Week Twelve Flashcards
Convulse
V: to shake violently, or to cause someone to shake without control
Example:
The audience convulsed with laughter.
Launch into something
Phrasal verb: to start saying something or criticizing something with a lot of energy or anger
Example:
He launched into a verbal attack on her handling of the finances.
Diatribe
N: an angry speech or piece of writing that severely criticizes something or someone; bitter criticism
Example:
launch into a diatribe against: He launched into a long diatribe against the lack of action in Congress.
Inhibition
N: a feeling of embarrassment or worry that prevents you from saying or doing what you want; restraint
Example:
-lose your inhibition: After a couple of drinks he lost his inhibition and started talking and laughing loudly.
-She was determined to shed her inhibitions and have a good time.
Fortuitous
Adj: (of something that is to your advantage) not planned, happening by chance; accidental
Example:
-The timing of the meeting is certainly fortuitous.
-The collapse of its rivals was a fortuitous opportunity for the company.
Storm out
Phrasal verb: to leave a place quickly when you are angry or upset about something
example
storm out: My girlfriend stormed out and slammed the door behind her.
Incoherent
Adj: expressing yourself in a way that is not clear
Example:
He was confused and incoherent and I didn’t get much sense out of him.
İlk
N: a particular type; kind; sort
Example:
-of someone’s ilk: The worst of her criticism was reserved for journalists, photographers, and others of their ilk.
-of that ilk:They do not give children chicken nuggets, potato smiley faces, or processed foods of that ilk.
Expenditure
N: the total amount of money that a government or person spends
Example:
expenditure on: The government’s annual expenditure on arms has been reduced.
Imminent
Adj: coming or likely to happen very soon
Example:
-imminent disaster/danger
-A strike is imminent.
Construe
V: to understand the meaning of something in a particular way
Example:
That comment could be construed in either of two ways.
Clandestine
Adj: planned or done in secret
Example:
a clandestine meeting
All-round
Adj: used to say that a person has many different types of skills and abilities
Example:
She’s a fantastic all-round sportswoman.
Come about
Phrasal verb: to happen, or start to happen
Example:
How did the problem come about in the first place?
Prestigious
Adj: very much respected and admired, usually because of being important
Example:
-a prestigious literary award
-a prestigious university
Apprentice
N: someone who works for an expert to learn a particular skill or job
Example:
He worked for two years as a plumber’s apprentice
Integral
Adj: necessary and important as a part of a whole; essential
Example:
integral part: He’s an integral part of the team and we can’t do without him.
integral to: Bars and terrace cafés are integral to the social life of the city.
Remuneration
N: payment for work or services
Example:
-They demanded adequate remuneration for their work.
-In return for some caretaking duties, we are offering a free apartment and a small remuneration.
-a remuneration package
Nominal
Adj: A nominal amount of money is very small compared to an expected price or value
Example:
-a nominal sum/charge
-For a nominal fee, they will deliver orders to customers’ homes.
Loot
V: (usually of large numbers of people during a violent event) to steal from shops and houses
Example:
During the riot shops were looted and cars damaged or set on fire.
Ledger
N: a book in which items are regularly recorded, esp. business activities and money received or paid
Script
N:
1.the words of a film, play, broadcast, or speech
Example:
script for:Bruce Robinson wrote the script for “The Killing Fields”.
- an answer paper written by a student in an exam
Example:
Don’t forget to write your name at the top of your script.
Perspire
V: or polite word for sweat (= to pass liquid through the skin)
Example:He was perspiring in his thick woollen suit.
Expunge
V: to cause something to be forgotten; to erase
Example:
expunge something from your memory: She has been unable to expunge the details of the accident from her memory.
Debit
N: (a record of) money taken out of a bank account
Example:
Debits are shown in the left-hand column.
Flamboyant
Adj: brightly colored and easily noticed
Example:
His clothes were rather flamboyant for such a serious occasion.
Anathema
N: something that is strongly disliked or disapproved of
Example:
-Credit controls are anathema to the government.
-For older employees, the new system is an anathema.
Schism
N: a division of a group into two opposing groups, esp. in a church; split
Widen
V: to become, or to make something greater in width
Example:
As it approaches the sea, the river begins to widen (out).
Pernicious
Adj: having a very harmful effect or influence
Example:
The book focuses on the pernicious effects of slavery.
Corrupt
Adj: dishonest and willing to use your position or power to your own advantage, esp. for money
Example:
It’s been called the most politically corrupt city in the nation.
Irony
N: a situation in which something which was intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result
Example:
The irony (of it) is that the new tax system will burden those it was intended to help.
Timorous
Adj: nervous and without much confidence; fearful
Truncate
V: to make something shorter or quicker, especially by removing the end of it
Example:
Television coverage of the event was truncated by a technical fault.
Jaunty
Adj: showing that you are happy and confident; sprightly
Example:
-a jaunty grin/step
-When he came back his hat was at a jaunty angle and he was smiling.
Tryout
N: a competition for a position on a team or a part in a play
Example:
Tryouts for the team will be held next week.
Fractious
Adj: easily upset or annoyed, and often complaining; quarrelsome
Example:
a fractious child
Assign
V: to give a particular job or piece of work to someone
Example:
-UN troops were assigned the task of rebuilding the hospital.
-The case has been assigned to our most senior officer.
Ostentatious
Adj: intended to attract admiration or notice; showy
Example:
-ostentatious jewelry
-ostentatious gestures
Stage-struck
Adj: If you are stage-struck, you are extremely interested in the theatre and want to become an actor.
Strut
V: to walk in a proud way trying to look important
Example:The boys strutted around trying to get the attention of a group of girls who were nearby.
Compound
V: to make a problem or difficult situation worse
Example:
-Her terror was compounded by the feeling that she was being watched.
-His financial problems were compounded when he unexpectedly lost his job.
