Skunk Works Flashcards
Ragtag
(Adj) untidy, disorganized, or incongruously varied in character.
(Noun) a disreputable or disorganized group of people.
Crunch (informal)
a crucial point or situation, typically one at which a decision with important consequences must be made.
“The real crunch was building a reliable engine for flying at the top of the statosphere and …”
Clobber
hit (someone) hard
“ … after a driver ran a red light in Enrico and clobbered him.”
Scout
(Verb) make a search for someone or something in various places.
“I was sent to scout around for a place to park the camper”
“He took off on his scouting expedition…”(from book)
a soldier or other person sent out ahead of a main force so as to gather information about the enemy’s position, strength, or movements.
“forward scouts reported that the enemy were massing at two points ahead”
grimace
an ugly, twisted expression on a person’s face, typically expressing disgust, pain, or wry amusement
“I found thirty items to improve” he told Dick Boehme with a grimace
contempt
the feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.
“Pam stared at the girl with total contempt”
scoff
speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.
“Patrick professed to scoff at soppy love scenes in films”
scorn
a feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for someone or something.
“I do not wish to become the object of scorn”
incredulously
adverb
in a manner indicating disbelief
“I expected to be received as a hero for having uncovered a soviet nuclear test site with a bomb in the tower. Instead the team who debriefed me scoffed incredulously.” (Book)
Sag
verb
sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength.
“…the morale among the pilots was sagging”
livid
adjective
furiously angry
“The agency was livid at Powers for not dying in the hit or taking his own life, even though using the poison needle that had replaced the cyanide pill in a pilot’s kit was entirely optional”
