TEST 11-20 Flashcards
extort
to make sb give you sth by threatening them
diatribe
a long and angry speech or piece of writing attacking and criticizing sb/sth
laudable
deserving to be praised and admired, even if not really successful
dilettante
a person who is or seem to be interested in a subject, but who is not involved with it in a serious and determined way
eschew
to deliberately avoid or keep away from sth
recoup
to get back an amount of money that you have spent or lost
dodder
to move slowly and weakly, as if you might fall, esp. because of being very old
irascibility
the fact of tending to become angry very easily
the low-down on sb/sth
the true facts about sb/sth, esp. those considered the most important to know
curry favour with sb
to try to get sb to like or support you by praising or helping them a lot
dote on
to feel and show great love for sb, ignoring their faults
parcel out
to divide sth into parts or between several people
take the plunge
to decide to do sth difficult after considering for a long time
down to the count
having been, or very near to being defeated, ruined, or overcome
claimant
a person who is receiving money from the state because they’re unemployed
bachelorhood
the time in a man’s life before he is married
preternatural
that does not seem natural, that cannot be explained by nature laws
underworld
the people and activities involved in crime in a particular place
investiture
the fact of sb formally receiving an official title or special powers, a ceremony at which this happens
hackney
use too often, make sth boring
expunge
to remove or get rid of sth, such as a name, piece of information or a memory, from a book or list, or from your mind
perfidious
that cannot be trusted
quench
to satisfy a need/demand
inveigle
to achieve control over sb in a clever and dishonest way, esp. so that they will do what you want
capitulate
to stop resisting an enemy and accept that you are defeated
arcane
secret and mysterious and therefore difficult to understand
knock sb over with a feather
to shock/confuse/astonish sb
berate
to criticize or speak angrily to sb because you do not approve of sth they have done
knock sth out of the park
to do sth extremely well
firm up
to make arrangements more final and fixed
cave in
to agree to demand that you originally opposed because you have become tired or frightened
filial piety
a virtue of respect for one’s parents, elders and ancestors
lodge
to become fixed or cause sth to become fixed in a place or position
watchword
a word or phrase that represents the main ideas or principles directing the way that sb behaves or the way that sth is done
pseudonym
a name used by sb, esp. a writer, instead of their real names
heretical
dị giáo
gaseous
like or containing gas
unhinge
to make sb mentally ill
faint-hearted
not being confident or brave enough, afraid of failing
hunger is the best sauce
food tastes better when one is hungry
reiterate
to repeat sth that you have already said
die with your boots on
die while fighting or to die while actively occupied/employed/working or in the middle of the same action
prerogative
a right or advantage belonging to a particular person or group because of their importance or social position
when push comes to shove
when there is no other choice, when everything else has failed
perk up
to become or make sb become or cheerful or lively, esp. after they have been ill or sad
crank
a person with ideas that other people find strange
oasis
a pleasant place or period of time in the middle of sth unpleasant or difficult
spell
to replace for a short time sb who is doing a particular activity so that they can rest
clement
mild and pleasant
proprietary
made and sold by a particular company and protected by a registered trademark
riverine
on, near, or relating to a river or the banks of a river
ineradicable
(of a quality or situation) that cannot be removed or changed
fallibility
the ability to make mistakes or be wrong
appreciable
large enough to be noticed or important
appraisee
the person who is being judged on how well they are doing their job
prowl
to move quietly and carefully around an area, esp. with the intention of committing a crime
inveigh against
to criticize sb/sth strongly
pound out
to play music loudly on a musical instrument
defer to
to agree to accept what sb has decided or what they think about sb/sth because you respect him or her
sabbatical leave
a period of time when college or university teachers are allowed to stop their usual work in order to study or travel, usually while continuing to be paid
unflagging
remaining strong, not being weak
a true sister under the skin
a man who support women’s action to improve their rights
gaggle
a group of noisy people
swarm with sb/sth
to be full of people or things
call forth
to produce a particular reaction
performance appraisal
a regular review of an employee’s job performance and overall contribution to a company
infatuated with sb/sth
having a very strong feeling of love or attraction for sb/sth so that you cannot think clearly and in a sensible way
estrangement
a feeling that you do not understand sb or sth or do not have any connection with him, her, or it
watery grave
dead by drowning
embitter
to make sb feel angry and unhappy for a long time
footing
the basis on which sth is established or organized
be on an equal footing
to be in an equal situation
cyclical
repeated many times and always happening in the same order
pedantic
to worried about small details or rules
enigma
a person, thing or situation that is mysterious and difficult to understand
call sb out for sth
to criticize sb, esp. publicly
ride roughshod over sb
to treat sb badly and not worry abt their feelings
ostentatiously
in a way that is meant to impress people by showing how rich, important, etc. sb is
gratuitous
done without any good reason or purpose and often having harmful effects
flagrant
(of an action) that shocks you because it is done in a very obvious way and shows no respect for people, laws, etc.
minuscule
extremely small
prod sb into sth
to try to make sb do sth, esp. when they are unwilling
chalk up sth
to achieve or record a success, points in a game, etc.
elbow grease
a lot of physical effort
disarming
making people feel less angry, making sb begin to like you
ceasefire
a time when enemies agree to stop fighting, usually while a way is found to end the fighting permanently
ravenous
(of a person or an animal) extremely hungry
palatial
(of a room or building) very large and impressive, like a palace
treatise
a serious book or article about a particular subject
renege on
to break a promise, agreement, etc.
pine for sb/sth
to want or miss sb/sth very much
sully sth
to damage sth or reduce the value of sth
not mince your work
to say sth in a direct way even though it might offend other people
milk
to obtain sth as such money, advantage, etc. for yourself as you can from a particular situation
vindication
proof that sth is true or that you were right, esp. when other people had a different opinion
tried and trusted/tested
relied on in the past successfully
concoct
to invent a story, an excuse, etc. or create a plan, esp. for a dishonest purpose
vilify
to say or write unpleasant things about sb/sth so that other people will have a low opinion of them
genteel
pretending to be from a high social class
bleak
(of a situation) not giving any reason to have hope or expect anything good
have no dog in a fight
to not have interest in sth
fly in the ointment
sth that spoils a situation that could have been pleasant
ultrasound
siêu âm
diminutive
very small
fortitude
courage shown by sb who is suffering great pain or facing great difficulties
condescending
behaving as though you are more important and more intelligent than other people
abstention
the fact of not voting in favor of or against sb or sth
volition
the power to choose sth freely or to make your own decisions
virtuoso
showing extremely great skills
nullify
to make sth lose its effect or power
tread/walk a tightrope
to be in a difficult situation in which you do not have much freedom of action and need to be extremely careful about what you do
tread on sb’s toes
to offend or annoy sb, esp. by getting involved in sth that is their responsibilities
gestation
the process by which ideas or plans develop
cull sth from sth
to choose or collect sth from a source or several different sources
gaudy
too brightly colored in a way that lackes taste
munificent
extremely generous
a dearth of sth
a lack of sth, the fact of there not being enough of sth
savor of sth
to seem to have an amount of sth, esp. sth bad
moviemaking
the act or process of making a film
self-fulfilling
happening because it is expected to happen
telltale
showing that sth exists or has happened
reactionary
opposed to political or social change or new ideas
ticklish
(of a situation or problem) difficult to deal with, and possibly embarassing
furtive
behaving in a way that shows that you want to keep sth secret and do not want to be noticed
acid test
a way of deciding whether sth is successful or true
inauspicious
showing signs that the future will not be good or successful
exultant at sth
feeling or showing that you are very proud or happy, esp. because of sth exciting that has happened
bubble under
to have some success but nor yet be extremely successful and famous
tack on
to add sth extra, esp. sth that does not seem to belong to the rest
pitch into
to start an activity with enthusiasm
profiteering
the act of making a lot of money in an unfair way, for example by asking very high prices for sth that are hard to get
crusade
a long and determined effort to achieve sth that you believe to be right or to stop sth that you believe to be wrong
scorn
a strong feeling that sb/sth is stupid or not good enough, usually shown by the way you speak
by hook or by crook
using any method you can, even a dishonest one
pittance
a very small amount of money that sb receives, for example as a wage, and that is hardly enough to live on
a blaze of glory
happens in a very successful and impressive way, often used to describe a final action
injurious
causing or likely to cause harm or damage
socialite
sb, usually of high social class, who is famous for going to a lot of parties and social events
entwine
to twist or wind srg around sth else
daybreak
the time of day when light first appears
addle
to make sb unable to think clearly, or to confuse sb
vociferous
expressing your opinions or feelings in a loud and confident way
covetous
wanting to have sth too much, esp. sth that belongs to sb else
monkey with
to touch, change or treat sth in a careless or harmful way
discharge
to give sb an official order or legal permission to end their duty in the army, a court, a prison, etc.
raze
to show a particular quality or feeling strongly; (of a particular quality or feeling) to be shown strongly
fob off
to give sb sth that is not what they want or is of worse quality than they want
forsake
to stop doing sth, or to leave sth, esp. sth that you enjoy
seige
a situation in which the police surround a building where people are living or hiding, in order to make them come out
erudite
having or containing a lot of knowledge that is known by very few people
hoot
a short loud laugh or shout
atrocious
very bad or unpleasant
nail down
reach agreement on the details of a deal
the law of the jungle
a situation in which people or prepared to harm other people in order to succeed
liquefy
to become liquid, to make sth liquid
tonage
the total amount of sth weighs
missionary
a person who is sent to a foreign country to teach people about religion, esp. Christianity
farcical
very silly, unlikely, or unreasonable, often in way that is humorous
sway
power or influence over sb
reel off
to say or repeat sth quickly without having to stop or think about it
collusion
secret agreement esp. in order to do sth dishonest or to trick people
transitory
temporary
keel over
to fall over unexpectedly, esp. because you feel ill
take the rap for sb/sth
to be blamed or punished, esp. for sth you have not done
censure
strong criticism
resurgent
becoming stronger or popular again
hurdle
a problem or difficulty that must be solved or dealt with before you can achieve sth
snub
to show a lack of respect for sb, esp. by ignoring them
perpetuate
to make sth such as a bad situation, a belief, etc. continue for a long time
effusive
showing much or too much emotion
mealy-mouthed
not willing or honest enough to speak in a direct or open way about what you really think
accede to sth
to accept a request or proposal
cold-shoulder
to treat sb in an unfriendly way
disjointed
not communicated or described in a clear or logical way, not connected
deep-seated
very fixed and strong, difficult to change or to destroy
