Vocabulary-Spoken-1

Question 1

plaid

Answer 1

a pattern on cloth of stripes with different widths that cross each other to form squares — often used before another noun
a plaid skirt

Question 2

keep your cool

Answer 2

He kept/maintained his cool [=he didn’t get angry or upset] even though it was clear that he was being unfairly treated.

Question 3

huddle

Answer 3

1 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to come close together in a group
People were huddling (together) in doorways to get out of the rain.
We huddled around the campfire.
The sheep huddled together for warmth.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus” (1883)

2 always followed by an adverb or preposition : to sit or lie in a curled or bent position
The students huddled over their desks.

3 a : to come together to talk about something privately
Union representatives are huddling to discuss the proposal.

Question 4

to be snowed in

to be snowed under

Answer 4

Snowed in: Literally, there is too much snow outside, which is keeping someone inside. Example: I can’t go to class because we are snowed in today.

Snowed under: Figuratively, there is a lot of work to do. Example: I am really snowed under at work–I have a lot to finish by the end of the week.

Question 5

TLC (informal)

Answer 5

[noncount] informal

: care and attention that is given to make someone feel better, to improve the bad condition of something, etc.

He just needed some rest and a little TLC.
It’s an old house that needs some TLC.
◊ TLC is an abbreviation of “tender loving care.”

Question 6

go places (idiom)

Answer 6

: to become successful

She has enough ambition to really go places.
The band is clearly going places.

Question 7

goofball

Answer 7

a silly or stupid person

The boy is being goofball.

Question 8

get a rise out of

Answer 8

: to cause (someone) to react in an angry way : to make (someone) angry or upset

Ignore her. She’s just trying to get a rise out of you.

Question 9

cupid

Answer 9

1 Cupid [singular] : the god of sexual love in ancient Rome

2 [count] : a picture or statue of Cupid usually shown as a naked boy with wings who is holding a bow and arrow

a valentine decorated with hearts and cupids

play Cupid

: to try to get two people to become romantically involved with each other

The movie is about a woman who plays Cupid with her brother and her best friend.

Question 10

smitten

Answer 10

1 : in love with someone or something

From the moment he saw her, he was smitten.
— usually + by or with
He was smitten with her from the moment he laid eyes on her.
I was smitten by his good looks.
consumers smitten with the latest gadgets

2 : suddenly affected by something (such as a strong emotion or a serious illness) — usually + by or with

He was smitten by disaster.
She was smitten with terror.

Question 11

on exhibit

Answer 11

being publicly shown in an exhibition

The photographs are on exhibit in the museum’s west wing.
The painting went on exhibit last week.
The painting was put on exhibit.

Question 12

scant

Answer 12

very small in size or amount

Food was in scant supply.
She paid scant attention to the facts.
Police found scant evidence of fraud.

Question 13

no sweat

Answer 13

with little or no difficulty : EASILY

I can do that no sweat.
“Can you move that big board for me?” “Sure, no sweat.”
“Thanks a lot for your help.” “No sweat.” [=helping was not difficult and I was glad to do it]

Question 14

hunker down

Answer 14

to stay in a place for a period of time

The leaders hunkered down at a country estate for difficult peace negotiations.
The couple is hunkering down by the fire.

Question 15

eyesore

Answer 15

an ugly object or building

The shack is a real eyesore.

Question 16

resplendent

Answer 16

[more resplendent; most resplendent] literary

very bright and attractive

The fields were resplendent with flowers.
She looked resplendent in her green evening gown.
a bird with resplendent yellow feathers

Question 17

steep (v.)

Answer 17

to put (something) in a liquid for a period of time
Steep the tea for three minutes.
The tea steeped for five minutes.

steep in [phrasal verb]
1 steep (someone) in (something) : to make (someone) know and understand a lot about (something)
Prior to his trip, he spent a few weeks steeping himself in the language. [=learning a lot about the language]
— often used as (be) steeped in
She was steeped in the classics. [=she had learned a lot about the classics]

2 — used as (be) steeped in to say that there is a lot of something in a place, time, etc.
an area steeped in history [=an area where many important historical events occurred]
It was a time in the nation’s history that was steeped in bloodshed. [=a time when there was a lot of bloodshed]