Session #06 Flashcards
Becoming
(adj): (formal) 1. (of clothes, etc.) making the person wearing them look more attractive = flattering — 2. suitable or appropriate for sb or their situation = fitting ≠ unbecoming — e.g. It was not very becoming behaviour for a teacher
Flattering
(adj): 1. making sb look more attractive 2. saying nice things about sb/sth 3. making sb feel pleased and special — e.g. 1. A flattering dress 2. Flattering remarks 3. I found it flattering that he still recognized me after all these years
Remark
(n): something that you say or write which expresses an opinion, a thought, etc. about sb/sth = comment — e.g. 1. to make a remark. 2. He made a number of rude remarks about the food.
Dubious
(adj) : 1. (of person) not certain and slightly suspicious about sth; not knowing whether sth is good or bad = doubtful 2. Probably not honest = suspicious 3. that you cannot be sure about; that is probably not good
e. g. 1. I was rather dubious about the whole idea 2. They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market
Envisage
(v): to imagine what will happen in the future
e.g. What level of profit do you envisage?
I can’t envisage her copping with this job.
Atrocious
(adj) : 1. very bad or unpleasant = terrible
2. very cruel or shocking
e. g. 1. She speaks French with an atrocious accent.
2. Atrocious acts of brutality.
Sceptical
(adj): having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something will happen
e.g. I am sceptical about his chances of winning.
The public remain sceptical of these claims.
Emblem
(n) : 1. a design or picture that represents a country or an organization
2. something that represents a perfect example or principle
e.g. America’s national emblem, the bald eagle
Tarnish
(v) : 1. if metal tarnishes or sth tarnishes it, it no longer looks bright and shiny
2. to spoil the good opinion people have of sth/sb = taint
e. g. 1. The mirrors had tarnished with age.
2. He hopes to improve the newspaper’s somewhat tarnished public image.
Outreach
(n) : the activity of an organization that provides a service or advice to people in the community; especially those who cannot or are unlikely to come to an office, a hospital, etc. for help
e. g. An outreach and education program.
Desert
(v) : 1. to leave sb without help or support = abandon
2. to stop using, buying or supporting sth
e. g. 1. She was deserted by his husband.
2. Why did you desert teaching for politics?
Mistrust
(n) : a feeling that you cannot trust sb/sth = suspicion
e. g. She has a deep mistrust of strangers.
(v) : to have no confidence in sb/sth because you think they may be harmful; to not trust sb/sth
Slime
(n) : any unpleasant thick liquid substance
e. g. The pond was full of mud and green slime.
Sour
(adj) : (of people) not cheerful; bad-tempered and unpleasant
e. g. A sour face.
Trumpet
(v) : to talk about sth publicly in a proud or enthusiastic way
e. g. To trumpet somebody’s acheivements.
Expose
(v) : 1. to show sth that is usually hidden = reveal
2. to tell the true facts about a person or a situation and show them/it to be immoral, illegal, etc.
e. g. 1. He smiled suddenly, exposing a set of amazingly white teeth.
2. She was exposed as a liar and a fraud.
Controversial
(adj): causing a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement
e. g. 1. A highly controversial topic.
2. A controversial plan to build a new road.
Controversy
(n) : public discussion and agreement about sth that many people strongly disagree about, disapprove of, or are shocked by
e. g. To arouse/cause controversy.
Gristle
(n): a hard substance in meat that is unpleasant to eat
Misconception
(n): a belief or an idea that is not based on correct information, or that is not understood by people
e. g. 1. A popular misconception.
2. Let me deal with common misconception.
Integrity
(n) : the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
e. g. To behave with integrity.
Consultancy
(n): a company that gives expert advice on a particular subject to other companies or organizations
Enhance
(v) : to increase or further improve the good quality, value or status of sth/sb
e. g. This is an opportunity to enhance the reputation of the company.
Mindset
someone’s way of thinking and the general attitudes and opinions they have about something; mentality
Intelligence
secret information about a person, government or country
Cover story
false story someone tells in order to hide the truth
Infiltrate
(v): secretly enter a group or organization in order to spy on it or influence it - infiltrator (n)
Deceptive
(adj): likely to make you believe sth that is not true = misleading
e. g. 1. A deceptive advertisement
2. Appearances can be deceptive.
Defraud
(v): to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them
e. g. 1. All three men were charged with conspiracy to defraud.
2. They were accused of defrauding the company of $14000.
Fraudster
(n): a person who commits fraud - fraudulent (adj)
Retention
(n) : (formal) the action of keeping sth rather than losing it or stopping it
e. g. The company needs to improve it training and retention of staff.
Unwittingly
(adv) : without being aware of what you are doing or of the situation you are envolved in - unwitting (adj)
e. g. She had broken the law unwittingly
Devious
(adj) : 1. behaving in a dishonest or indirect way, or tricking people, in order to get sth = deceitful, underhand
2. a route or path that is not straight but has many changes in direction; not direct
e. g. 1. He got rich by devious means.
2. A devious route from the airport.
Surreptitious
(adj) : done secretly or quickly, in the hope that other people will not notice - surreptitiously (adv)
e. g. She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch
Seabed
solid surface of the Earth that lies under the ocean, at least 1.8 kilometres underwater
Habitat
(n) : the place where a particular type of animal or plant is normally found
e. g. The panda’s natural habitat is the bamboo forest.
Ambitious
(adj) : determined to be successful, rich, powerful, etc.
e. g. A fiercely ambitious young manager.
Utilize
(v) : to use sth, especially for a practical purpose = make use of
e. g. The Romans were the first to utilize concrete as a building material.
Rucksack
(n): a large bag, often supported on a light metal frame, carried on the back and used especially by people who go to climbing or walking = back pack
Contentious
(adj): (formal) likely to cause disagreement between people
e. g. 1. A contentious issue/topic/subject.
2. Both views are highly contentious.
Contradict
(v): to say that sth that sb else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true
e. g. 1. All evening her husband contradicted everything she said.
2. You’ve just contradicted yourself.
Conviction
(n) : 1. the act of finding sb guilty of a crime in court; the fact of having been found guilty
2. a strong opinion or belief
3. the feeling or appearance of believing sth strongly and of being sure about it
e. g. 1. She has six previous convictions for theft.
2. String political/moral conviction.
3. The leader’s speech in defence of the policy didn’t carry much conviction.
Refugee
(n) : a person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is war or for political , religious or social reasons
e. g. A steady flow of refugees from the war zone.
Viable
(adj) : that can be done; that will be successful = feasible
e. g. A viable option/proposition.
Beanie
(n): a small close-fitting hat worn on the back of the head
Comprehend
(v) : (formal) to understand sth fully
e. g. The infinite distance of space are too great for the human mind to comprehend.
Patron
(n) : 1. a person who gives money and support to artists and writers
2. a famous person who supports an organization such as a charity and whose name is used in the advertisement s, etc. for the organization
3. (formal) a person who uses a particular shop/store, restaurant, etc.
e.g. 3. Patrons are requested not to smoke.
Converge
(v): if ideas, policies, aims, etc. converge, they become very similar or the same ≠ diverge
Defy
(v) : 1. to refuse to obey or show respect for sb in authority, a law, a rule, etc.
2. to be impossible or almost impossible to believe, explain, describe, etc.
3. to successfully resist sth to a very unusual degree
e. g. 1. I wouldn’t dared to defy my teachers.
2. A political move that defies explanation.
3. The baby boy defied all the odds and survived.
Venomous
(adj) : 1. (of a snake, etc.) producing venom
2. (formal) full of bitter feeling or hatred
e.g. 2. A venomous look.
Raid
(n) : 1. a surprise visit by the police looking for criminals or for illegal goods or drugs
2. an attack on a building, etc. in order to commit a crime
e. g. 1. They were arrested during a draw raid
2. An armed bank raid.
Raid
(v) : 1. (of police) to visit a person or place without warning to look for criminals, illegal goods, drugs, etc.
2. to enter a place, usually using force, and steal from it = plunder, ransack
e.g. 2. May treasures were lost when the tombs were raided in the last century.
Domonic
(adj) : connected with, or like, a demon
e. g. A demonic appearance.
Repulsive
(adj): causing a feeling of strong dislike; very unpleasant = disgusting
Torment
(n) : (formal) extreme suffering, especially mental suffering; a person or thing that causes this = anguish
e. g. She suffered years of mental torment after her son’s death.
(v) : (formal) 1. to make sb suffer very much = plague
2. to annoy a person or an animal in a cruel way because you think it is amusing = torture
e.g. 1. He was tormented by feeling of insecurity.
Jockey
(n): a person who rides horses in races, especially as a job
Pollinate
(v) : to put pollen into a flower or plant so that is produces seeds
e. g. Flowers pollinated by bees/the wind.
Relent
(v): to finally agree to sth after refusing = give in
Venial
(adj): (formal)(of a sin or mistake) not very serious and therefore able to be forgiven
