Test 19 Flashcards
fray (v)
The cuffs of his shirts were fraying.
As the debate went on, tempers began to fray.
- if cloth … or sth…, the threads in it start to come apart
- if sb’s nerves or temper … or sth … them, the person starts to get annoyed
fray at/around the edges/seams
Supporter for the leader was fraying at the edges.
start to come apart or to fail
aver=assert,declare (v)
She averred that she had never seen the man before.
state clearly and strongly that sth is true
reinstate (v)
Tennis has now been reinstated as an Olympic sport.
(n): reinstatement
return sth to its previous position or status
woe betide sb|woe to sb
Woe betide anyone who gets in her way!
a phrase that is used to warn sb that there will be trouble for them if they do sth or do not do sth
bungle (v)
a bungled robbery/raid/attempt
(n): bungle/bungler|(adj): bungling
do sth badly or without skill, fail at sth
forfend (v)
Heaven forfend that students are encouraged to think.
prevent sth or keep sth away (= ward off)
satirise (v)
The cartoon satirises middle-aged, middle-class liberals.
use satire to show that faults in a person, an organisation, a system, etc.
parse (v)
divide a sentence into parts and describe the grammar of each word or part
capitulate=give in to sb/sth, yield (v)
The town capitulated after a three-week siege.
agree to do sth that you have been refusing to do for a long time.
ameliorate = improve, better (v)
(N): amelioration
The side-effects of the treatment can be ameliorated to some extent.
make better sth that was bad or not good enough.
abnegate=renounce (v)
relinquish
redress the balance
For years poorer children have had to put up with a lower quality education, and now is the time to redress the balance.
make a situation equal or fair again
batten down the hatches
A natural tendency in times of recession is to batten down the hatches and think about our own needs.
prepare yourself for a period of difficulty or trouble
batten on sb
live well by using other people’s money, etc.
pedant/ˈpednt/ (n)
(adj): pendantic | (n): pedantry
A pedant will always insist that you ask for ‘fewer’ items rather than ‘less’.
a person who is too concerned with small details or rules especially when learning or teaching
disburden (n)
remove the burden off sb’s minds
entrench (v)
(n): entrechment
This idea had firmly entrenched itself in his consciousness.
establish sth ver strongly so that it is very difficult to change
eschew /ɪsˈtʃuː/ (v)
He had eschewed politics in favour of a life practising law.
deliberately avoid or keep away from sth
contravene=infringe (v)
(n): contravention=infringement
in contravention of sth
The company was found guilty of contravening safety regulations.
do sth that is not allowed by a law or rule
enrage=infuriate (v)
make sb very angry
enrapture=enchant (v)
give sb great pleasure or joy
