SO Book 7/8 Flashcards
consult verb
BrE /kənˈsʌlt/ ; NAmE /kənˈsʌlt/
2) [transitive, intransitive] to discuss something with somebody to get their permission for something, or to help you make a decision
ex) I got really upset because he didn’t even ask me. He just agreed to take it over without consulting me.
fly off the handle
(informal) to suddenly become very angry
ex) I flew off the handle and told him I would go away for the weekend and he could handle the whole thing himself.
He seems to fly off the handle about the slightest thing these days.
get (one’s) hackles up | make somebody’s hackles rise | raise somebody’s hackles
to make somebody angry
ex) Why do so many people assume that all single people are lonely? This really gets my hackles up.
Her controversial article is bound to raise hackles.
wouldn’t have it any other way
used to say that you would not want a situation to be different, even though it has problems connected with it
ex) I have been unmarried all my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s never going to be easy having kids but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
account (to sb) for sth
to explain the reason for something or the cause of something
ex) Married people must account to one another for every living minute.
Can you account for your absence last Friday?
She was unable to account for over $5,000 (= she could not explain where the money was).
He has to account to his manager for (= tell his manager about and explain) all his movements.
serene adjective
BrE /səˈriːn/ ; NAmE /səˈriːn/
calm and peaceful
ex) I enjoy coming home at night to a quiet serene house where I can relax.
a lake, still and serene in the sunlight
of your choice
that you choose yourself
ex) First prize will be a meal for two at the restaurant of your choice.
If I want company, I have plenty of neighbors and friends. But it’s my choice.
skirt-chas·er noun
ˈskərtˌCHāsər/ informal
a man who pursues women amorously and is casual in his affections; a womanizer.
ex) I know married women who are lonely as hell, not to mention the ones who are stuck with alcoholics, gamblers, skirt chasers and sex maniacs.
stomp verb
BrE /stɒmp/ ; NAmE /stɑːmp/ , /stɔːmp/
[intransitive] + adv./prep. (informal) to walk, dance, or move with heavy steps
ex) The dance and percussion group STOMP has taken everyday objects and turned them into instruments.
She stomped angrily out of the office.
The children were stomping around noisily.
I could hear my mother stomping around in the other room.
She stomped angrily up the stairs.
enticing adjective
BrE /ɪnˈtaɪsɪŋ/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈtaɪsɪŋ/
something that is enticing is so attractive and interesting that you want to have it or know more about it
ex) The performers have to be extra creative and enticing to be able to capture the attention of people who are walking by.
The offer was too enticing to refuse.
An enticing smell came from the kitchen.
The idea of two weeks in the sun sounds very enticing.
count your blessings
to be grateful for the good things in your life
ex) I’m puzzled as to why so many single women think they are losing so much. Maybe it’s because people have a tendency to long for what they don’t have instead of counting their blessings.
loan verb
BrE /ləʊn/ ; NAmE /loʊn/
1) (especially North American English) to lend something to somebody, especially money
ex) Some time ago, I loaned $1,000 to a couple I considered to be my closest friends.
excess adjective
BrE /ˈekses/ ; NAmE /ˈekses/ [only before noun] in addition to an amount that is necessary, usual or legal
ex) I didn’t have much excess cash sitting around, but I offered them my income tax refund because I knew they were desperate.
Excess food is stored as fat.
Driving with excess alcohol in the blood is a serious offence.
The book is hard to obtain, because of excess demand following the author’s appearance on TV.
sit around
sit around something to spend time doing nothing
ex) I didn’t have much excess cash sitting around, but I offered them my income tax refund because I knew they were desperate.
Are we going to sit around all night, or shall we go out?
Since Dad lost his job he just sits around the house all day.
come and go
1) to arrive and leave; to move freely
ex) They had a party next door—we heard people coming and going all night.
2) to be present for a short time and then go away
ex) They promised to pay me back within 90 days. The due date came and went.
The pain in my leg comes and goes.
brusquely adverb
BrE /ˈbruːskli/ , /ˈbrʊskli/ ; NAmE /ˈbrʌskli/
using very few words and sounding rude
synonym abruptly (2), curtly
ex) When I phoned to say I really needed the $1,000, I was informed rather brusquely that they would give me the money when they could.
short of (doing) something
without something; without doing something; unless something happens
ex) Short of legal action, I don’t know what else to do to get my money back and still retain our friendship.
Short of a miracle, we’re certain to lose.
Short of asking her to leave (= and we don’t want to do that) there’s not a lot we can do about the situation.
retain verb
BrE /rɪˈteɪn/ ; NAmE /rɪˈteɪn/ (rather formal)
1) to keep someone or something
ex) Short of legal action, I don’t know what else to do to get my money back and still retain our friendship.
These plans encourage the elderly to retain their independence.
We’re trying to recruit and retain skilled staff.
The US expects to retain control over the operation.
mid-morning adjective
[before noun] UK /ˌmɪdˈmɔː.nɪŋ/ US /ˌmɪdˈmɔːr.nɪŋ/
in the middle of the morning
ex) If they looked up State Street to the right, they could see several skyscrapers with shiny windows that glittered like jewels in the midmorning sun.
tangle noun
BrE /ˈtæŋɡl/ ; NAmE /ˈtæŋɡl/
1) a twisted mass of threads, hair, etc. that cannot be easily separated
ex) a tangle of branches
Her hair was a mass of tangles.
2) a state of confusion or lack of order
ex) Straight below them was a tangle of traffic that seemed to stretch as far as they could see.
as far as the eye can/could see
for a long distance until something is so far away and small it cannot be seen any more
ex) Straight below them was a tangle of traffic that seemed to stretch as far as they could see.
cookout noun
BrE /ˈkʊkaʊt/ ; NAmE /ˈkʊkaʊt/ (North American English, informal)
a meal or party when food is cooked over an open fire outdoors, for example at a beach
ex) What if we wanted to have a cook-out like we used to do in our backyard?
bustle noun
BrE /ˈbʌsl/ ; NAmE /ˈbʌsl/
1) [uncountable] busy and noisy activity
ex) They walked past the skyscrapers with shiny windows, the tangle of traffic, and the bustle of people in business suits.
the hustle and bustle of city life
For once the river was quiet, without its usual bustle of barges and river traffic.
waddle verb
BrE /ˈwɒdl/ ; NAmE /ˈwɑːdl/
[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to walk with short steps, swinging from side to side, like a duck
ex) A girl on a bicycle stopped to let two ducks waddle past her.
A short plump man came waddling towards me.
make your way (to/towards something)
to move or get somewhere; to make progress
ex) As Fiora, Nora, and Mom made their way toward the pond, Mom smiled and said, “What do you think, girls?”
Will you be able to make your own way to the airport (= get there without help, a ride, etc.)?
Is this your plan for making your way in the world?
sure-fire adjective
BrE ; NAmE only before noun
certain to be successful or to happen as you expect
ex) My husband and I put our life savings into a sure-fire business venture.
a sure-fire success
Bad behaviour is a sure-fire way of getting people’s attention.
put something↔in
6) (also put something into something)
to spend a lot of time or make a lot of effort doing something
ex) My husband and I both put in 12-14-hour days, and we worked like slaves.
She often puts in twelve hours’ work a day.
put something into doing something He’s putting a lot of work into improving his French.
buy somebody↔out
1) to pay somebody for their share in a business, usually in order to get total control of it for yourself; BUSINESS to pay money to your business partner so that you can control all of a business you previously owned together
ex) So, the man who talked us into the business offered to buy us out for 10 cents on the dollar.
The other directors have offered to buy me out.
make/lose money hand over fist
to make/lose money very fast and in large quantities
ex) Today, that man is running the plant himself and making money hand over fist.
ulcer noun
BrE /ˈʌlsə(r)/ ; NAmE /ˈʌlsər/
a sore area on the outside of the body or on the surface of an organ inside the body which is painful and may bleed or produce a poisonous substance 궤양
ex) In the aftermath, my husband has developed high blood pressure and ulcers.
a stomach ulcer
There is a family history of gastric ulcer disease.
a mouth ulcer
dry out | dry something↔out
to become or to allow something to become dry, in a way that is not wanted
ex) Rooftop gardens can dry out quickly in the summer sun, and vegetables need frequent watering.
Water the plant regularly, never letting the soil dry out.
Hot sun and cold winds can soon dry out your skin.
save on something
1) save on something to spend less money on something than you would normally
ex) However, they may save a company on heating and cooling bills in the future.
Using eco-friendly light bulbs will help you save on electricity bills.
2) to avoid using something, or to use less of it
ex) Keep your showers short to save on water.
(the) word is/gets out
a piece of news is known, especially if it was secret or if it will cause changes
ex) Many people do not know about rooftop gardens and how good they can be for the environment. But word is starting to get out.
The word is out that superstar Candice is to marry towards the end of this year.
have feet of clay
to have a fault or weakness in your character
ex) To you and the thousands of other parents who are miserable because of what you have done to your children, I say this: Stop berating yourselves. You did the best you could with the tools at hand: inexperience, feet of clay, the works.
When the actor was imprisoned for drug offences, his fans were upset to find that their hero had feet of clay.
precious adverb
BrE /ˈpreʃəs/ ; NAmE /ˈpreʃəs/
precious little/precious few
(informal) precious little/few used to emphasize the fact that there is very little of something or that there are very few of something; If you say that there is precious little of something, you are emphasizing that there is very little of it, and that it would be better if there were more. Precious few has a similar meaning.
ex) No one knows why some children turn out to be champions in spite of parents who provide precious little emotional nourishment, while other kids, who are loved, wanted, tenderly nurtured, and have all the so-called advantages, turn out perverse, estranged and unable to cope with life.
The banks have had precious little to celebrate recently.
Precious few homebuyers will notice any reduction in their monthly repayments.
There’s precious little to do in this town.
Precious few people can afford those prices.
perverse adjective
BrE /pəˈvɜːs/ ; NAmE /pərˈvɜːrs/
showing deliberate determination to behave in a way that most people think is wrong, unacceptable or unreasonable
ex) No one knows why some children turn out to be champions in spite of parents who provide precious little emotional nourishment, while other kids, who are loved, wanted, tenderly nurtured, and have all the so-called advantages, turn out perverse, estranged and unable to cope with life.
a perverse decision (= one that most people do not expect and think is wrong)
She finds a perverse pleasure in upsetting her parents.
Do you really mean that or are you just being deliberately perverse?
For some perverse reason he is refusing to see a doctor.
It would be perverse to quit now that we’re almost finished.
estranged adjective
BrE /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ ; NAmE /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ (formal)
2) estranged (from somebody) no longer friendly, loyal or in contact with somebody
ex) No one knows why some children turn out to be champions in spite of parents who provide precious little emotional nourishment, while other kids, who are loved, wanted, tenderly nurtured, and have all the so-called advantages, turn out perverse, estranged and unable to cope with life.
He became estranged from his family after the argument.
Formerly close friends, they had been estranged from each other for many years.
inherit verb
BrE /ɪnˈherɪt/ ; NAmE /ɪnˈherɪt/
2) [transitive] inherit something (from somebody) to have qualities, physical features, etc. that are similar to those of your parents, grandparents, etc.
ex) We all inherit our nervous systems, and if the nervous system is fragile, it places severe limitations on what a person can tolerate.
He has inherited his mother’s patience.
She inherited a passion for music from her grandfather.
an inherited disease
withstand verb
BrE /wɪðˈstænd/ ; NAmE /wɪðˈstænd/ ; BrE /wɪθˈstænd/ ; NAmE /wɪθˈstænd/
withstand something (formal) to be strong enough not to be hurt or damaged by extreme conditions, the use of force, etc.
synonym resist, stand up to
ex) They can withstand life’s harshest blows and emerge the stronger as a result.
The materials used have to be able to withstand high temperatures.
They had withstood siege, hunger and deprivation.
blow noun
BrE /bləʊ/ ; NAmE /bloʊ/
2) blow (to somebody/something) a sudden event which has damaging effects on somebody/something, causing sadness or disappointment
ex) They can withstand life’s harshest blows and emerge the stronger as a result.
Losing his job came as a terrible blow to him.
It was a shattering blow to her pride.
The new cuts will be seen as a crippling blow for people on low incomes.
The recent bomb attacks are a serious blow for the peace process.
crumble verb
BrE /ˈkrʌmbl/ ; NAmE /ˈkrʌmbl/
3) [intransitive] to begin to fail or get weaker or to come to an end
ex) Others crumble in the face of minor adversity.
a crumbling business/relationship
All his hopes began to crumble away.
The empire finally crumbled into dust.
adversity noun
BrE /ədˈvɜːsəti/ ; NAmE /ədˈvɜːrsəti/ uncountable, countable(formal)
a difficult or unpleasant situation
ex) Others crumble in the face of minor adversity.
courage in the face of adversity
He overcame many personal adversities.
patience in adversity
cop-out noun
informal, disapproving
a way of avoiding doing something that you should do, or an excuse for not doing it
ex) Enough of this “You damaged me, now take care of me” nonsense. It’s a cop-out!
Not turning up was just a cop-out.
perpetuate verb
BrE /pəˈpetʃueɪt/ ; NAmE /pərˈpetʃueɪt/
perpetuate something (formal) to make something such as a bad situation, a belief, etc. continue for a long time
ex) But it serves no purpose except to perpetuate financial and emotional dependence and create a climate of hostility, punishment and ultimate failure.
to perpetuate injustice
This system perpetuated itself for several centuries.
Comics tend to perpetuate the myth that ‘boys don’t cry’.
climate noun
BrE /ˈklaɪmət/ ; NAmE /ˈklaɪmət/
3) [countable] a general attitude or feeling; an atmosphere or a situation which exists in a particular place
ex) But it serves no purpose except to perpetuate financial and emotional dependence and create a climate of hostility, punishment and ultimate failure.
the present political climate
the current climate of opinion (= what people generally are thinking about a particular issue)
a climate of suspicion/violence
We need to create a climate in which business can prosper.
unbiased adjective
BrE /ʌnˈbaɪəst/ ; NAmE /ʌnˈbaɪəst/
fair and not influenced by your own or somebody else’s opinions, desires, etc.
synonym impartial
opposite biased
ex) We need the opinion of an unbiased outsider.
unbiased advice
an unbiased judge
fair adjective
BrE /feə(r)/ ; NAmE /fer/ (fairer, fairest)
(AVERAGE) [after verb] neither very good nor very bad
ex) I’m opposed to his taking this job because his grades are only fair and if he works they will get worse.
Films are rated on a scale of poor, fair, good and excellent.
I was fair at science but it was never my thing.
regard verb
BrE /rɪˈɡɑːd/ ; NAmE /rɪˈɡɑːrd/
2) regard somebody/something (+ adv./prep.) (formal) to look at somebody/something, especially in a particular way
synonym contemplate
ex) Some people unjustly regard with contempt unmarried couples who are living together.
He regarded us suspiciously.
contempt noun
BrE /kənˈtempt/ ; NAmE /kənˈtempt/ [uncountable, singular]
1) the feeling that somebody/something is without value and deserves no respect at all
ex) Some people unjustly regard with contempt unmarried couples who are living together.
She looked at him with contempt.
I shall treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves.
His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for).
Politicians seem to be generally held in contempt by ordinary people.
They had shown a contempt for the values she thought important.
disown verb
BrE /dɪsˈəʊn/ ; NAmE /dɪsˈoʊn/
disown somebody/something to decide that you no longer want to be connected with or responsible for somebody/something
ex) Well, my family practically disowned me when we told that we were living together! (His folks were broad-minded about it.)
Her family disowned her for marrying a foreigner.
Later he publicly disowned the rebellion.
They have never disowned their humble roots.
broad-minded adjective
willing to listen to other people’s opinions and accept behaviour that is different from your own
synonym tolerant
opposite narrow-minded
ex) Well, my family practically disowned me when we told that we were living together! (His folks were broad-minded about it.)
walk out (on somebody)
1) (informal) to suddenly leave somebody that you are having a relationship with and that you have a responsibility for
synonym desert
ex) On the day he grabbed me by my blouse and threw me against the wall so hard I thought my shoulder was broken, I walked out on him.
Her husband had walked out on her a year before.
How could she walk out on her kids?
fix noun
BrE /fɪks/ ; NAmE /fɪks/
3) [singular] a difficult situation
synonym mess
ex) What a fix I’d been in if, after we were married and had a child, I had learned that he was capable of physically abusing any of us!
We’ve got ourselves in a fix about this.
frivolous adjective
BrE /ˈfrɪvələs/ ; NAmE /ˈfrɪvələs/ (disapproving)
2) having no useful or serious purpose
ex) We were both in our 30s at the time, so I didn’t consider this a frivolous chat.
frivolous pastimes/pleasures
be pushing 40, 50, etc.
(informal) to be nearly 40, 50, etc. years old
ex) We are now pushing 50, and I am seriously ill.
stand verb
BrE /stænd/ ; NAmE /stænd/
10) [intransitive] if an offer, a decision, etc. made earlier stands, it is still valid
ex) Last nigh as we were sitting by the fireplace, my husband brought up our old promise and assured me that it still stands.
My offer still stands.
The world record stood for 20 years.
purposeful adjective
BrE /ˈpɜːpəsfl/ ; NAmE /ˈpɜːrpəsfl/
having a useful purpose; acting with a clear aim and with determination
ex) I can honestly say if he died tomorrow, I could easily live a purposeful life without ever having another man.
Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders.
She looked purposeful and determined.
It is only in the past 20 years that this data has been gathered in any purposeful way.
be torn (between A and B)
to be unable to decide or choose between two people, things or feelings
ex) I’m between the guilt I feel that I may be depriving him of years of future happiness and yet wanting so much to know that I will have been his only true love.
Many women feel torn between having a family or a career.
I’m torn between the apple pie and the chocolate biscuit.
I was torn between my parents and my friend.
deprive somebody of something | deprive something of something
to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important
ex) I’m between the guilt I feel that I may be depriving him of years of future happiness and yet wanting so much to know that I will have been his only true love.
They were imprisoned and deprived of their basic rights.
Why should you deprive yourself of such simple pleasures?
long-standing adjective
BrE ; NAmE [usually before noun]
that has existed or lasted for a long time
ex) Since he was a close pal of long standing, I invited him to stay with me.
a long-standing relationship
Long-standing grievances were aired at the meeting.
The country’s long-standing relationship with the US was finally under strain.
cut someone in (on something)
INFORMAL to allow someone to get part of the profits of something
ex) Well, I hit five numbers, won $5,000, and decided not to cut him in on the money since I felt he had not kept his part of the agreement.
They wouldn’t cut me in on the deal.
up adverb
BrE /ʌp/ ; NAmE /ʌp/
10) (of a period of time) finished; over
ex) Our lease was up and we parted.
Time’s up. Stop writing and hand in your papers.
pop psychology noun
BrE ; NAmE [uncountable]
the use by ordinary people of simple or fashionable ideas from psychology in order to understand or explain people’s feelings and emotional problems
ex) Pop psychology “experts” have offered many glib explanations, but nothing can alleviate the pain I feel.
The novel is full of pop psychology.
glib adjective
BrE /ɡlɪb/ ; NAmE /ɡlɪb/ (disapproving)
(of speakers and speech) using words that are clever, but are not sincere, and do not show much thought
ex) Pop psychology “experts” have offered many glib explanations, but nothing can alleviate the pain I feel.
a glib salesman
glib answers
He had assumed that his glib explanations would convince us.
It would be glib to suggest that she did it deliberately.
cold comfort noun
BrE ; NAmE [uncountable]
the fact that something that would normally be good does not make you happy because the whole situation is bad
ex) Success is cold comfort in an empty bed.
A small drop in the inflation rate was cold comfort for the millions without a job.
locate verb
BrE /ləʊˈkeɪt/ ; NAmE /ˈloʊkeɪt/
1) [transitive] locate somebody/something to find the exact position of somebody/something
ex) I then read a letter in the newspaper stating that the Salvation Army locates long-lost relatives.
The mechanic located the fault immediately.
Rescue planes are trying to locate the missing sailors.
long-lost adjective
BrE ; NAmE [only before noun]
that you have not seen or received any news of for a long time
ex) I then read a letter in the newspaper stating that the Salvation Army locates long-lost relatives.
a long-lost friend
catch up on something
1) to spend extra time doing something because you have not done it earlier
ex) I have a lot of work to catch up on.
2) (also catch up) to find out about things that have happened
ex) I spent the weekend there, and we had a very nice time catching up on the 30-year gap in our relationship.
We spent the evening catching up (on each other’s news).
in actuality
(formal) used for emphasizing what is really true
ex) In retrospect, I suppose I should feel grateful for having had the chance to see my dad before he died. But in actuality, I agonized for a long time over the fact that I hadn’t tried to find him sooner.
The nearest town seemed hundreds of miles away, while in actuality it was only six.
at birth
at the time when you are born
ex) My mother gave me up at birth for my own good and hers.
children who have medical complications at birth
…only to do something
used for saying that what happens next is disappointing or unpleasant
ex) I feel sorry for parents who have adopted children and given them a good home, only to have them go looking for their “real” mothers.
I tore open the box, only to discover that some of the parts were missing.
poke around (or poke about BRITISH)
2) to try to get information, especially when other people do not want you to
ex) So to all you adopted people, appreciate your good fortune and don’t go poking around trying to find your “real” mother. The one you have couldn’t be any more real.
back out (of something)
to decide that you are no longer going to take part in something that has been agreed
ex) Recently, a girl backed out of a date we had planned a week in advance.
He lost confidence and backed out of the deal at the last minute.
pull a stunt
(informal) to do something silly and dangerous
ex) If a guy pulled that stunt, he would never get away with it.
What did you want to pull a stupid stunt like that for?
what … for?
why
ex) What did you do that for?
What did you want to pull a stupid stunt like that for?
What are you emptying that cupboard for?
get away with something
3) to do something wrong and not be punished for it
ex) If a guy pulled that stunt, he would never get away with it.
Don’t be tempted to cheat—you’ll never get away with it.
Nobody gets away with insulting me like that.
put up for something | put yourself up for something
to offer yourself as a candidate for a job or position
ex) “I’m going to have the baby and I put up for adoption.”
She is putting up for election to the committee.
go through with something
to do what is necessary to complete a course of action, especially one that is difficult or unpleasant
ex) “You have no obligation to go through with this. We could arrange an abortion.”
She decided not to go through with (= not to have) the operation.
not in my wildest dreams
if you say that you did not imagine something in your wildest dreams, you mean that something that has happened was so strange that you never thought it would happen
ex) In my wildest dreams I never though this would happen to her.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think she’d actually carry out her threat.
Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined England winning 4-1.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would run a marathon.
