THE ENVIRONMENT Flashcards
MANOURISHMENT
Lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, etc.
Example: The boys showed signes of being malnnourished
Malnourishment is a serious issue that needs to be taken care of effective inmediately.
GREENHOUSE GASES
A gas that causes the greenhouse effect, especially carbon dioxide
Example: We need a global system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gases are the principal cause of global warming
EXPLOITATION OF FOOD RESOURCES
Example: the exploitation of food resources now, can produce severe consecuences in future
SEVERE FAMINE
Example: Africa is the principal case of severe famine on children
DEPLETION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
A reduction on the cuantity of natural resources
Example: the depletion of natural resources will produce many problems in the future
The depletion of natural resources wil made the next generations look for new ways of producing energy
GO GREEN
To do more to protect nature and the environment
Example: The school launched a Go Green campaign in honored to the earth’s day
We shouls all go green and help our planet
GLOBAL WARMING
(calentamiento global)
Example: gloal warming is an effect of the greenhouse gases
Climate change is a resault of global warming
(SEVERE) CLIMATE CHANGE
(cambio climatico)
Example: Climate change affects all the ecosystems
Climate change is provoked by global warming
KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR
To have just enough money to be able to eat and live
Example: As a student, he took an evening job to keep the wolf from the door
Many writerrs when they first start, write in gossip magazines in order to keep the wolf from the door
A FISH OUT OF WATER
Someone who is uncomfortable in a specific situation
Example: I felt like a fish out of water at my new school
I have always felt a like fish out of water at school
AT A SNAIL’S PACE
Extremely slowli
Example: The roads were full of traffic and we were travelling at a snail’s pace for two hours
The litigation is moving at a snail’s pace
A FLY ON THE WALL
If you say that you would like to be a fly on the wall on an occasion, you mean that you would like to hear what will be said or see what will happen while not being noticed
Example: I’d love to be a fly on the wall when those two get home
I would like to be a fly on the wall when the president and the other politics meet
CHIKEN OUT
To decide not to do something because you are too frightened
Example: I was going to go bungee jumping, but I chickened out
I chiken out when I was about to go in the rollercoaster
THROWAWAY SOCIETY
A society whish is used to use things for a very short amount of time and then throw them away
Example: The throwaway society should change if we want to make a positive impact on the planet
FINITE RESOURCES
(recursos limitados)
Example: We should take care of our finite resources so that the next generations can use the responsably too
LIFE EXPECTANCY
(indicador de esperanza de vida)
Example: The rate of life expectancy in Argentina is very low
Life expectancy is an idicator that helps us to know the demographic and living conditions of a country
PRISTINE ENVIRNONMENT
New or almost new, and in very good condition
Example: before the fires, this was a pristine environment
HARSH REALITIES
Example: Children in Africa, live in very harsh realities
We don’t have to go vary far in order to see harsh realities, in our city there are a lot of people who are homeless
IN STARK/SHARP/MARKED CONTRAST
Very different from (something else)
Example: His comments were in stark/marked/sharp contrast with/to his earlier statements
Her personality is in stark contrast to the one she had a year ago
STAGE A PROTEST
They stage a protest to destine more funding to natural habitats
The staged protest was about the movement BLM
GET BY
To be able to live or deal with a situation with difficulty, usually by having just enough of something you need, such as money
Example: We can get by with four computers at the moment, but we’ll need a couple more when the new staff arrive
I’m just trying to get by in quarentine
AMELIORATE
To make a bad or unpleasant situation better
Example: Foreign aid is badly needed to ameliorate the effects of the drought
Inmigrants decide to leave their homelands to ameliorate their quality of life
EARTH-SHATTERING
Extremely important or very surprising
Example: An earth-shattering discovery
He said he has some earth-shattering news to tell us
EPITHET
An adjective added to a person’s name or a phrase used instead of it, usually to criticize or praise them
Example: The singer’s 104-kilo frame earned him the epithet of “Man Mountain” in the press
His stubbornness earned him the epithet “Senator No.”
ON A PAR WITH SB/STH
The same as or equal to someone or something
Example: In my opinion, none of the new jazz trumpeters are on a par with Miles Davis
Nothing can be on a par with Coldplay
PARADIGM SHIFT
A time when the usual and accepted way of doing or thinking about something changes completely
Example: The widespread use of social media represents a paradigm shift in the way we communicate
We need to make a paradigm shift and start taking care of the environment
A MERE BLIP
A temporary change that does not have any special meaning
Example: Last month’s rise in inflation was described by the chancellor as a mere blip
The drop in sales last month was just a mere blip, nothing to worry about
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
(libertad de expresión)
Example: Freedon of speech is one of the rights we have that is stabished in the UN human rishts’s list
This goverment is taking away our freedom of speech
PUMP
To force The new wine is pumped into storage tanks or gas to move somewhere
Example: The new wine is pumped into storage tanks
The heart pumps blood through the arteries/round the body
ACRIMONY
Anger, argument, and bad feeling
Example: The acrimony of the dispute has shocked a lot of people
The decision was reached without acrimony or controversy
PETTY
**Not important and not worth giving attention to
Example: Prisoners complain that they are subjected to too many petty rules and restrictions
**Complaining too much about things that are not important
Don’t be so petty!
NITPICK
To find faults in details that are not important
Example: You’re always nitpicking - it’s so annoying!
TO BE IN BREACH OF STH.
To be breaking a particular law or rule
Example: The theatre was in breach of the safety laws for having no fire doors
She was in breach of the migration law- her passaport had expired
CAVALIER
Not considering other people’s feelings or safety
Example: That’s a rather cavalier attitude
He has a cavalier attitude towards public health concerns and COVID-19
REVAMP
To change or arrange something again, in order to improve it
Example: The walled garden was completely revamped last year
The company has spent $5 million on a major revamp of its offices
IMPINGE ON/UPON SB/STH
To affect (something) in a way that is unwanted//to have a bad effect on (something)
Example: The government’s spending limits will seriously impinge on the education budge
Her work is impinging on her social life
SUBSERVIENT
Willing to do what other people want, or considering your wishes as less important than those of other people
Example: Women were expected to adopt a subservient role/position
Your subservience to your boss disgusts me
COMPELLING EVIDENCE/ARGUMENTS/REASONS
A compelling argument, reason or evidence is one that convinces you that something is true or that something should be done
Example: There is quite compelling evidence that the idea that you should eat lots of small meals is a bad one
The case had such compelling evidence that the judge took almost no time in finding him guilty
GLOBAL SOCIETY
Society that is connected worldwide
Example: the global society we live on is connected by the internet and social networks
Globalization and technology are the main causes of the global society we live nowadays
DETRIMENTAL (EFFECT)
Causing harm or damage
Example: These chemicals have a detrimental effect/impact on/towards the environment
Their decision could be detrimental to the future of the company
ABSENT-MINDED
Someone who is absent-minded often forgets things or does not pay attention to what is happening near them because they are thinking about other things
Example: Even the most absent-minded of us usually retain knowledge of which are our left and right hands
Sorry, I was a bit absent-minded, would you mind telling me again?
JAW-DROPPING
Very surprising or shocking
Example: The jaw-dropping scale of the project has not defeated those involved
This actitude coming from her is jaw-dropping
MOUTH-WATERING
(of food) having a very good appearance or smell that makes you want to eat
Example: This cake is mouth-watering
Even though it is fake, the burger is mouth-watering
BLATANTLY
In a way that is very obvious and intentional, when this is a bad thing
Example: It was blatantly obvious that she was telling a lie
He has made some blatantly bad decisions
LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
To allow a secret to be known, usually without intending to
Example: I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag
Make sure you don’t let the ct out of the bag and tell her so that she doesn’t get disappointed
TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNES
To deal with a difficult situation in a very direct or confident way
Example: Why don’t you take the bull by the horns and tell him to leave?
She decided to take the bull by the horns and try to solve the problem
SMELL A RAT
To recognize that something is not as it appears to be or that something dishonest is happening
Example: He’s been working late with her every night this week - I smell a rat!
I smell rat, he hadn’t studied for the test and still got an A
ALBEIT
Although, even though
Exaxmpe: He tried, albeit without success
An enjoyable, albeit expensive, vacationan enjoyable, albeit expensive, vacation
EYE-OPENING
Surprising, and teaching you new facts about life, people, etc.
Example: The report is very accurate and very eye-opening
That trip was very eye-opening, now I see things from a new perspective
AWE-INSPIRING
Causing you to feel great respect or admiration
Example: Niagara Falls really is an awe-inspiring sight
The talk Michel Obama made yesterday, was very awe-inspiring
KIND-HEARTED
A kind-hearted person is one who likes other people a lot and always wants to help them
Exampe: She is so kind-hearted, specially with children
He is very kind-hearted, he helped me study to pass the test
MIND-BLOWING
Extremely exciting or surprising
Example: The special effects in this film are pretty mind-blowing.
The fact that we only have discovered 20% of the ocean is mind-blowing
LONG-WINDED
A long-winded speech, letter, article, etc. is too long, or uses too many words
Example: The speech was so long-winded, it never seem to end
Her article was okey but very long-winded, I advised her to make it shorter
LOUDMOUTH
A person who talks a lot, especially in an offensive or stupid way
Example: I can’t stand him, he is so loudmouthed
Loudmouthed people bring out the worst of me
READY-MADE
Bought or found in a finished form and available to use immediately
Example: A ready-made frozen meal
I didn’t sew the curtains – they came ready-made
MONEY-GRABBING
Someone who is money-grubbing has money as their main interest and does anything possible to get a lot of it
Example: They see their bosses as money-grubbing robots and not as coworkers
There is a fine line between being ambicious and being money-grabbing, and I think you are crossing it
EXCESIVE CUNSUMPTIOIN OF ENERGY
Our society has an excesive consumption of energy that has to be reduced in order to protect our resources
