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
to deliver ___ sth
to deliver sth
to concede
to acknowledge the opponent’s point in argument
a pet peeve
one’s favourite subject of casual complaint
to r___ money/funds
to raise money/funds
to thrive ___ sth
to thrive on sth
to be lined up to do sth
to be scheduled to do something
a concession
a compromise or acknowledgment of the opponent in argument
hitherto
up until now; previously
a tributary
a river or stream flowing into a larger body
for care to ___ ___ sth
for care to go into sth
to falter
to hesitate, weaken, or lose momentum
“for all we know”
“as far as we know”
hackneyed
overused and unoriginal
a museum p___
a museum piece
effectively
practically; in effect (only)
to keep track of sth
to monitor or maintain awareness of something
to may/could/might well do/be sth
to be quite likely to do/be sth
emotional recall
reliving past emotions to enhance performance
to be absorbed ___ sth
to be absorbed in sth
to come to terms with sth
accept or reconcile with something
an inducement
sth that leads to an action; a motivation to act
jargon
specialized terms used by a specific group or profession
to navigate an issue
to manage or deal with an issue
a credential
a qualification or achievement proving ability
to reap sth
to harvest or obtain something
a proposition
a statement or suggestion to be considered
to tout sth
to promote or praise something enthusiastically
to do sth as a last resort
to do sth as a final option
to be h___ competitive
to be highly competitive
mundane
ordinary, dull, or lacking excitement
notorious
famous for negative reasons; infamous
a queue
a line or sequence of people waiting
to do sth on cue
to do something when required (even with little/no warning)
untapped
not yet utilized or exploited
to be devoted to sth
to be committed or dedicated to something
malicious
intending harm or evil
a sedentary lifestyle
an inactive lifestyle with little physical activity
an e___ of access
an ease of access
to crumble ___ sth
to crumble into sth
sb’s chance ___ ___ sth
sb’s chance of doing sth
questionable
possibly inappropriate
to be enthralled ___ sth
to be enthralled by sth
a premise
an assumption forming the basis of an argument
to ___ harm to sb
to do/bring harm to sb
stage fright
nervousness before a performance
to v___ deny sth
to vehemently deny sth
harnessing
act of utilizing or controlling something effectively
a preparation ___ sth
a preparation for sth
but for sth
except for sth
detrimental
harmful or damaging
to (just) about to do sth
to be (very) close to doing sth
emotional intelligence
the ability to understand and manage emotions in self and others
to have/get sth done
to arrange for sth to be done
in turn (adv.)
consequently or as a result
to be in disbelief
to have difficulty accepting something as true
“to name a few” (adv.)
(expression used to give examples)
surmountable
able to be overcome or dealt with successfully
a prospect of sb doing sth
likelihood of someone achieving something
to ___ care
to take care
to ___ no difference to sb
to make no difference to sb
jaded
lacking enthusiasm/excitement (due to overexposure)
ungrounded
lacking a basis or justification
in unison with sth
acting together harmoniously with sth
a standing ovation
audience’s applause while standing, expressing great approval
just (adj.)
fair and morally right
to form an opinion about sth
to develop a judgment or view on something
clamour (to clamour)
loud indistinct sound (usually of people)
to underact/overact
to perform with too little or too much emotion
a hypochondriac
a person excessively worried about their health
to deface sth
to damage sth’s appearance
a f___ claim
a false/frivolous claim
to get sth done
to ensure a task or work is completed
“sb was ___ (blame) for sth”
“sb was to blame for sth”
to boast sth
to proudly show sth; to be well known for sth
to date back to sth
to come from a specific past time
self-sufficient
independent and able to provide for oneself
a ballpark figure
an approximate estimate
to take up sth
to begin a new activity
to enable ___ sth
to enable sth
a witness ___ sth
a witness to sth (as a person)
to flaunt sth
to show off something to impress others
to find sth (adj.)
to view sth to have a quality of (adj.)
for explanation to be ___
for explanation to be given
prose
written language
an adaptation of sth
a modified version of something (usually across format/platform/language/etc.)
enmeshed
tangled or deeply involved in something complicated
justified
having a valid reason or explanation
pronouncement
formal announcement or declaration
a talent ___ sth
a talent for sth
to be preoccupied ___ sth
to be preoccupied with sth
to c___ to an end
to come to an end
to play sth by ear
to act without a fixed plan; improvise
to converge
to come together a single point and become one
vehemently
with intense resistance or insistence
to have/get sb doing sth
to cause someone to begin doing something
to stem from sth
originate from or be caused by something
catch-22
a contradictory situation with no clear solution, often in the system
to adapt to sth
to change oneself to better fit into sth
to dabble with sth
to try something casually or sporadically
a s___ illness
a severe illness
knock-on effect
secondary, indirect consequence
to stem ___ sth
to stem from sth
to own up to sth
to admit responsibility for sth
a precedent
an earlier example that guides future actions
to ___ an impression on sb
to make an impression on sb
tranquility
the state of being calm or peaceful
enduring
lasting over time; persistent
decimation
severe destruction or reduction of something
to be driven by sth
to be motivated or propelled by something
to reassure sb of sth
to give sb confidence or faith in sth
to g___ interest
to generate interest
to thrive on sth
to be successful or well thanks to sth; to enjoy sth greatly
to strut
to walk proudly or confidently
to be symptomatic ___ sth
to be symptomatic of sth (to be a symptom of sth)
to b___ witness to sth
to bear witness to sth
to have come a long way
to have made significant improvement or progress
to be hard-pressed
to be pressured
to the best of one’s knowledge
as far as one knows
to take to sth
to start liking or becoming skilled at something
to enumerate
to list or mention things one by one
a shipwright
a person who builds or repairs ships
to buy into sth
to believe, support or participate in something
hustle
busy and vigorous work
revelation
surprising fact or discovery, often previously unknown
to crumble into sth
break apart or fall into sth
to dispel sth
to remove sth’s effect
to take off
(as progress) to become successful; (as an aeroplane) to achieve lift
to reach a wider audience
to connect with more diverse or numerous people
to ring a bell
to seem familiar or recognizable
wilderness
uncultivated, natural area with minimal human presence
to tag along with sb to sth
to accompany sb to sth (often without proper invitation)
to come cheap
to be inexpensive or affordable
sartorial
related to fine clothing
to set about doing sth
to begin or start something
to run dry (to go dry)
to be depleted (as resource)
a track record
history of achievements or past performance
deafening
extremely loud or overwhelming in sound
to lavish A with B
to generously give A an abundance of B
an insistence ___ sth
an insistence on sth
to cling to/onto sth
to hold on to sth; to not abandon sth
cutting edge
highly advanced, innovative, or pioneering
frivolous
lacking seriousness or authenticity
to originate ___ sth
to originate in sth
a pastime
a leisure activity or hobby
to be captivated ___ sth
to be captivated by sth
to be passable as sth
to be adequately or acceptably similar to sth
to counteract sth
to act against sth (a previous action) to neutralize its effect
“I’d like ___ sth”
“I’d like to do sth”
to be at ease
feel comfortable or relaxed
to seem/appear (adj.) to sb
to give the impression of being (adj.) for sb
alien
foreign, unfamiliar, or strange
the minute sb does sth / has done sth
as soon as sb does sth / has done sth
to adopt sth
to make sth one’s own
imperative (adj.)
absolutely necessary or urgent
a proof ___ sth
a proof of sth
a taste ___ sth
a taste in sth
unassailable
unable to be questioned
trivial
of little importance or value
to take on sth
to accept a task or responsibility
to fret
to worry or feel anxious
lavish
extravagant, luxurious, or over-the-top
surmountable (neg.)
insurmountable
to be bound to do/be sth
to be certain to happen
a setback
a problem or delay hindering progress
have no intention ___ ___ sth
have no intention of doing sth
to ravage sth
to severely damage or devastate something
dynamic meditation
active meditation involving movement or activity
an interpretation ___ sth
an interpretation of sth
more often than not
usually
to g___ a grounding/experience
to gain a grounding/experience
to i___ coma/pain
to induce coma/pain
to inquire/enquire about sth
to ask for information about sth
to turn up (show up) at sth
to appear or arrive at a place
