Week 3 Day 1 Flashcards
top of the heap
when you are at the top of the heap you are in a higher position than everyone else, usually in terms of power, wealth and ability (Minchee is now the CEO at an accountancy firm. I always knew she would get to the top of the heap.
When it comes to photographers, Barbara is at the top of the heap. She’s won so many awards.)
on the scrap heap
If something or someone is on the scrap heap, it means it is no longer wanted or needed (Marco was the first choice goalkeeper at his football club for many years. But when he got old, the manager bought a younger player and Marco ended up on the scrap heap.)
To flag up
To flag something up is to emphasize its importance, or to mention it so that others know about it. (At the meeting Martin flagged up the issue of late payments. He said that we hadn’t paid our suppliers for three months.
There are a couple of points that I’d like to flag up today: one is the increasing number of customer complaints and the other is the problem with our computer system.)
flagging
If you are flagging, it means you are becoming weaker and running out of energy. (I worked really hard from 7 am until lunch, but after lunch I was really flagging!)
busting
small flags on strings, used to decorate buildings and streets in special occasions (Bunting is a common sight at celebrations in the UK.)
sporting (be sporting something)
to wear sth or have sth on your body and show it to people in a proud way (Eric was sporting a new camelhair coat.) (Why is Hugh Jackman sporting a bandage on his nose?)
gush
to express your praise, pleasure in a way that other people think is too strong (No stranger to gushing about his wife, Jackman revealed it was his wife who encouraged him to get the mark checked.)
warfare
the activity of fighting a war (The use of killer robots have raised serious questions about the 21 century warfare.)
autonomous
the ability to make decisions by themselves, independent (There is a growing concern about the use of lethal autonomous weapons.)
ethics
set of beliefs or principles that tell people what is right and wrong (Human rights groups question the ethics of allowing killer robots to take decisions on life and death.)
ratify
to make an agreement become official (There are approximately 50 countries which have ratified the convention on conventional weapons.)
bottomless
unlimited, no boundaries (I have seen bottomless in menus, it usually refers to drinks. You can have bottomless drinks.)
bottomless pit
when someone or something wants more than it has given to especially money (The government doesn’t have a bottomless pit of money to spend on public services.)
throng
crowded, full of people, a large number of people in a place (Where do you park your bicycle in a crowded, thronging city like Tokyo?)
subterranean
under the ground (You can park your vehicle in a subterranean parking.)
