Telegraph Flashcards
Inadvertently
Without realizing what you are doing (accidentally)
Ex: He inadvertently passed on the virus to 11 Britons.
Axe
- To get rid of a plan, system or service, especially in order to save money
- To suddenly dismiss someone from their job
Breach
To break a law, rule or agreement
Ex: The company accused him of breaching his contract.
Heighten
If something heightens a feeling, effect etc, or if a feeling etc heightens, it becomes stronger or increases
Ex: The drama came amid heightened tension in the face of the virus’ arrival in London.
Stem
To stop something from happening, spreading or developing
Ex: They are due to hold a meeting to discuss how to stem the spread of the virus.
Expulsion
The act of stopping someone from going to the school where they were studying or from being part of the organization where they worked
Ex: He faces expulsion from the Liberal Democrats.
Castigate
To criticize or punish someone severely
Ex: The committee is set to castigate her.
Convene
If a group of people convene, or someone convenes them, they came together, especially for a formal meeting.
Ex: They are being convened to discuss her future in the party once the document is made public.
Be without foundation
If a statement, idea etc is without foundation, there is no proof that it is true
Ex: Many allegations have since proved to be without foundation.
Low-hanging fruit
A job that is easy to do, or something that is very easy to achieve
Sham
Someone or something that is not what they are claimed to be - used to show disapproval
Ex: The elections were a complete sham.
Tentacles
The influence or effect that something has on other people or things- used to show disapproval
Ex: The company’s tentacles spread from car manufacturing to railways.
Callous
Not caring that other people are suffering
Ex: The company showed callous disregard for the safety of their employees.
Come to terms with
To accept an unpleasant or sad situation and no longer feel upset or angry about it
Ex: Ann’s family struggled to come to terms with her death.
Implore
To ask for something in an emotional way
Ex: Widely shared messages on social media implored anyone with information on her whereabouts to speak out.
Amount to
If an attitude, remark or situation etc amounts to something, it has the same effect
Ex: The defendant’s actions amounted to “reckless murder..”
Recrimination
When you blame or criticize someone for something that has happened
Ex: Meanwhile, political recriminations began flying.
Delusion
A false belief about yourself or the situation you are in
Ex: He is under the illusion that I am going to cheat him.
Manifesto
A written statement by a political party, saying what they believe in and what they want to do
Disingenuous
Not sincere and slightly dishonest
Ex: Keeping the details vague is disingenuous.
Adherent
Someone who supports a particular belief, plan, political party etc
Ruthless
So determined to get what you want that you do not care if you have to hurt other people in order to do it
Ex: Such ideas have no place in modern society and must be ruthlessly stamped out.
Harbour
To keep bad thoughts, fears or hopes in your mind for a long time
Ex: I am willing to bet that if we probed the depths of Europe’s soul, we would find that this is a widely shared, largely unspoken anxiety harboured by millions of people.
Disarray
The state of being untidy or not organized
Ex: The delay threw the entire timetable into disarray.
Statutory
Fixed or controlled by law (mandatory)
Ex: She is below the statutory age for school attendance.
Fait accompli
Something that has already happened or been done and cannot be changed
Apoplectic
So angry that your face becomes red
Ex: He was apoplectic with rage.
Fortnight
Two weeks
Ex: He met and married this girl all in the course of one short fortnight.
Lactic acid
乳酸
Ratchet up
To increase something by a small amount, especially after a series of increases, or to increase in this way
Ex: Officials were locked in talks about how far to ratchet up restrictions which could affect thousands of people.
Pandemic
流行病（epidemic)
Shambolic
Very disorganized
Unwittingly
In a way that shows you do not know or realize something (unknowingly)
Ex: He was concerned that he might be unwittingly carrying the virus.
Fall in with
To accept someone’s ideas, decisions etc and not disagree with them
Ex: Once she explained her problem, he was happy to fall in with her plans.
Onerous
Work or a responsibility that is onerous is difficult and worrying or makes you tired
Woeful
Very bad or serious
Ex: The EU has woefully misjudged what Britain is prepared to accept.
Bogus
Not true or real, although someone is trying to make you think it is
Ex: Number 10 accused the EU of making up bogus reasons for offering Britain a worse deal that it has offered other trading partners.
Proximity
Nearness in distance or time
Ex: We chose the house for its proximity to the school.
Rein in
To start to control a situation more strictly
Ex: The government is reining in public expenditure.
Frenzy
A state of great anxiety or excitement, in which you cannot control your behavior
Ex: Rumors of their divorce stirred up a frenzy of media attention.
Quell
To end a situation in which people are behaving violently or protesting, especially by using force (put down)
Ex: The police stood idly by, failing to quell a mob that left many with horrific injuries.
Provocation
An action or event that makes someone angry or upset, or is intended to do this
Ex: The CAA is seen as the latest provocation from the India’s Hindu-nationalist prime minister.
Stoke
To cause something to increase
Ex: The scandal has stoked public outrage.
Shrill
A shrill sound is very high and unpleasant
Ex: As she became angry her voice got shriller.
Disintegrate
To become weaker or less united and be gradually destroyed
Ex: Central Mali is disintegrating into ethnic pogroms and jihadist massacres.
Play off
挑撥
Ex: The extremist played off ethnic divisions and set villages against each other.
Fourfold
Four times as much or as many
Ex: The number of people forced to flee their homes increased fourfold to 1.1 million.
Onslaught
A large violent attack by an army
Ex: They launched a full-scale onslaught on the capital.
Pogrom
A planned killing of large numbers of people, usually done for reasons of race or religion
Ludicrous
Completely unreasonable, stupid or wrong
Ex: It was ludicrous to suggest that I was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Payout
A large payment of money to someone, for example from an insurance claim or from winning a competition.
Ex: Some of the victims have been offered massive cash payouts.
Reiterate
To repeat a statement or opinion in order to make your meaning as clear as possible
Ex: Lawyers reiterated that there was no direct evidence against Mr Evans.
Forthright
Direct and honest - used in order to show approval
Ex: She answered in her usual forthright manner.
Periphery
The edge of an area
Ex: It can contain the risk by limiting Huawei’s involvement to 35 percent of the system and only the periphery in order to protect the core.
Adversary
A country or person you are fighting or competing against
Ex: A hostile adversary could disable our 5G network.
Mitigate
To make a situation or the effects of something less unpleasant, harmful or serious
Ex: Such kill switches are nigh on impossible to detect and, as a result, mitigate.
Intrepid
Willing to do dangerous things or go to dangerous places - often used humorously
Ex: The intrepid exploits of competitors brought servicemen and women together across the world.
Stringent
A stringent law, rule, standard etc is very strict and must be obeyed
Ex: There are now stringent controls on pollution from all power stations.
