Second Half ENGLISH Flashcards
When you think your game is strong
It sounds like you’re talking about a situation where someone is confident in their skills, charm, or abilities—whether in dating, sports, business, or any competitive setting.
If you mean it in a positive way:
• “When you think your game is strong, but it actually is!” (You’re confident and backing it up.)
• “When you know your game is strong, and it shows.”
If you mean it in a humorous or ironic way (like when someone overestimates themselves):
• “When you think your game is strong… but reality hits different.”
• “When you think your game is strong, but they hit you with ‘Thanks, bro.’”
• “When you think your game is strong, but she calls you ‘cute like a little brother.’”
What kind of vibe are you going for?
Badger
/ˈbædʒə $ -ər/ noun [COUNTABLE]
[date : 1500-1600; Origin : Probably from badge; because of the white marks on its head]
an animal that has black and white fur, lives in holes in the ground, and is active at night
II. badger2 verb [TRANSITIVE]
to try to persuade someone by asking them something several times SYN pester:
▪ She badgered me for weeks until I finally gave in.
badger somebody to do something
▪ My friends keep badgering me to get a cell phone.
badger somebody into doing something
▪ I had to badger the kids into doing their homework
Hawker
/ˈhɔːkə $ ˈhɒːkər/ noun [COUNTABLE]
[date : 1500-1600; Language : Low German; Origin : höker, from Middle Low German hoken ‘to go around selling things’]
someone who carries goods from place to place and tries to sell them
Erudite
/ˈerədaɪt, ˈerʊdaɪt/ adjective
[date : 1400-1500; Language : Latin; Origin : past participle of erudire ‘to give instruction to’, from rudis ‘rude, uneducated’]
showing a lot of knowledge based on careful study SYN learned
—eruditely adverb
—erudition /ˌerəˈdɪʃən, ˌerʊˈdɪʃən/ noun
Do you wanna blow out of here?
Do you wanna blow out of here?” is an informal, slang way of asking, “Do you want to leave this place quickly?” It implies a desire to get out immediately, often because the current situation isn’t appealing or is over.
Similar expressions include:
• “Do you wanna bounce?”
• “Do you wanna split?”
• “Do you wanna jet out of here?”
The choice of words can add a sense of urgency or a casual tone to the invitation to leave
Always was a beauty, your girl. meaning &grammar structure
This sentence is an informal, elliptical way of saying, “Your girl was always a beauty.” Here’s a breakdown of its meaning and structure:
Meaning:
• “Always was a beauty”: This means that the person being talked about has always been attractive.
• “Your girl”: In informal speech, this typically refers to “your girlfriend” or “the girl associated with you.”
So, the overall meaning is a compliment: “Your girlfriend has always been beautiful.”
Grammar Structure:
1. Ellipsis/Subject Omission:
• The sentence omits the subject (“she”) for a more casual, conversational tone. In full form, it might be “She always was a beauty” or “She was always a beauty.”
2. Adverb Placement:
• “Always” is placed at the beginning to emphasize the timeless nature of her beauty.
3. Appositive Phrase:
• “Your girl” is added at the end, effectively clarifying or specifying who is being complimented. It acts as an appositive that restates or identifies the subject, even though the subject was dropped in the first clause.
4. Informal Tone:
• The phrasing is very conversational and might be found in spoken language or casual writing, often used for effect or emphasis in a relaxed context.
Overall, while the grammar is non-standard and highly informal, it effectively conveys a compliment with a casual, conversational style.
Heck of a shame
“Heck of a shame” is an informal way of saying “It’s a real shame” or “It’s very unfortunate.”
Breakdown of the Phrase:
1. “Heck of a” → A softened, informal version of “hell of a”, used for emphasis. It means “a lot of” or “very.”
2. “Shame” → Means something unfortunate, regrettable, or disappointing.
Meaning & Usage:
• “That’s a heck of a shame.” → That’s very unfortunate.
• “It’d be a heck of a shame if we missed the show.” → It would be really unfortunate if we missed it.
This phrase is typically used in casual conversation when expressing mild disappointment or sympathy.
Bender
ˈbendə $ -ər/ noun [COUNTABLE] informal
1. a time when people drink a lot of alcohol or take a lot of drugs:
▪ The whole team went on a bender and were arrested.
- British English taboo a very offensive word for a man who is attracted to other men. Do not use this word. SYN homosexual
We are knee-deep in layoffs
“We are knee-deep in layoffs” means that layoffs are happening in large numbers and are deeply affecting the company or workplace.
Breakdown of the Phrase:
• “Knee-deep” → A metaphor meaning heavily involved in or overwhelmed by something.
• “Layoffs” → Job terminations, often due to financial struggles or restructuring.
Similar Expressions:
• “We are drowning in layoffs.” → Emphasizing being overwhelmed.
• “Layoffs are hitting us hard.” → Stresses the negative impact.
• “The company is going through massive layoffs.” → More neutral/formal.
It’s often used in a negative or urgent tone to express concern about widespread job cuts.
We can take any crap they dish out
“We can take any crap they dish out” means we can handle any nonsense, criticism, or difficulties that they throw at us.
Breakdown of the Phrase:
• “Take any crap” → Endure or tolerate any unfair treatment, criticism, or hardship.
• “They dish out” → “Dish out” is a phrasal verb meaning to give out, often in large amounts or harshly (e.g., insults, criticism, punishment).
Similar Expressions:
• “We can handle whatever they throw at us.”
• “We won’t let their nonsense get to us.”
• “We can endure anything they put us through.”
It’s often used in a resilient, defiant, or tough-minded way, suggesting confidence in facing challenges or opposition.
Whatnot
“Whatnot” is an informal word meaning “and other similar things” or “etc.” It’s used when listing things but implying there are more items or details that don’t need to be specified.
Usage & Meaning:
1. As a synonym for “etc.” or “and so on”:
• “We need plates, cups, napkins, and whatnot for the party.” (Implying other related items)
• “He’s into hiking, biking, camping, and whatnot.” (Other outdoor activities)
2. To refer to miscellaneous things in a vague way:
• “She had books, papers, and all sorts of whatnot on her desk.”
3. (Less common) As a noun for a type of furniture:
• A “whatnot” was historically a small stand or shelf for displaying trinkets.
Similar Expressions:
• “And stuff like that.”
• “And things of that nature.”
• “And all that jazz.” (More playful)
It’s a casual, conversational word often used when you don’t want to list everything explicitly.
Misconstrue
ˌmɪskənˈstruː/ verb [transitive] formal
to misunderstand something that someone has said or done SYN misinterpret:
His behaviour could easily be misconstrued
موقعي كه ميخوايم بگيم اعتراض وارده يا وارد نيست در دادگاه
- “The objection is overruled” (اعتراض رد میشود)
- “The objection is sustained” (اعتراض تایید میشود)
Be a blip on the radar
“Be a blip on the radar” is an expression that means to be a brief or insignificant occurrence that doesn’t have much lasting impact or attention. It refers to something that briefly appears and then disappears, like a small, fleeting signal on a radar screen.
Meaning & Usage:
• In a literal sense: It can refer to something momentarily appearing on a radar, like a plane or object briefly showing up before fading away.
• Figuratively: It describes something that is short-lived or minor in the grand scheme of things.
Examples:
• “That small project was just a blip on the radar in the company’s long history.” (It was a minor event, not important in the larger context.)
• “His brief moment of fame was just a blip on the radar.” (His fame didn’t last long or have much significance.)
It’s often used to suggest that something wasn’t very impactful or memorable in the long term.
Welfare mother
The term “welfare mother” generally refers to a woman who receives financial assistance from the government, typically through welfare programs, to support her children and family. Welfare programs are designed to help individuals who are struggling financially due to factors such as unemployment, low income, or disability.
Context and Connotations:
• In some contexts, “welfare mother” is used in a neutral sense, simply describing a mother who depends on public assistance.
• However, the term can sometimes carry negative or stigmatizing connotations, particularly when used to suggest that a person is relying on government support for an extended period rather than seeking employment or financial independence. This can reinforce stereotypes about poverty or dependency.
Example:
• “She’s a welfare mother, raising her children with the help of government assistance.”
The term should be used carefully to avoid reinforcing any negative stereotypes about people who rely on social welfare systems.
Sordid
/ˈsɔːdəd, ˈsɔːdɪd $ ˈsɔːr-/ adjective
[date : 1500-1600; Language : Latin; Origin : sordidus, from sordes ‘dirt’]
1. involving immoral or dishonest behaviour
sordid business/affair/story etc
▪ The whole sordid affair came out in the press.
▪ She discovered the truth about his sordid past.
▪ I want to hear all the sordid details!
- very dirty and unpleasant SYN squalid:
▪ a sordid little room
Wedlock
/ˈwedlɒk $ -lɑːk/ noun [UNCOUNTABLE] old use
[Language : Old English; Origin : wedlac, from wedd ‘something given to show that a promise will be kept’ + -lac ‘actions, activity’]
1. born out of wedlock
if a child is born out of wedlock, its parents are not married when it is born
- the state of being married
Maniacal
/məˈnaɪəkəl/ adjective
behaving as if you are crazy
—maniacally /-kli/ adverb
Khomeini was a maniacal fanatic
خميني يك ديوانه متعصب بود
Poltergeist
ˈpɒltəɡaɪst $ ˈpoʊltər-/ noun [COUNTABLE]
[date : 1800-1900; Language : German; Origin : poltern ‘to knock’ + geist ‘spirit’]
a ghost that makes objects move around and causes strange noises
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ghost the spirit of a dead person that some people think they can feel or see in a place :
▪ His ghost is believed to haunt the house.
▪spirit a creature without a physical body, such as an angel or ghost :
▪ evil spirits
▪ the spirit world
▪apparition an image of a dead person that someone sees suddenly for a short time :
▪ He claimed to have seen an apparition in the church.
▪poltergeist a ghost that people cannot see, which throws things or moves things around :
▪ The house was haunted by a poltergeist that makes things move around all by themselves, sometimes quite big things like beds or wardrobes.
▪spook informal a ghost :
▪ I’m not scared of spooks.
▪phantom literary a frightening and unclear image of a dead person :
▪ They had seen phantoms gliding on the surface of the water.
▪spectre British English, specter American English literary a ghost, especially a frightening one :
▪ She had looked like a spectre.
▪ The following night, the spectre appeared again
Downright
ˈdaʊnraɪt/ adverb [+ ADJECTIVE/ADVERB]
used to emphasize that something is completely bad or untrue:
▪ Jed’s downright lazy.
▪ It’s downright disgusting!
—downright adjective [ONLY BEFORE NOUN]:
▪ That’s a downright lie!
Cabana
kəˈbɑːnə $ -ˈbæ-/ noun [COUNTABLE]
[date : 1800-1900; Language : Spanish; Origin : cabaña ‘small wooden building’, from Medieval Latin capanna; ⇨ cabin]
a tent or small wooden structure used for changing clothes at a beach or pool
Chow
/tʃaʊ/ noun
Sense 1: [date : 1700-1800; Origin : Perhaps from Mandarin Chinese jiao ‘meat dumpling’]
Sense 2: [date : 1800-1900; Origin : Perhaps from Cantonese kau ‘dog’]
1. [UNCOUNTABLE]
old-fashioned informal food:
▪ I ordered some chow and sat down.
- [COUNTABLE]
(also ˈchow chow) a type of dog with long thick fur that first came from China
II. chow2 verb
chow down phrasal verb American English informal
to eat:
▪ She had to chow down with the others in the cafeteria
Despicable
/dɪˈspɪkəbəl, ˈdespɪ-/ adjective
[date : 1500-1600; Language : Late Latin; Origin : despicabilis, from Latin despicari ‘to look down on’]
extremely bad, immoral, or cruel:
▪ It’s despicable the way he treats those kids.
▪ a despicable act of terrorism
▪ a despicable crime
—despicably adverb
to never cease to amaze someone
if something never ceases to amaze someone, this means that this person is always amazed by it. This expression’s a bit formal, but we do still use it in everyday conversations:
Her determination and persistence in the face of difficulty never cease to amaze me