The Lewis Gun Flashcards
alacrity
speed and eagerness:
She accepted the money with alacrity.
envision
to imagine or expect something in the future, especially something good:
Train fare increases of 15 percent are envisioned for the next year.
It’s envisioned that building will start at the end of this year.
When do you envision finishing the project?
It’s hard to envision how it might happen.
meager
very small or not enough:
a meager salary
The prisoners existed on a meager diet.
slender
thin and delicate, often in a way that is attractive:
He put his hands around her slender waist.
The plant’s leaves are long and slender.
in embryo
developing and not yet complete:
The department’s plans for enlargement are still in embryo.
impeccable
perfect, with no problems or bad parts:
impeccable taste/manners/credentials
His English is impeccable.
endear someone to someone
to cause someone to be liked by another person:
His fiery temper did not endear him to his coworkers.
languish
to exist in an unpleasant or unwanted situation, often for a long time:
After languishing in obscurity for many years, her early novels have recently been rediscovered.
He has been languishing in jail for the past 20 years.
The ruling party is languishing in third place in the opinion polls.
procurement
the process of getting supplies:
a substantial budget for the procurement of military supplies
animosity
strong dislike, opposition, or anger:
Of course we’re competitive, but there’s no personal animosity between us.
In spite of his injuries, he bears no animosity towards his attackers.
The European Community helped France and Germany forget the old animosities between them.
animus
a feeling of hate or anger towards someone or something:
He harbours no animus toward his rival.
capitalize on sth
to use a situation to your own advantage:
She capitalized on her knowledge and experience to get a better job.
flimsy
very thin, or easily broken or destroyed:
You won’t be warm enough in that flimsy dress.
We spent the night in a flimsy wooden hut.
a flimsy cardboard box
supersede
to replace something, especially something older or more old-fashioned:
Most of the old road has been superseded by the great interstate highways.
stopgap
something intended for temporary use until something better or more suitable can be found:
Hostels are used as a stopgap until the families can find permanent accommodation.
We might have to employ someone temporarily as a stopgap measure until we can hire someone permanently.
go down/fall like ninepins
to fall, break, or be damaged in large numbers:
Trees were going down like ninepins in the strong wind.
hunker down
to make yourself comfortable in a place or situation, or to prepare to stay in a place or position for a long time, usually in order to achieve something or for protection:
The press have hunkered down for the night outside the palace, waiting for news of the royal birth.
waver
to lose strength, determination, or purpose, especially temporarily:
I’m afraid my concentration began to waver as lunch approached.
He has never wavered in his support for the leader.
If you waver between two possibilities, you cannot decide which of them to choose or you keep choosing one way and then the other:
“What are you going to have?” “Er, I’m wavering between the soup and the mushroom quiche.”
bulk sth out
to make something bigger or thicker by adding something:
I added some potatoes to the stew to bulk it out.
in bulk
in large amounts:
The office buys paper in bulk to keep down costs.
the bulk of sth
most of something:
In fact, the bulk of the book is taken up with criticizing other works.
breakneck
carelessly fast and dangerous:
They were riding along at breakneck speed/at a breakneck pace.
haste
(too much) speed:
Unfortunately the report was prepared in haste and contained several inaccuracies.
In her haste to get up from the table, she knocked over a cup.
His father had just died and he didn’t want to marry with indecent haste.
make haste
hurry up:
Make haste!
