between the two countries have deteriorated further this week." "The unrest rapidly deteriorated into civil war." [noun] deterioration "Excessive intake of refined sugar leads to early deterioration of brain cells"

Answer 222

[adj] not worried or surprised by something unexpected that happens "She was totally unfazed by the news." "The President seems unfazed by the ongoing crises around the world." [verb] faze: feel confused or shocked "John was embarrassed, but it didn’t faze Mike a bit." "He looked as if nothing could faze him."

Answer 223

full of energy in a cheerful and noisy way SYNONYM boisterous "a crowd of rumbustious football fans" "a rumbustious dog"

Answer 224

the act of stealing things from a place or region, especially in a war, using violence SYN plunder "They brought back horrific accounts of murder and pillage." "There were no signs of violence or pillage. "

Answer 225

bring on: 1) to make something bad or unpleasant happen SYN cause "Stress can bring on an asthma attack." 2) to help someone to improve "Teachers have to focus and bring on the bright children " bring out: to make something easier to see, taste, notice etc "A crisis brings out the best in her." "Alcohol just brings out the worst in him." bring forward: 1) to move something to an earlier date or time "The meeting has been brought forward from 10 May to 3 May." 2) to suggest something for discussion "Please bring the matter forward at the next meeting."

Answer 226

essential, too important to be without, not dispensable "Mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives." "This book is indispensable to anyone interested in space exploration." dispensable : not necessary; that can be got rid of "They looked on music and art lessons as dispensable."

Answer 227

sensible and careful when you make decisions; avoiding unnecessary risks "It might be more prudent to get a second opinion before going ahead.' "It might be prudent to get a virus detector for the network." OPPOSITE imprudent

Answer 228

great respect and approval; a good opinion of somebody "She is held in high esteem by her colleagues." "Over the years, he has earned our affection and esteem." "Please accept this small gift as a token of our esteem." self-esteem: self-worth "Children suffering from low self-esteem are expected to do badly." esteem [verb] to respect and admire

Answer 229

[noun] 1. respect for somebody/something "We held our form teacher in high regard (= had a good opinion of her)." [noun] 2. attention to or thought and care for somebody/something "He was driving without regard to speed limits." [verb] to think about or look at somebody/something in a particular way "Her work is very highly regarded." "Many of her works are regarded as classics." "He regarded us suspiciously." "His eyes continued to regard her steadily."

Answer 230

1. to discuss something with somebody, in order to exchange opinions or get advice "He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision." 2. to give somebody an award, a university degree or a particular honour or right "An honorary degree was conferred on him by Oxford University in 2019." [noun] conference: a large official meeting "She is attending a three-day conference on AIDS education."

Answer 231

to give someone something of great value, to show how much they are respected "It was a title bestowed upon him by the king." "honours bestowed on him by the Queen"

Answer 232

relating to the relationship of a son or daughter to their parents "filial obedience" "filial love"

Answer 233

[verb] lavish on/uopn: to give too much of something, to somebody/something "She lavishes most of her attention on her youngest son." [adj] extravagant, luxurious, generous "They lived a very lavish lifestyle." "It was one of the most lavish weddings I’ve ever been to." "He was lavish in his praise for her paintings."

Answer 234

1. (of plants or hair) growing thickly and strongly in a way that is attractive "luxuriant vegetation" "thick, luxuriant hair" 2. (art or the atmosphere of a place) rich in something that is pleasant or beautiful "the poet’s luxuriant imagery" "the film’s luxuriant visuals"

Answer 235

1. in large quantities; large "a bountiful supply of food" "a bountiful supply of water" 2. giving generously SYNONYM generous "belief in a bountiful god" "bountiful nature" "The roses grew well, and, yes, the blooms were bountiful."

Answer 236

very bad and unacceptable, often in a way that shocks people SYNONYM appalling "The prisoners were living in the most deplorable conditions." "American day care centers range from excellent to deplorable."

Answer 237

wrong; not as it should be "She sensed something was amiss and called the police." "He shone a light inside and saw nothing amiss." "They had noticed something amiss with the engines."

Answer 238

accede to something: to agree to a demand, proposal etc, especially after first disagreeing with it "the doctor’s refusal to accede to his patient’s request" "He acceded to demands for his resignation." "Japan had little choice but to accede." * "Queen Victoria acceded to the throne in 1837."

Answer 239

lethargy: the state of not having any energy or enthusiasm for doing things SYNONYM listlessness, inertia "She was suddenly overcome by lethargy." "They will need to shake off their lethargy if they want to win the game." lethargic: without any energy or enthusiasm for doing things SYNONYM listless "The hot weather made me lethargic." "The patient was weak and lethargic."

Answer 240

hold in: to not express how you really feel "to hold in your feelings/anger" hold up: to remain strong and working effectively "She's holding up well under the pressure." hold off: to delay or not to do immediately, to not start "Many buyers are holding off until prices are lower." "Not even a gun could hold him off forever." "The rain held off just long enough for us to have our picnic." hold out: to last, to resist or survive in a dangerous or difficult situation "Water supplies won’t hold out much longer." "No idea how much longer I can hold out against their relentless questioning."

Answer 241

to find out or learn with certainty "It can be difficult to ascertain the facts." "I ascertained that the driver was not badly hurt." "It should be ascertained that the plans comply with the law." "Could you ascertain whether she will be coming to the meeting?"

Answer 242

[verb] 1. to cut or shape wood or stone with a chisel "A name was chiselled into the stone." 2. to get money or some advantage from somebody by cheating them "They chiseled him out of hundreds of dollars." [noun] a tool with a sharp, flat edge at the end, used for shaping wood, stone or metal

Answer 243

a narrow opening in a rock or wall "Most of the year the insects are hidden in rock crevices."

Answer 244

deviate: to depart from an established topic, course or norm "deviating from the subject" "behaviors that deviate from the norm" deviation: "This is a deviation from the original plan." "The compass shows a deviation of 5° (from true north)."

Answer 245

1. not stopping; not getting less strong SYNONYM unrelenting "the relentless crying of a small baby" "her relentless pursuit of perfection" "The sun was relentless." 2. refusing to give up or be less strict or severe "a relentless enemy" "a family facing relentless financial problems"

Answer 246

appropriate to a particular situation SYNONYM relevant "Please keep your comments pertinent to the topic under discussion."

Answer 247

1. belonging to a particular place by birth "a native New Yorker" "the native plants of America" 2. originally lived in a country before other people, especially white people, came there SYNONYM indigenous "The native peoples depend on the forest for their livelihoods." "The festival is a celebration of native (indigenous) art and culture."

Answer 248

to publicly support a particular way of doing something "a staunch (=faithful) advocate of free speech" "Those who advocate for doctor-assisted suicide say the terminally ill should not have to suffer." "Extremists were openly advocating violence."

Answer 249

have an eye for something: to be good at noticing a particular type of thing, especially something attractive, valuable, of good quality etc "Ernest has an eye for detail." "I've never had much of an eye for fashion." "She has an eye for a bargain." keep an eye on somebody/something: to take care of somebody/something and make sure that they are not harmed, damaged, etc. "We've asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the house for us while we are away." "Could you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the toilet?"

Answer 250

attractive in an unusual or old-fashioned way "quaint old customs" "a quaint seaside village" "a curved road with quaint shophouses on both sides"

Answer 251

[adj] a matronly woman is no longer young and fashionable in appearance, and is usually rather fat "a matronly woman of 50" [noun] matron: a senior nurse in charge of the other nurses in a hospital

Answer 252

the ability to do something well; or a skill that you need in a particular job "competency-based training methods" [adj] competent: having enough skill or knowledge to do something well

Answer 253

discordant: not in agreement; in a way that is strange or unpleasant "discordant opinions" "a discordant family (quarrelsome)" "a discordant tone (music unpleasant)" discord: disagreement; arguing "The contrasts between rich and poor nations are a source of discord." "Money is the single biggest cause of discord in marriage."

Answer 254

a group of people or companies who join together in order to achieve a particular aim "a syndicate of banks" "a crime syndicate" "A syndicate owns the company." "a powerful banking syndicate that controls loans in the small country"

Answer 255

to avoid doing something you should do, to evade the performance of an obligation "He never shirked from doing his duty." "They did their duty without shirking or complaining." "parents who shirk their responsibilities towards their children"

Answer 256

1. involving two groups of people or two countries "Both nations have signed bilateral treaties with the United States." 2. involving both of two parts or sides of the body or brain "bilateral hearing impairment" "bilateral inguinal hernia" bi + lateral (relating to the side of something) "The wall is weak and requires lateral support."

Answer 257

[verb] to send money, etc. to a person or place "Payment will be remitted to you in full." [noun] the area of activity over which a person or group has authority, influence SYN scope "This problem is outside our remit." "Such decisions are outside the remit of this committee."

Answer 258

to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to something SYN dedicate "I could only devote two hours a day to the work." "The amount of time devoted to leisure is dropping." "She devoted herself full-time to her business."

Answer 259

to accept and deal with something difficult without letting it worry you too much "It’s going to be tough—but I’m sure you’ll take it all in your stride." "When the boss asked Judy to stay late, she took it in stride." "Nigel smiled and took the criticism in his stride."

Answer 260

determined not to change your mind or to be persuaded about something "She begged me to change my mind, but I remained adamant." "Eva was adamant that she would not come." "The government remained adamant that there was no more money available."

Answer 261

to prevent somebody from easily doing or achieving something SYNONYM hinder "High winds hampered the rescue attempt." "Our efforts were severely hampered by a lack of money."

Answer 262

shy and easily embarrassed "He was too bashful to talk about sex." "She looked bashful when he asked her what she wanted." "When we asked her if she had a boyfriend, she came over all bashful and wouldn’t say a thing." [verb] bash: to hit somebody/something very hard "He stood up, bashing his head on the ceiling." "I braked too late and bashed into the car in front."

Answer 263

1. silly or funny, having fun rather than doing serious or sensible things. OPP serious "Sorry, I was being frivolous." "Her words seemed utterly frivolous." 2. having no useful or serious purpose "The court discourages frivolous lawsuits."

Answer 264

off the cuff: without previous thought or preparation "I'm just speaking off the cuff here, I didn't prepare for it." off the hook: having got free from a difficult situation or a punishment "No way will she let you off the hook this time." off the leash: no longer restricted or controlled off the charts: extremely high in level "The wealth to be found in this town is off the charts."

Answer 265

that cannot be understood or explained SYNONYM incomprehensible OPPOSITE explicable "inexplicable behaviour" "For some inexplicable reason he gave up a fantastic job."

Answer 266

being the first of its kind "a maiden flight/voyage (= the first journey made by a plane/ship)" [noun] a girl or young woman who is not married

Answer 267

[noun] a special liking for something SYNONYM fondness, predilection, predisposition "She has a penchant for champagne."

Answer 268

[noun] a strong feeling of not liking somebody/something, a strong dislike "He had an aversion to getting up early." "I have an aversion to housework." [verb] avert: to prevent something unpleasant from happening "A disaster was narrowly averted." "He managed to avert the closure of the factory."

Answer 269

the character and atmosphere of a place "The gentle colour scheme creates a relaxing ambience." "The new building is in keeping with the general ambience of the estate." [adj] ambient: relating to the surrounding and atmosphere "the bright ambient light of the room" "the ambient air temperature"

Answer 270

relating to a particular race, nation, or tribe and their customs and traditions "ethnic minorities" "The school teaches pupils from different ethnic groups." "The U.S. has a wide variety of ethnic groups made up of immigrants or their descendants."

Answer 271

an essential or integral component "stress was part and parcel of the job"

Answer 272

to make something increase in amount "The company quickly ramped up production to meet the demand."

Answer 273

introvert: a quiet person who is more interested in their own thoughts and feelings than in spending time with other people "He was described as an introvert, a reserved man who spoke little." extrovert: a lively and confident person who enjoys being with other people "She's a real extrovert and loves to socialize and meet new people."

Answer 274

in accordance with according to

Answer 275

1. too willing to agree with other people or to obey rules "For years I had tried to be a compliant and dutiful wife." 2. in agreement with a set of rules "Future versions will be fully compliant with the industry standard." [verb] comply: to obey a rule, an order, etc.; to meet particular standards "They refused to comply with the UN resolution."

Answer 276

not changing in your attitudes or aims; faithful and very loyal SYNONYM firm "her father’s steadfast love for her" "Dr Faraday remained steadfast in his plea of innocence." "He remained steadfast in his determination to bring the killers to justice."

Answer 277

happening only occasionally or at intervals that are not regular SYNONYM intermittent "There has been sporadic violence downtown." "sporadic outbreaks of the disease" "The fighting continued sporadically for several days."

Answer 278

to understand something, especially something strange or out of the ordinary; to accept something that one does not particularly want to accept. "I just can't wrap/get my head around these tax forms." "That was a hard thing for me to wrap my head around"

Answer 279

(saying) to be much more difficult to do than to talk about ‘Why don't you get yourself a job?’ ‘That's easier said than done.’

Answer 280

1. in or to a foreign country "He was famous, both at home and abroad" "For a holiday abroad you need a valid passport." 2. (formal) being talked about or felt by many people "There was news abroad that a change was coming."

Answer 281

[adj] very important, because it includes or influences many things dominating or embracing all else "an overarching aim/concept/issue" "the overarching themes of violence and disorder" "The crisis gave an overarching justification to the government’s policy."

Answer 282

(informal) every part of a place; every aspect of a situation "The wind blew into every nook and cranny." "She always explored every nook and cranny of a business deal." nook [noun] a small quiet place or corner that is sheltered or hidden from other people cranny [noun] a very small hole or opening, especially in a wall

Answer 283

1. to join or to make someone join the armed forces 2. to persuade someone to help "They hoped to enlist the help of the public in solving the crime." "We were enlisted as helpers."

Answer 284

to store something in a safe or secret place "She has a fortune stashed away in various bank accounts." "The gun was stashed under the bed." ref to hoard: to collect and keep large amounts of food, money, etc., often secretly

Answer 285

(of a person) pleased to welcome guests; generous and friendly to visitors SYNONYM welcoming "The local people are very hospitable to strangers." "He thanked Patricia for being such a hospitable hostess."

Answer 286

kind, generous and forgiving, especially towards an enemy or competitor "a magnanimous gesture" "I was prepared to be magnanimous, prepared to feel compassion for him. " "He was a man capable of magnanimous gestures."

Answer 287

+ of have a good understanding of a subject or of difficult facts

Answer 288

[noun] a young person who is developing from a child into an adult "Oddly, he became a difficult young adolescent." [adj] in or relating to the process of developing from a child into an adult "adolescent girls/boys/experiences" adolescence: the time in a person’s life when they develop from a child into an adult SYNONYM puberty "Adolescence brings about major changes in a young person’s body."

Answer 289

fall off: to decrease in quantity or quality "Attendance at my lectures has fallen off considerably."

Answer 290

1. done carefully and with a lot of attention to detail SYNONYM thorough "Few people have gone into the topic in such rigorous detail." "The second team adopted a much more rigorous approach to the problem." 2. demanding that particular rules, processes, etc. are strictly followed SYNONYM strict "The work failed to meet their rigorous standards."

Answer 291

not wanting to work SYNONYM lazy "an indolent boy who had to be forced to help out with the chores" indolence [noun] lazy behaviour SYNONYM laziness "He was brought up in luxurious indolence."

Answer 292

a decision you have to make where there is no clear rule, so that you have to use your own judgement "The rules aren't clear in this case, so officials are required to make a judgment call."

Answer 293

to laugh noisily "They all guffawed at his jokes." "The man guffawed at her remark."

Answer 294

to ban or prevent somebody from doing something "The players are barred from drinking alcohol the night before a match." " The new law bars smoking in all public places." "Certain activities are still barred to women."

Answer 295

something that people are interested in, or fashionable for only a short time "Interest in organic food is not a fad, it’s here to stay."

Answer 296

the action of keeping something rather than losing it or stopping it "The company needs to improve its retention of staff." "Visual material aids the retention of information." [verb] retain

Answer 297

[countable] something from the past that you remember "My earliest recollections are of my mother bending over my cot." [uncountable] an act of remembering something "I have no recollection of how I found my way there in the dark." "To the best of my recollection, she drove a Mercedes."

Answer 298

[noun] a spoken or written description of something that somebody remembers about their past life SYNONYM memory "The book is a collection of his reminiscences about the actress." "reminiscences of a wartime childhood" reminiscent [adj] "The way he laughed was strongly reminiscent of his father." reminisce /ˌremɪˈnɪs/ [verb] + about: to think, talk or write about a happy time in your past "We spent a happy evening reminiscing about the past."

Answer 299

1. when people remember and give honour to someone who has died "a service in remembrance of those killed in the war" 2. a memory that you have of a person or event "Trillin’s remembrances of his childhood"

Answer 300

1. very active, determined or full of energy SYNONYM energetic "They conducted a vigorous campaign against tax fraud." "Your dog needs at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise every day." 2. strong and healthy "a vigorous young man"

Answer 301

working very hard and taking great care that everything is done properly or completely SYNONYM diligent, meticulous, thorough "She was assiduous in her duties." "He was assiduous in his attendance at church." "She tended her garden with assiduous attention." "The project required some assiduous planning."

Answer 302

We use "conform to" = when referring to acting in accordance with a documented set of rules or standards, eg "this product conforms to health and safety standards". We use "conform with" when referring to a person or body that places requirements upon us, eg "this product conforms with Government guidelines".

Answer 303

1. to stop opposing someone or something that is stronger than you, and allow them to take control SYN give in "Succumbing to pressure , Governor Blakely amended the regulations." "Gina succumbed to temptation and had a second serving of cake." 2. to die from the effect of a disease or an injury "His career was cut short when he succumbed to cancer." "About 400,000 Americans succumb each year to smoking-related illnesses."

Answer 304

the character and atmosphere of a place "the relaxed ambience of the city" "The gentle colour scheme creates a relaxing ambience." [adj] ambient. "soft, ambient lighting"

Answer 305

1. a supply of bullets, etc. to be fired from guns "The bandits escaped with a rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition." "They issued live ammunition to the troops." "A few of the men had run out of ammunition." 2. information that can be used against another person in an argument "The letter gave her all the ammunition she needed." "These figures provide political ammunition to police chiefs arguing for more resources."

Answer 306

done without any good reason or purpose and often having harmful effects, not called for by the circumstances SYNONYM unnecessary; inappropriate, or unjustified "a movie criticized for gratuitous violence" "It was a completely gratuitous insult which the singer’s agent was forced to apologize for."

Answer 307

to try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely "I know I’m just clutching at straws here, but is it possible that the doctors are wrong?" "I knew that trying the alternative medicine was just clutching at straws."

Answer 308

1. relating to a town or city "Jackson spent the day meeting with local religious and civic leaders." 2. relating to the people who live in a town or city "It is your civic duty to vote in the local elections."

Answer 309

1. typical of the countryside. Simple, old-fashioned, and not spoiled by modern developments. "The village had a certain rustic charm." 2. made very simply of rough wood "a rustic garden seat" "a rustic fence"

Answer 310

peaceful and beautiful; perfect, without problems "a house set in idyllic surroundings" "to lead an idyllic existence" "The cottage sounds idyllic." idyll [noun] /ˈɪdɪl/ /ˈaɪdl/ a happy and peaceful place, event or experience, especially one connected with the countryside "The short romantic idyll was over." "This town was once charming rural idyll"

Answer 311

1. a person who fights for, or speaks in support of, a group of people or a belief "She was a champion (advocate) of the poor all her life." 2. a person, team, etc. that has won a competition advocate: a person who supports or speaks in favour of somebody or of a public plan or action "an advocate for hospital workers" "a staunch advocate of free speech"

Answer 312

extreme in a way that has a sudden, serious or violent effect on something "The government is threatening to take drastic action." "a drastic shortage of food" [adv] drastically

Answer 313

[adj] very different, big and important, often against what most people think or believe. Extreme. "They are proposing radical changes to the way the company is run." "There are radical differences between the two organizations." "He has put forward some very radical ideas." "I was shocked by her radical views." radical [noun]: a person with radical opinions

Answer 314

1. to force people to move away from their home to another place "If the dam is built it will displace 100 000 people." 2. replace, to take the place of somebody/something "Gradually factory workers have been displaced by machines."

Answer 315

to obtain or collect something such as information, support, etc. SYNONYM gather, acquire "to garner support from my school principal" "All the information that we garnered has been kept on file." "The party garnered 70 percent of the vote."

Answer 316

a person who catches fish (= goes angling) as a hobby COMPARE fisherman: who catches fish, either as a job or as a sport

Answer 317

1. the cost or process of keeping something in good condition SYNONYM maintenance "Tenants are responsible for the upkeep of rented property." "Money from visitors goes towards the upkeep of the palace and grounds." "Most of the money is spent on the upkeep of the building." 2. the cost or process of looking after a child or animal "He makes payments to his ex-wife for the upkeep of their children." "Poorer people find it hard to pay for their pet’s upkeep."

Answer 318

a quality that makes someone or something seem mysterious, exciting, or special "The mystique surrounding the monarchy has gone for ever." "There is a certain mystique about the Covid." mystify [verb] to make somebody confused SYNONYM baffle mystifying [adj] making somebody confused SYNONYM baffling

Answer 319

[verb] to move somewhere very quietly and slowly, especially because you are ashamed or do not want to be seen SYNONYM creep "John was trying to slink into the house by the back door." "The dog howled and slunk away." "She slunk out of the room, feeling like a criminal."

Answer 320

1. (of a river, road, etc.) to bend with curves rather than being in a straight line "The stream meanders slowly down to the sea." "The road meanders along the valley floor." 2. to walk slowly and change direction often, especially without a particular aim SYNONYM wander "They meandered around the old town for sightseeing." 3. (of a conversation, discussion, etc.) to develop slowly and change subject often, in a way that makes it boring or difficult to understand.

Answer 321

1. (from something) a short break or escape from something difficult or unpleasant "The drug brought a brief respite from the pain." "There was no respite from the suffocating heat." 2. a short delay allowed before something difficult or unpleasant must be done SYNONYM reprieve /rɪˈpriːv/ "His creditors agreed to give him a temporary respite."

Answer 322

1. an official order stopping a punishment, especially for a prisoner who is condemned to death "He was saved from the gallows by a last-minute reprieve." 2. a delay before something bad happens SYN: respite "The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve." "The family has won a temporary reprieve from eviction."

Answer 323

haven: a place that is safe and peaceful where people or animals are protected "The river banks are a haven for wildlife." "The camp offers a haven to refugees." heaven : OPP hell, a place or situation of great happiness "Shopping is my favourite pastime, so I was in heaven." "Tasmania is heaven for hikers and campers."

Answer 324

1. (of a change, an event, etc.) sudden, very great and often surprising "Climate change will have a dramatic impact on the health of the planet." 2. exciting and impressive "the dramatic rescue of nine trapped coal miners"

Answer 325

to give an amount of time, attention, etc. to something "He devoted a lifetime to working with children." "He devoted all his attention to his mother."

Answer 326

to come or develop from something "This income was derived directly from his writing." "The word ‘politics’ is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘city’."

Answer 327

in good physical condition "Join a gym membership to get in shape." out of shape: "The wheel had been twisted out of shape.'

Answer 328

that you must do because of the law, rules, etc. SYNONYM compulsory "These classes are obligatory for all first-year students." "It is obligatory for all employees to wear masks indoor."

Answer 329

1. (of a person) able to do many different things "He's a versatile actor having played a wide variety of parts." 2. (of food, a building, etc.) having many different uses "Eggs are easy to cook and are an extremely versatile food."

Answer 330

completely developed or trained; with all the qualifications necessary for something "After seven years of training she’s now a fully-fledged doctor." "She is now a fully fledged member of the teaching profession."

Answer 331

to make a long and determined effort to achieve something that you believe to be right or to stop something you believe to be wrong SYNONYM campaign "a crusading environmentalist" "a crusade to give terminally ill people the right to die" crusader SYN campaigner

Answer 332

All walks of life: People’s jobs or positions in society. SYN background

Answer 333

To wear new shoes, until they become comfortable.

Answer 334

To stay away from school w/o permission Truant (verb) (noun)

Answer 335

to make a problem, etc. easier to understand “Recent research has cast new light on the causes of the disease.”

Answer 336

Answer: Choice Unable to choose because there are too many good choices.

PSLE Prelim Flashcards

(361 cards)