Vocabs Flashcards
inferno
a large fire that is dangerously out of control
deranged
insane
a deranged gunman
pass himself off
to try to make others believe that someone or something is something other than what the person or thing is: Maurice is trying to pass himself off as a journalist to get admitted to the press conference
renege
back out on a promise
“they have reneged on their promises to us”
prodigal
wasteful. spend money recklessly
“prodigal habits die hard (strongly devoted) “
having or giving something on a lavish scale.
generous
“the dessert was prodigal with whipped cream”
allude
suggest, refer to
“she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name”
Meaning of the word ‘however’ in this sentence.
The king did not, however, gain his possession.
However : to whatever extent or whatever way.
put shoulder to the wheel
work extra hard to achieve something; just like pushing a car
We’ll have to put our shoulder to the wheel to get this job done
flew off the handle
lose one’s temper
He tends to fly off the handle when people disagree with him.
hand it up
surrender
Hands up, Johnson! I’ve got you in my sights, and I’m not afraid to put you down if you won’t come into custody quietly.
A signal that one agrees, intends to participate, or wants what someone is offering.
OK everyone, hands up if you think we should move forward with this policy.
strut
walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
“peacocks strut through the grounds”
gait : walking manner
plight
predicament / sorry situation
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
“we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty”
clamber
scramble : crawl
make one’s way quickly or awkwardly up a steep gradient or over rough ground by using one’s hands as well as one’s feet.
“I clambered out of the trench ( narrow channel/ ditch/ furrow / groove)”
groove : a long, narrow cut or depression in a hard material.
double entendre
a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué
flirty talk full of double entendres
risque ( riskaa) : verging ( be very close to ) on impropriety ( wrong doing) or indecency
ensue
happen or occur afterwards or as a result.
“the difficulties which ensued from their commitment to Cuba”
denote
indicate
present perfect tense
it is used for an action that has already taken place but the definite point of time is not known. it is used with indefinite time adverbs such as ‘just’, ‘already’ and ‘yet’.
eg : I have already shut the window.
he has just cut down the tree.
we used the present pefect tense with ever, never, for and since for an action which happened from a period or point of time in the past till now.
eg: have you ever seen a giraffe? I have never seen one before.
cobble
round pebbles
cobbler
someone who mend shoes
infinitives
infinitive : basic form of a verb
antics
foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour.
“the antics of our political parties”
what do ‘must’ and ‘have ‘ express as special finites?
- they are used to express obligation and necessity
- ‘must’ is used when the obligation is expressed from the speaker’s point of view.
- ‘have to’ is used when the obligation depends on outside circumstances.
negative form of ‘must’
- it is ‘need to’
‘must not’ is used to express prohibition.
eg. you must not smoke in the hall.
dearth
scarcity / lack of something
“there is a dearth of evidence”
contend
-struggle to surmount (a difficulty).
“she had to contend with his uncertain temper”
-assert ( declare) something as a position in an argument.
“he contends that the judge was wrong”
surmount
- overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).
“all manner of cultural differences were surmounted” - stand or be placed on top of.
“the tomb was surmounted by a sculptured angel”
stacked against
used to describe a situation in which one person or group is disadvantaged or faces difficult circumstances as compared to others often in a way that is unfair.
pull a fast one
trick someone.
“he had been trying to pull a fast one on his producer”
hail
-solid precipitation from the sky ( rain)
- (of a large number of objects) fall or be hurled forcefully.
“missiles and bombs hail down from the sky” - call out for someone or a taxi
- originate from
lobby
seek to influence (a legislator (lawmaker)) on an issue.
“they insist on their right to lobby Congress (parliament / legislative body)”
try to persuade for more
weigh
consider, influence,
reverberate
resonate
transfixed
-cause (someone) to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment.
“he was transfixed by the pain in her face”
-pierce with a sharp implement or weapon.
“a field mouse is transfixed by the curved talons of an owl”
hurl
throw or impel [force, propel] (someone or something) with great force.
“rioters hurled a brick through the windscreen”
hollering
-give a loud shout or cry.
“he hollers when he wants feeding”
-contact (someone)
I got his number, so you can holler at him when you get a chance”
verbatim
in exactly the same words as were used originally.
“subjects were instructed to recall the passage verbatim”
clannish
(of a group or their activities) tending to exclude others outside the group.
“they are a clannish lot with no time for foreigners”
imbue
inspire or permeate with (a feeling or quality).
“his works are invariably (always) imbued with a sense of calm and serenity”
liken
compare
racism is likened to a contagious disease
veritable
used for emphasis, often to qualify a metaphor.
“the early 1970s witnessed a veritable price explosion”
excerpt
a short extract from a film, broadcast, or piece of music or writing.
audacious
showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks.
“a series of audacious takeovers”
showing an impudent lack of respect.
“he made an audacious remark”
anecdote
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
“he told anecdotes about his job”
accord
Verb : give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition).
“the powers accorded to the head of state”
Noun : an official agreement or treaty.
“opposition groups refused to sign the accord”
concoction
a mixture of various ingredients or elements.
improbable
unlikely
not likely to be true or to happen.
“this account of events was seen by the jury as most improbable”
unexpected and apparently inauthentic.
“the characters have improbable names”
pamphleteer
a writer of pamphlets, especially ones of a political and controversial nature.
frivolous
not having any serious purpose or value.
“frivolous ribbons and lacy frills”
(of a person) carefree and superficial.
“the frivolous, fun-loving flappers of the twenties”
flapper : (in the 1920s) a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting ( defy )conventional standards of behaviour.
glib
(of words or a speaker) fluent but insincere and shallow.
“the glib phrases soon roll off the tongue”
flaunt
show off
display ostentatiously
exalt
think or speak very highly of (someone or something).
the party will continue to exalt their hero.
promote
allude
suggest, hint
notwithstanding
in spite of , despite
“notwithstanding the evidence, the consensus (agreement) is that the jury will not reach a verdict (guilty or not)”
accordance
in agreement with, in line with
in accordance with — in a manner conforming with.
“the ballot was held in accordance with trade union rules”
atelier
a workshop or studio, especially one used by an artist or designer
drape
-arrange (cloth or clothing) loosely or casually on or round something.
“she draped a shawl around her shoulders”
-cover or wrap loosely with folds of cloth.
“the body was draped in a blanket”
- let (oneself or a part of one’s body) rest somewhere in a casual or relaxed way.
“he draped an arm around her shoulders”
liaison
-communication or cooperation which facilitates a close working relationship between people or organizations.
-a person who acts as a link to assist communication or cooperation between people.
plural noun: liaisons
- sexual relationship, especially one that is secret or illicit.
“He has been involved in an opportunistic sexual liaison with a work colleague”
snuffbox
a small ornamental box for holding snuff ( smokeless tobacco).
snuff
extinguish
“a breeze snuffed out the candle”
correspondence
a close similarity, connection, or equivalence.
“there is a simple correspondence between the distance of a focused object from the eye and the size of its image on the retina”
communication by exchanging letters.
“the organization engaged in detailed correspondence with local MPs”
convoke
call together or summon (an assembly or meeting).
“she sent messages convoking a Council of Ministers”
council : A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions.
Deliberate : engage in long and careful consideration.
“she deliberated over the menu”
constitution
the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government
insubordination
defiance of authority; refusal to obey orders.
“he was dismissed for insubordination”
pillage
rob a (place) using violence, especially in wartime. "the abbey was plundered and pillaged"
arsenal
a collection of weapons and military equipment.
bastille
jail
amass
gather together
arbitrary
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
(of power or a ruling body) unrestrained and autocratic in the use of authority.
“a country under arbitrary government”
wonderlust
a strong desire to travel.
His wanderlust would not allow him to stay long in one spot
municipal
What would municipal mean?
A municipality refers to a village, town, or city that’s usually governed by a mayor and council. From this noun, we get the adjective municipal, which you can use to describe something that relates to a town or its government
expatriate
a person who lives outside their native country.
exile, emigrant
horde
a large group of people
A horde of beery rugby fans.
vociferous
expressing or characterized by vehement ( showing strong feeling) opinions; loud and forceful.
“he was a vociferous opponent of the takeover”
vehement
showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.
“her voice was low but vehement”
brandish
wave or flourish (something, especially a weapon) as a threat or in anger or excitement.
“a man leaped out brandishing a knife”
stagecoach
a large closed horse-drawn vehicle formerly used to carry passengers and often mail along a regular route between two places.
exuberant
full of energy, excitement, and cheerfulness.
“a noisy bunch of exuberant youngsters”
misogynistic
strongly prejudiced against women.
“deeply ingrained misogynistic attitudes”
chauvinist
‘show-vvvv-nistic’
a person displaying aggressive or exaggerated patriotism
jingoistic
“a chauvinist rejection of foreign interference”
ingrained
(of a habit, belief, or attitude) firmly fixed or established; difficult to change.
“his deeply ingrained Catholic convictions”
damsel
a young, unmarried woman
strutting
“peacocks strut through the grounds”
walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
prance
(of a horse) move with high springy steps.
“the pony was prancing around the paddock”
(of a person) walk or move around with ostentatious, exaggerated movements.
“she pranced around the lounge impersonating her favourite pop stars”
ingenious
(of a person) clever, original, and inventive.
“he was ingenious enough to overcome the limited budget”
sequin
a small shiny disc sewn on to clothing for decoration.
“satin dresses trimmed (decorated) with pearls and sequins”
dwelling
A dwelling is a home — where someone lives. … If you know that to dwell means to live somewhere, then the meaning of dwelling won’t be a surprise: it’s an abode, domicile, or home
incessant
(of something regarded as unpleasant) continuing without pause or interruption.
“the incessant beat of the music”
ceaseless
obscenity
the state or quality of being obscene.
“the book was banned for obscenity”
Similar:
indecency, vulgarity
an extremely offensive word or expression.
plural noun: obscenities
“the men scowled ( angry expression) and muttered obscenities”
Stub out
stub out something definition: to stop the end of something, such as a cigar, from burning by pressing it against something else.
stubs out a cigarette
tread
walk in a specified way.
“Rosa trod as lightly as she could”
past tense : trod
past participle: trodden
fervent
having or displaying a passionate intensity.
“a fervent supporter of the revolution”
passionate, impassioned.
hot, glowing or burning
earmark
designate (funds or resources) for a particular purpose.
“the cash had been earmarked for a big expansion of the programme.
mark the ear of (a domesticated animal) as a sign of ownership or identity
foothold
a place where a person’s foot can be lodged (make or firmly fixed/ embedded in a place) to support them securely, especially while climbing.
a secure position from which further progress may be made.
“the company is attempting to gain a foothold in the Russian market”
threshold
the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested.
“nothing happens until the signal passes the threshold”
the maximum level of radiation or a concentration of a substance considered to be acceptable or safe.
“their water would meet the safety threshold of 50 milligrams of nitrates per litre”
Similar:
lower limit
starting point
minimum
margin
limen
the level at which one starts to feel or react to something.
“he has a low boredom threshold”
a level, rate, or amount at which something comes into effect.
“the inheritance tax threshold”
nodded off
drowsed off
fall asleep, especially briefly or unintentionally.
“he nodded off during the sermon”
drone
a continuous low humming sound
“in the far distance a machine droned”
duly
properly, as might be predicted
in accordance with what is required or appropriate; following proper procedure or arrangement.
“a document duly signed and authorized by the inspector”
moroseness
having a sullen and gloomy disposition.
He has a natural moroseness to his expression.
a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character.
“your sunny disposition has a way of rubbing off on those around you”
pugnacious
having a quarrelsome or combative nature : truculent / aggressive
eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight.
“his public statements became increasingly pugnacious”
infallible
error-free, unfailing
incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.
“doctors are not infallible”
run up
accumulate
allow a debt or bill to accumulate.
“he ran up debts of £153,000”
make something quickly or hurriedly, especially a piece of clothing.
“I’ll run up a dress for you”
countenance
- the look on a face that shows expression.
An example of countenance is wide eyes and a bright smile indicating joy.
support/ approval
keep someone in countenance : help someone to remain calm and confident.
“to keep herself in countenance she opened her notebook”
keep one’s countenance : maintain one’s composure, especially by refraining from laughter.
amenable
open and responsive to suggestion; easily persuaded or controlled.
“parents who have amenable children”
fraternize
associate or form a friendship with someone, especially when one is not supposed to.
“she ignored Elisabeth’s warning glare against fraternizing with the enemy”
corroborate
confirm or give support to (a statement, theory, or finding).
“the witness had corroborated the boy’s account of the attack”
bootstrap
get (oneself or something) into or out of a situation using existing resources.
“the company is bootstrapping itself out of a marred (spoil ) financial past”
candour
the quality of being open and honest; frankness.
“a man of refreshing candour”
bobbing up and down
to move up and down with short regular movements, especially on water that is rising and falling. bob up and down: The little boat bobbed up and down on the waves.
desolation
a state of complete emptiness or destruction.
“the stony desolation of the desert”
Misery, loneliness
“in choked desolation, she watched him leave”
ungainly
(of a person or movement) awkward; clumsy.
“an ungainly walk”
sprawl
sit, lie, or fall with one’s arms and legs spread out in an ungainly way.
“the door shot open, sending him sprawling across the pavement”
spread out over a large area in an untidy or irregular way.
“the town sprawled along several miles of cliff top”
contrite
repentant
feeling or expressing remorse at the recognition that one has done wrong.
“a contrite tone”
gash
lacerate, slash, tear apart
a long, deep cut or wound.
“a bad gash in one leg became infected”
“the jagged edges gashed their fingers
amalgamated
combine or unite to form one organization or structure.
“he amalgamated his company with another”
illusive
deceptive
“an illusive haven”
elusive
difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
“success will become ever more elusive”
difficult to remember.
“the elusive thought he had had moments before”
break someone’s fall
to stop someone who is falling from hitting the ground directly, so that they hurt themselves less than they would have done
stilted
(of a manner of talking or writing) stiff and self-conscious or unnatural.
“we made stilted conversation”
avert
turn away (one's eyes or thoughts). "she averted her eyes while we made stilted conversation"
prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence).
“talks failed to avert a rail strike”
cast your mind back
think about something that happened in past
To cast one’s self on
to yield (surrender) or submit one’s self unreservedly to, as to the mercy of another.
at the mercy of someone
If one person or thing is at the mercy of another, the first person or thing is in a situation where they cannot prevent themselves being harmed or affected by the second.
Reeking
wet with secreted or exuded moisture such as sweat or tears. “wiped his reeking neck” synonyms: watery wet.
Reek of
to emit smoke or vapor. 2a : to give off or become permeated with a strong or offensive odor
a room reeking of incense. b : to give a strong impression of some constituent (being a part of a whole.)quality or feature
a neighborhood that reeks of poverty. 3 : emanate.
countermand
rescind, revoke, cancel
revoke or cancel (an order).
“an order to arrest the strike leaders had been countermanded”
mosey ( informal )
walk or move in a leisurely manner.
“we decided to mosey on up to Montgomery”
walk or drive leisurely
i’ll just have a mosey round
thud
a dull, heavy sound, such as that made by an object falling to the ground.
“he hit the floor with a terrific thud”
thump, clunk, clonk, bang
derisive
expressing contempt or ridicule.
“he gave a harsh, derisive laugh”
trepidation
a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
“the men set off in fear and trepidation”
Upon
On
Upon is also used to mean ‘immediately after’, as in ‘Upon his release from prison, Davis went immediately to his mother’s house’.
seize
- take hold of suddenly and forcibly.
“she jumped up and seized his arm” - (of a feeling or pain) affect (someone) suddenly or acutely.
“he was seized by the most dreadful fear” - strongly appeal to or attract (the imagination or attention).
“the story of the king’s escape seized the public imagination” - Understand (something) quickly or clearly.
“he always strains to seize the most sombre truths” - (of a machine with moving parts) become jammed.
“I realized that the mechanism had seized” - fasten or attach (someone or something) to something by binding with turns of rope.
“Jack was seized to the gun and had his two dozen lashes”
solace
comfort or consolation in a time of distress or sadness.
“she sought solace in her religion”
give comfort or consolation to.
“the soundlessness of nature impressed and solaced her”
discourse
written or spoken communication or debate.
Eg: when you discuss something with your friends in person or over a chat platform.
speak or write authoritatively (confident, can be trusted, commanding way) about a topic.
“she could discourse at great length on the history of Europe”
zinger (informal)
a striking or amusing remark.
“open a speech with a zinger”
an outstanding person or thing.
“a zinger of a shot”
inveterate
habitual, ingrained, deep-rooted
having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.
“an inveterate gambler”
“the inveterate hostility between the two countries was not easily eradicated (eliminated)”
eradicate
get rid of, reduce
flout
-mock. scoff
-openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention (agreement, protocol, practice).
“the advertising code is being flouted”.
flaunt
display (something) ostentatiously, especially in order to provoke envy or admiration or to show defiance.
“newly rich consumers eager to flaunt their prosperity
peruse
read carefully
read (something), typically in a thorough or careful way.
“he has spent countless hours in libraries perusing art history books and catalogues”
indisputable
unable to be challenged or denied.
indisputable proof
phrasal verb : Zero in
take aim with a gun or missile.
“jet fighters zeroed in on the rebels’ positions”
focus one’s attention.
“they zeroed in on the clues he dropped about himself”
voracious
wanting or devouring great quantities of food.
“a voracious appetite”
engaging in an activity with great eagerness or enthusiasm.
“she’s a voracious reader
avid
having or showing a keen interest in or enthusiasm for something.
“an avid reader of science fiction”
having an eager desire for.
“she was avid for information about the murder inquiry”
pitfall
a hidden or unsuspected danger or difficulty.
“the pitfalls of buying goods at public auctions”
a covered pit for use as a trap.
authoritative
reliable
formidable
inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
“a formidable opponent”
tactile
of or connected with the sense of touch.
“vocal and visual signals become less important as tactile signals intensify”
perceptible by touch or apparently so; tangible.
“she had a distinct, almost tactile memory of the girl fleeing”
designed to be perceived by touch.
“tactile exhibitions help blind people enjoy the magic of sculpture”
omission
a person or thing that has been left out or excluded.
“there are glaring omissions in the report”
a failure to fulfil a moral or legal obligation.
“to pay compensation for a wrongful act or omission”
curtail
reduce in extent or quantity; impose a restriction on.
“civil liberties were further curtailed”
etymology
the origin of a word and the historical development of its meaning.
a branch of linguistics dealing with etymologies.
digression
a temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
“let’s return to the main topic after that brief digression”
unabashed
shameless, unembarrassed
“he was unabashed by the furore (outroar ,commotion) his words provoked”
divest
deprive someone of (power, rights, or possessions).
“men are unlikely to be divested of power without a struggle”
reconnoitre
survey , explore
make a military observation of (a region).
“they reconnoitred the beach some weeks before the landing”
off-grid
not using or depending on public utilities, especially the supply of electricity.
“off-grid housing”
“he has lived off-grid for 32 years”
deterrent
a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
“cameras are a major deterrent to crime”
contention
heated disagreement.
“the captured territory was the main area of contention between the two countries”
an assertion, especially one maintained in argument.
assertion : a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.
“Freud’s contention that all dreams were wish fulfilment”
in contention : having a good chance of success in a contest.
“three penalties kept the team firmly in contention”
procession
a number of people or vehicles moving forward in an orderly fashion, especially as part of a ceremony.
“a funeral procession” , march
makeshift
temporary
acting as an interim ( meantime) and temporary measure.
“arranging a row of chairs to form a makeshift bed”
behold
see or observe (someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature).
“behold your lord and prince!”
convoy
a group of ships or vehicles travelling together, typically one accompanied by armed troops, warships, or other vehicles for protection.
a convoy of lorries
prompt
Verb
(of an event or fact) cause or bring about (an action or feeling).
“the violence prompted a wave of refugees to flee the country”
encourage (a hesitating speaker) to say something.
“‘And the picture?’ he prompted”
Noun
an act of encouraging a hesitating speaker.
“with barely a prompt, Barbara talked on”
the time limit for the payment of an account, stated on a prompt note.
adjective
done without delay; immediate.
“she would have died but for the prompt action of two ambulancemen”
adverb BRITISH
exactly (with reference to a specified time).
“I set off at three-thirty prompt”
savvy
having good understanding
vigilant
observant
astute
having/ show an ability to accurately assess situation / people
“an astute businessman”
relentless
persistent
unceasingly intense.
“the relentless heat of the desert”
masquerade
pretense
I doubt he could have kept up the masquerade for long.
scrutiny
careful observation/ examination
The government’s record will be subjected to/come under (close) scrutiny in the weeks before the election.
conniving
given to ( prone/inclined to ) or involved in conspiring to do something immoral, illegal, or harmful.
conspire : make secret plans jointly to commit an unlawful or harmful act.
“they conspired against him”
“a heartless and conniving person”
deterrent
a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
“cameras are a major deterrent to crime”
mete
dispense or allot (allocate) justice, a punishment, or harsh treatment.
“punishments meted out to soldiers who violated army regulations”
incredulous
(of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.
“an incredulous gasp”
pew
a long bench with a back, placed in rows in the main part of some churches to seat the congregation.
an enclosure or compartment containing a number of seats, used in some churches to seat a particular worshipper or group of worshippers.
trail
draw or be drawn along behind someone or something.
“Alex trailed a hand through the clear water”
sweep, drag
present participle : Trailing
coursing
(of liquid) move without obstruction; flow.
“tears were coursing down her cheeks”
pursue (game, especially hares) with greyhounds using sight rather than scent.
“many of the hares coursed escaped unharmed”
tentative
hesitant
furore
an outbreak of public anger or excitement.
“the verdict raised a furore over the role of courtroom psychiatry”
frenzy
a state or period of uncontrolled excitement or wild behaviour.
“Doreen worked herself into a frenzy of rage”
morph
change smoothly from one image to another by small gradual steps using computer animation techniques.
“the characters can be morphed on screen”
undergo or cause to undergo a gradual process of transformation.
“the cute moppet has morphed into the moody moll of the indie world”
ordeal
a very unpleasant and prolonged experience.
“the ordeal of having to give evidence”