Vocabulary Revision (Week 4) Flashcards
mediocrity
a quality of being average or lacking excellence
oppression
abuse of power to restrict others’ freedom/rights/etc.
tranquil
calm, peaceful, and serene
to ___ no mention of sth
to make no mention of sth
to have sb do sth
to instruct sb to do sth
to shrivel
to wither or become smaller and wrinkled
rambunctious
energetic, noisy, and difficult to control
to point sth out
to highlight or draw attention to something
to go off
(as a phone/alarm) to ring
a playwright
a person who writes plays
to harness sth
to control and utilize something (e.g. resource, power, etc.)
a shortcoming
fault, flaw, or weakness in someone or something
backbreaking
physically demanding or exhausting
to find oneself doing sth
to be in a situation, often unintentionally
inhibited
restrained or unable to act freely
to fit in with sth
to blend harmoniously with something
to carry on doing sth
to continue performing or engaging in something
an imperative
a crucial or urgent requirement
austere
simple, strict, or lacking luxury
to be recognized as sth
socially accepted as sth
a remedy for sth
a solution or cure for something
to antagonize sb
to create hostility and annoyance in sb
to hark back to sth
to revisit or refer to sth from the past
fabrication
- false or made-up information; 2. process of making something
to erode
to gradually wear away or diminish sth
to step into the spotlight
to gain public attention or focus
to be alleged to do/be sth
to be accused of wrongdoing, often without proof
solace
comfort or consolation in a time of distress
a deterrent to/against sth
something that discourages action or behavior
to have had enough (of sth)
to no longer be able to tolerate or endure something
unprecedented
never done or known before
to be intent on doing sth
to be determined to achieve something
straightforward
simple, clear, or easy to understand
ordinary (neg.)
extraordinary
“only time will tell”
“it is uncertain”
to be recognizable as sth
having a familiar or identifiable quality of sth
to change one’s tune
to alter one’s opinion or position (often drastically or unexpectedly)
to brag about sth
to talk proudly, often arrogantly, about sth
to resurge
to return or revive after a decline
to resonate ___ sth
to resonate with sth
to stick ___ sth
to stick with sth
solidarity
unity or mutual support within a group
a curtain call
a performer’s final bow after a show
in contrast ___ sth
in contrast with sth
a dress rehearsal
near-final practice before a performance
to put up with sth
to tolerate or endure something unpleasant
a testimony ___ sth
a testimony to sth
to pull out all stops
to use maximum effort or resources
for darkness to f___
for darkness to fall
reticence
reluctance to speak or express oneself; the quality of being reserved
to set the bar (high/low)
to establish a standard or expectation (high/low)
initiative / an initiative
ability to act independently / organized effort to achieve a goal
to ___ notice of sth
to take notice of sth
to prepare ___ sth
to prepare for sth
to stand/stick ___ sb
to stand/stick by sb
tatty
old, worn out or run down in appearance
to be hard-pressed ___ sth
to be hard-pressed to do sth / for sth
a notion
an idea, belief, or concept
to turn sth out
to produce or create something, often quickly
a harness
a device for securing or controlling
to be in the limelight
to be the focus of (public) attention
to wallow in sth
to lie in water; to indulge in negative emotions (e.g. sadness)
to ___ difficulty (in) doing sth
to have difficulty (in) doing sth
to be (highly) touted
to be considered (very) valuable
evidence ___ sth
evidence of sth
a reason ___ sth
a reason for sth / to do sth
pervasive
spreading widely throughout an area or group
to restore A to B
to return A to B (its original state)
a prerequisite
a requirement
mediocre
of average quality; not good or bad
to allow ___ sth
to allow for sth
to surge
to rise suddenly or powerfully
penultimate
second to last in a sequence
to be a prerequisite for sth
be necessary before something can happen
to sample sth
to try or test something briefly
to get sb to do sth
to persuade sb to do sth
at the expense of sth
by sacrificing sth
to provide sb ___ sth
to provide sb with sth
to work towards sth
to make efforts or progress toward a goal
a stint (a run)
a short, defined period of activity or work (e.g. a 10-year stint, one’s first/second stint)
to stand to do/be sth
to be likely to do/be something
ingenuity
inventiveness and creativity
an intervention
an act of becoming involved to change an outcome
subtleties
small, delicate details or nuances
a thirst ___ sth
a thirst for sth
to be on the point ___ ___ sth
to be on the point of doing sth (to be on the verge of doing sth)
capture -> (n.)
captivity
in the same ballpark
approximately similar in amount or range
to m___ a significant progress ___ sth
to make a significant progress in sth
resurgent
continuing to revive after a period of inactivity
to pop into sth
to enter or visit briefly
to retain sth
to keep sth or not lose sth
to make a comeback
to regain success or popularity
to run on sth
to operate or function using something
antepenultimate
third to last in a sequence
inhibition
restraint or suppression of behavior
to go through with sth
carry out or complete something, despite difficulty
to yet to do sth
to not have done something yet
strictly speaking
in the most accurate or specific sense
to liken A to B
compare A to B as being similar
proliferation
rapid increase or spread of something
to be detrimental to sth
to cause harm or damage to sth
an understudy
a replacement apprentice performer
to r___ the benefits of sth
to reap the benefits of sth
to get one’s teeth into sth
to tackle or engage deeply in something challenging
a stigma
a negative association
to be good/bad ___ sb/sth
to be good/bad for sb/sth
to h___ invest in sth
to heavily invest in sth
to gain ground
to make progress or advance
to dredge sth up
to dig sth up (old memories, buried objects, etc.)
“however (adj.) it may seem”
no matter how (adj.) it appears
to ___ effort / to ___ an effort
to put in effort / to make an effort
to query sb on sth
to ask someone about something
to be v___ against sth
to be vehemently against sth
to ___ a lack of sth
to have a lack of sth
