voc12 Flashcards
Uncanny
strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way
Canny
having or showing shrewdness and good judgement, especially in money or business matters: canny investors will switch banks
Wade into
intervene in (something) or attack (someone) vigorously or forcefully [else: wade: walk with effort through water]
prise
use force in order to move, move apart, or open
-From French prise: ‘grasp, taking hold’
A stroke (≠ to stroke - caresser)
an act of hitting or striking someone or something; a blow
-Attitudes cannot be changed at a stroke
At a stroke
by a single action having immediate effect
Gloat
dwell on one’s own success or another’s misfortune with smugness or malignant pleasure
Muddle
Confuse
Crestfallen
Sad and disappointed
Seethe
Be filled with intense but unexpressed anger
-“inwardly he was seething at the slight to his authority”
Unprepossessing
Not attractive or appealing to the eye
Enervating
-causing one to feel drained of energy or vitality
Opposite of invigorating
Grisly
causing horror or disgust
Unnerve
make (someone) lose courage or confidence
Pent-up
unable to be expressed or released: pent-up frustrations
Dereliction of duty
the shameful failure to fulfil one’s obligations
Retribution
punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act
Stooped
having the head and shoulders habitually bent forward
Stray (v.)
move away aimlessly from a group or from the right course or place / move idly or casually / wander roam
- “dog owners are urged not to allow their dogs to stray “
Stray (adj.)
not in the right place
Dash
-“run or travel somewhere in a great hurry”
Smuggle
move (goods) illegally into or out of a country [contrebande]
Dappled
marked with spots or rounded patches
Brood over
think deeply about something that makes one unhappy, angry, or worried
Muck smth out
remove manure and other dirt from a horse’s stable or other animal’s dwelling
Muck
Dirt, rubbish, or waste matter
Menial
not requiring much skill and lacking prestige (menial factory jobs)
Stave
- break something by forcing it inwards or piercing it roughly: “the door was staved in”
Stave something off
- avert or delay something bad or dangerous
Asinine
extremely stupid or foolish
Warp / Wrap
a twist or distortion in the shape / cover or enclose
Stand-offish
distant and cold in manner; unfriendly
Lullaby
a quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep
Beseech
ask someone urgently and fervently to do or give something
Stow
pack or store (an object) carefully and neatly in a particular place
Dejection
a sad and depressed state; low spirits; despondency
Swat
hit or crush with a sharp blow from a flat object:
- She was swatting at a fly
Taunt
- provoke or challenge with insulting remarks
- reproach with something in a contemptuous way
Fluke
an unlikely chance occurrence, especially a surprising piece of luck
Bungle
carry out (a task) clumsily or incompetently
Estrangement
- the fact of no longer being on friendly terms or part of a social group
- the fact of no longer living with one’s spouse or partner; separation
Crapshoot
a risky or uncertain matter
Slacken
Reduce in speed or intensity
Seemly
decorous; conforming to accepted notions of propriety and good taste.
Uncouth
lacking good manners, refinement, or grace.
lacking sophistication or delicacy.
Knave
a dishonest or unscrupulous man.
Page
(From paid, paid boy) a boy or young man, usually in uniform, employed in a hotel or club to run errands, open doors
Rueful
expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way
Admonish
reprimand firmly
Relate to
feel sympathy for or identify with:
-“kids related to him because he was so rebellious”
Spoof
a humorous imitation of something; joke. A spoof is not a malignant writing.
Weighty
serious matter !
Fulsome
complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree; of large size or quantity; generous or abundant
Incisive
intelligently analytical and clear-thinking; accurate and sharply focused || or of an action: quick and direct
Obtuse
Opposite to acute.
Slow to understand, or annoyingly insensitive
Aboveboard
Legitimate, Honest and open
Hidebound
unwilling or unable to change because of tradition or convention
Mutable
Mercurial Labile / and (giddy ?) (dizzy ?)
Dour
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance
Pusillanimous
showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.
Slavish
- Showing no attempt at originality.
- Servile or submissive.
Nonchalant
Feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm - not concerned
Vainglorious
excessively proud of oneself or one’s achievements; overly vain
Affected
pretentious and designed to impress
Stalwart
loyal, reliable, hard-working
Stunt
prevent from growing or developing properly
Apocryphal
of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true
Florid
excessively intricate or elaborate (having a red or flushed complexion)
Stunt
an action displaying spectacular skill and daring
Inanity
a nonsensical remark or action; lack of meaning
Pulchritude
beauty
Circumspect
unwilling to take risks
Placatory
intended to make someone less angry or hostile; conciliatory
Motley
incongruously varied in appearance or character
Lackadaisical
lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy
Surfeit
cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess
- “I am surfeited with shopping”.
Surfeit
an excessive amount of something
Fastidious
very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail; very concerned about matters of cleanliness
Abiding
lasting a long time; enduring
Bewitch
enchant and delight (someone)
