red Flashcards
bankroll
support financially; provide the money for
a nuisance
something which is annoying
the authorities are simply trying [to get at]the artist any way they can.
to criticise
salvage
(船隻, 貨物等的) 援救, 搶救
infiltrator
a person who secretly becomes part of a group in order to get information about that group
espionage
spying; the work of trying to learn the secrets of one country to pass on to another
desecrating
damaging and showing no respect for
villains
the bad people in stories
sortie
mission
revellers
people celebrating and having fun in a noisy way
Mum’s bought Granddad a smartphone for Christmas. To be honest, I think he’s a bit [over the hill] for new technology like that.
old and unable to do something.
I haven’t planned anything just yet, but I do [have a few irons in the fire] that will keep me busy across the fortnight.
to have a few different projects or potential ideas going on at the same time.
ironmonger
五金商
flagship
most important
snapped up
bought in large numbers very quickly
Milaneses have been [basking in glorious sunshine] and temperatures well above the seasonal average.
享受, 沉浸於..; 曬太陽
statutory
法定的
perennial
continuous
pathogens
small organisms that cause diseases
ferret
long-bodied furry mammal 白鼬, 雪貂
lagoon
鹹水湖; 潟湖; 沼, 池
timbre
quality of a sound(originated from French)
reverberates
echoes back
a levy
a tax
mooring
the place where a boat is secured, or moored
bulldozers
推土機;恐嚇者
Esperanto
a universal language that was created to make it easy for everyone to learn to speak in the same way
the commuter sprawl
the large and growing suburbs of a city from which people travel to work
lowbrow tone
feeling which is not intelligent or sophisticated
to go bust
to go bankrupt, to have no money to pay debts
to shore them up
to support them
The authorities regularly [get themselves worked up about] TV shows. They’ve just [taken a channel off air] for a whole month for showing a programme that had a negative impact on society.
become upset; stop a TV station from broadcasting
gladiators
professional fighters in ancient Rome
in droves
in large numbers
circumvent
avoid, get past
shirking
avoiding
sham
phoney(fake or false)=bogus=not genuine
vicars
(英國國教)教區牧師; (天主教)教皇代理人
cornucopia
(old)a horn full of food and drink; (new)large, varied and magnificent collection
If you want to succeed in your new job, you’ll need to [hit the ground running], from day one.
to immediately work very hard on it to make it successful
lease
租約, 租約的期限, 租約下的財物; a new lease of life – a new, positive stage in your life
pastor
牧師, 牧人; 粉紅椋鳥
bereavement
死別; 喪親
banal
something that is very ordinary and not interesting
sucker
someone easily fooled or tricked into doing something
straits
(常用複數) 貧窮; 窮困; 困難
burrow
洞穴
flank
防守側面; 位於…之側
retribution
severe punishment for involvement in serious crimes
pretentious
trying to appear to be important or special in order to impress other people
equinox
date when day is the same length as the night
solstice
when the sun is at the highest or lowest position relative to the equator
a glut of
an excessive amount
illegible scrawl
unreadable writing
ambidextrous
of the ability to use both hands with equal skill
tally
number
windfall
unexpected gain
sac
(動植物)囊; 袋
twig
細樹枝;(主英)察覺,注意;潮流
genus
scientific term for a group of animals with the same characteristics
decoys
something made to look like something else as a form of protection or as trap
appendages
附屬物
rather/well chuffed
to be pleased with life
agoraphobia
曠野恐懼症
arachnophobia
arachnoid 蜘蛛網的
wistfully
sadly
hitherto
up to now
wormed her way into
seduced (scheming woman who wormed her way into the affections of Britain’s future king.)
be festered
become worse because they have not been dealt with
heaving
very busy
to beef up
to become big and strong
weedy
weak
breadth
寬度
revellers
people celebrating and having fun in a noisy way
imminent
即將發生的; 逼近的
standoff
a situation in which agreement does not seem possible
shrouded in secrecy
with very little information about it made public (shroud: partly hidden or covered)
reprimand
official statement of disapproval of someone’s actions (譴責,懲戒)
carefully choreographed piece of window dressing
an opportunity for propaganda which has been arranged so that on the surface it looks like progress is being made but in reality nothing is changing
sporadic
irregular, happening in different places but not everywhere (零星的)
looters
people who steal things from shops and houses during a riot
poignant
causing a strong emotional feeling
tended by
looked after by
inmate
prisoner
to cash in on
to take advantage of a connection or association with a person or event, often for financial gain
to stall
to stop flying forward and begin to lose height because there is not enough speed for the wings to keep the plane in the air
schadenfreude
a good feeling when something bad happens to someone else
compatriots
people of the same nationality
to gloat
to feel or show pleasure at someone else’s bad luck
perpetrators
people who commit crimes
cockpit
駕駛座, 鬥雞場
instalment
deciphering: discovering the meaning (of something)
starchiness: carbohydrate content
one of a series, the finale of: the last in a series
deciphering
discovering the meaning (of something)
starch
澱粉; 拘泥, 生硬; 剛毅, 魄力
to trek
to make a slow and difficult journey
trickle
tiny flow of liquid
ravines
very narrow valleys
citadel
fortress
frugal
careful with spending
embroiled in
involved with something difficult or complicated
to cement
to make a relationship stronger
reminiscent of
bringing back memories of
racketeers
people who make money from illegal activities
fuelled unrest
increased an uneasy or troubled situation
a grimace
a twisted facial expression that shows distaste or disgust
numismatist
a collector and student of coins
a nuisance
something that causes annoyance or inconvenience
stipend
津貼
partisan
堅決支持者
rehabilitation
process of recovery
shard
(陶瓷) 碎片
extravagance
鋪張浪費; 放肆的言行
ethos
values or belief
frugal
more economical (in relation to money)
convoluted
complicated
abattoirs
buildings where animals are killed for their meat
excrement
solid human bodily waste
muck
solid animal waste, dirt
grenade
手榴彈
diaspora
communities of a particular nationality who no longer live in their home country
antiseptic
substance used to kill bacteria and prevent illness
derogatory
offensive and not showing respect
cub
幼獸, 不懂規矩的年輕人
bijou
small and elegant (in French this means ‘jewel’)
panoramic
a good view of the surrounding area
lurking
hiding and waiting to do something bad
clambered out
climbed out
contortionist
person who can bend parts of their body into awkward positions, sometimes with the aim of fitting into a very small space
terse
short and angry
impunity
protection from punishment
syndicate
(黑社會)企業組織
spiked
drugged
relegated
here, moved down from one football league to the one below it
spindle
a thin, wooden rod around which something turns (the spindles of her limbs hand-turned and glossvarnished)
emotional incontinence
inability to control one’s emotions
scant
mere, barely (a scant generation ago)
shop-window mannequin
a life-sized doll used to display clothes in shop windows
exorbitant
extremely high
rogue
unconventional, not normal
evict
force someone to leave somewhere
cremated
burned as part of a funeral ceremony (of a dead person’s body)
grizzled
having grey hair and looking old
jargon
words that are specific to a particular group of people or topic
legions of
large numbers of
the last bastion
the final supporter, the last safe place
overtones
suggested qualities or characteristics, which are not displayed openly
in relays
in teams, each person ran part of the distance
austere
severe or strict
intercept
攔阻
forensic
法庭的, 法醫的; 辯論的
welts
area of raised skin, red in colour, sometimes caused by an insect bite
to spar
to fight or argue in a gentle, playful and unaggressive way
gridlock
a situation where there are so many vehicles on the road that none of them can move
a maelstrom
a situation that is confusing and chaotic
gas-guzzling
using a lot of fuel
hefty
large
grandeur
(nature) impressive beauty
a precursor to
something which happens before something else and is connected to or related to that later event
wide swathes
large parts…eg.wide swathes of Japanese industry are working at well below full capacity due to power shortages
to scour
to search thoroughly (along)
crusader
改革社運人士
an archer
someone who fires arrows with a bow (Example: Robin Hood is famous for being an expert archer.)
comrade; comradeship
友情, 友誼
salutes
致意, 致敬; 行禮
initiative
a project designed to achieve something or solve a problem
audacious
showing extreme confidence and willingness to take risks and offend people
steely determination
refusing to stop trying to do something, even though it is very difficult
belligerent
always unfriendly and wanting to argue
velvety
smooth and soft like the the material velvet
globules
small balls of liquid
scaffold
structure that helps something to keep its shape
dented
here, damaged – they clearly have dented the Libyan government forces’ morale
the coalition countries
the foreign nations (including the UK and France) whose armies are fighting together in Libya; coalition: union or combination (of political groups or parties)
brunt
force
staving off
preventing or avoiding
lapses
small mistakes or failures
lapses
small mistakes or failures
levelled
made against them
pseudonyms
names which are different to your own, used to hide your real name
foiled
prevented or stopped (something) from happening
shoal
large group of fish, swimming together
parasites
plants or animals that live in or on other plants or animals and feed on them
tawny
yellowish-brown
a camouflage advantage
a better disguise or way of hiding
plumage
feather
endowed with
supplied with
pitted… against
matched with or set up to compete against (the programme’s producers pitted two of their most successful contestants ever against a computer.)
nuances in language
slight differences in what certain words or phrases mean
clout
power and influence
political constituency
here, group of people who are politically active and like to have their opinions heard by government
mired: caught up (the economy is mired in deflation.)
subsidise
pay money for the benefit of (they will subsidise the less well-off.)
repatriate
sent back to their own countries
dupe
trick
ambivalence
conflicting approach (Indeed Egypt’s importance explains the fundamental ambivalence in US policy; the advocacy of democratic change often)
advocacy of
public support for
be flanked (by)
accompanied on his left and right sides (by)
perilous
very dangerous (embarking on ever more perilous long-distance journeys.)
standing ovation
a period of clapping from an audience on their feet (The actress received a round of applause and a standing ovation)
punters
members of the public or customers
lethargic
lacking in energy
anorak
coat that protects the wearer against rainy weather
fads
activities or items which are very popular for a brief period of time
scrap heap
a pile of discarded metal or rubbish
heralded
a sign that something positive is about to happen (The experiment heralded a new era)
egalitarian
belief that people have the same importance and should have the same rights and opportunities. (keep the egalitarian spirit of the web intact and the medium free to use.)
moratorium
stopping an activity for an agreed amount of time
snobbery
behaviour and attitudes held by snobs (people who think they are better than others)
an obituary
here, a notice letting people know how polar bears in this area lived and died. (would be published if they died)
defunct
not operating or in business any more
outset
beginning
tussle
fight or competition
candid
honest or very revealing
uncensored
Not examined, or given a rating for inclusion of improper or inappropriate material
haemorrhage of information
sudden or rapid release of a large amount of data
untimely
inappropriate or unfortunate in its timing (President’s untimely assertion that …)
plenary session
the opening meeting (plenary: 完全的, 充分的; 全體出席的)
hammock
a swinging bed made of cloth or rope
stoic
calm, 冷靜的, 麻木的
to scamper
to run with quick short steps
barricades
structures which stop movement through an area or a road
lacklustre
uninspiring or jaded. (despite a lacklustre campaign.)
neutralised
stopped or prevented from exploding
presiding over
leading or managing (who is presiding over the initiative…)
entente
agreement or alliance
envisages
works on the assumption of
havoc
chaos and confusion
havoc
chaos and confusion
stiletto heels
shoes with high, narrow and pointed heels
lot
object being sold in auction (the bidding was brisk for lot 358 – item 358)
facade
front of the building
bunker
underground shelter with strong walls to protect the people inside it from bullets or bombs
imminent
forthcoming or about to happen
scuppered
wrecked or spoiled (the eleventh hour resignation of top editors has scuppered Wednesday’s launch.)
rift (between)
breakdown in the relationship between two people
indictments
formal statements accusing someone of something wrong
phantom
unreal
mirage
something that you think you can see but doesn’t exist
racketeering
acquiring money by illegal means
gaping ecological void
very wide ecological area of empty space (void: empty space)
gorge
a deep, narrow valley
torso
the main part of the body, not including the head, arms or legs
referendum
vote by the people of a country on an important issue, in this case, to change the constitution
predicament
difficult situation
waging
starting and continuing a fight (wage a campaign)
insolvent
not having enough money to pay debts (bankrupt)
synesthesia
the name we give a neurological condition where two or more senses (sight, sound, smell, taste or touch) are mixed up or confused
supple
easy to bend, not stiff
protocol
accepted way of behaving at official occasions
convened
organised an official meeting (of)
lenient
not as strict as expected
atrocities
terrible, cruel and violent acts, often associated with wars
vociferous
spoken with great energy and determination, expressing views loudly and many times
contentious
causing disagreements or arguments
palaeontologists
scientists who study fossils
lurch
unexpected movement
surreal
very strange, weird, bizarre
tourniquet
a strip of cloth which is tied tightly round an injured limb, i.e. arm or leg, to stop it bleeding
tenements
large buildings divided into apartments, usually in a poor area of the city
sabotage
intentionally to stop something happening; 阻礙, 破壞, 推翻, 顛覆
a torpedo
an explosive weapon that travels underwater and is used to attack ships
pagan
異教徒, 無教徒
wrath
報復,殘酷 (invoke enough divine wrath: make God or a god very angry)
desecrated
褻瀆 (the graves are being desecrated: the places where dead bodies are put are being not treated properly or with enough respect)
ephemeral
lasting only for a short time (ephemeral art)
intrepid
very brave, showing no signs of fear
a swashbuckler
a person who behaves in a brave and exciting way
decree
official statement that something must happen
pungent
strong, powerful and very distinctive
a bonanza
a large amount of something good
a shrewd bet
a clever investment
expats
people who currently live in other countries; ‘expats’ is short for ‘expatriates’
emaciated
thin and weak because of extreme hunger or illness
