Reading 6 Flashcards
at a loose end
not knowing what to do
at a stretch
at one time without stopping
at first glance
when seen or considered briefly and for the first time
at sixes and sevens
In a state of confusion or disorder
by all accounts
according to what one has heard or read
by default
because of a lack of opposition
by no means
not at all; certainly not
in action
doing what something is designed to do
in conjunction with
together
in my element
in a place or situation where one is comfortable and does well
in no time
very quickly or very soon
in turn
in succession; one after the other
in vain
without success or a result
at breakneck speed
very fast or dangerous
beyond recovery
Significant in the degree of hopelessness
go out on a limb
supporting someone or something despite putting yourself at a potential disadvantage
have a gut feeling
a strong belief about someone or something that cannot completely be explained and does not have to be decided by reasoning
have a mental block
an uncontrollable suppression or repression of painful or unwanted thoughts/memories
in its entirety
as a whole; completely
yours truly
used as a formula for ending a letter
anecdotal
not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research
chronic
of an illness) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring
clear-cut
sharply outlined : distinct. : free from ambiguity or uncertainty
continuously
without interruption or gaps
conventional
based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed
defeatist
demonstrating expectation or acceptance of failure
flawed
with flaws
gory
unpleasant or frightening, esp. because covered with blood or showing signs of violence
inaccessible
unable to be reached or entered
invaluable
extremely useful; indispensable
laughable
so ludicrous as to be amusing
nostalgic
feeling, evoking, or characterized by nostalgia
pharmaceutical
of, relating to, or involved in pharmacy or the manufacture and sale of medicinal drugs
provoking
causing annoyance; irritating/giving rise to the specified reaction or emotion
sighted
having the ability to see; not blind
squeamish
easily made to feel sick or disgusted
stationary
not moving or not intended to be moved
tactile
perceptible by touch or apparently so; tangible
undeniable
unable to be denied or disputed
undignified
appearing foolish and unseemly; lacking in dignity
unmanageable
difficult or impossible to manage, manipulate, or control
curiosity
an eager desire to know or learn
dependence on
the situation in which you need something or someone all the time, especially in order to continue existing or operating
dragonfly
a large insect with a long, thin, brightly coloured body and two pairs of transparent wings
drought
a long period when there is little or no rain
empathy
the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation
honeycomb
a wax structure containing many small holes, made by bees to store their honey
hunch
an idea that is based on feeling and for which there is no proof
inflection
a change in or addition to the form of a word that shows a change in the way it is used in sentences
initiative
a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem
inscription
words that are written or cut in something
proponent
a person who speaks publicly in support of a particular idea or plan of action
quest
a long search for something that is difficult to find, or an attempt to achieve something difficult
rivalry
a situation in which people, businesses, etc. compete with each other for the same thing
threshold
the floor of an entrance to a building or room
tile
a thin, usually square or rectangular piece of baked clay, plastic, etc. used for covering roofs, floors, walls
wax
a solid substance containing a lot of fat that becomes soft and melts when warm
abound
to exist in large numbers
backtrack
to go back along a path that you have just followed
compile
to collect information from different places and arrange it in a book, report, or list
outdo
to be, or do something, better than someone else
promote understanding
encourage knowledge about a subject, situation, etc. or about how something works
topple
to (cause to) lose balance and fall down
bypass
to avoid something by going around it
cater for
to provide what is wanted or needed by someone or something
decommissioned
to take equipment or weapons out of use
drive the length of
travel the distance
fall into disrepair
broken or in bad condition
go off track
to lose one’s bearings or course of direction
gravel
small, rounded stones, often mixed with sand, type of path
head for
If you are heading for a bad situation, you are likely to experience it soon, because of your own actions or behaviour
make a diversion
create something that is intended to take someone’s attention away from something that you do not want them to concentrate on or notice
memorabilia
objects that are collected because they are connected with a person or event that is thought to be very interesting
spring up
to start to exist suddenly
stretch
an area of land or water, especially a long one
trading post
a station or store of a trader or trading company established in a thinly settled region where local products (as furs) are exchanged for manufactured goods
circumference
the line surrounding a circular space, or the length of this line
diameter
(the length of) a straight line that reaches from one point on the edge of a round shape or object, through its centre, to a point on the opposite edge
hexagon
a flat shape with six straight sides
miniscule
extremely small
radius
(the length of) a straight line joining the centre of a circle to its edge or the centre of a sphere to its surface
symmetrical
having two parts that match exactly
technological
relating to, or involving, technology
