Words Flashcards
Yardstick
Masura, etalon, criteriu
“There is currently a worldwide debate on poverty yardsticks to identify the poor.”
Hone in
to move toward or focus attention on an objective <a>
“We now need to hone in on our unique strategy.”
“Obama homes in on our economy.”</a>
Make off
A o sterge, a o lua la sanatoasa
Make off with
A o sterge cu; a fura
“Make sure that scruffy guy isn’t trying to make off with the crockery.”
To parse
A face analiza gramaticala, a analiza
“It is the scientists’ job to parse out exactly what is the relevance of our work to the public.”
Puny
Mic, slab
Anemic, plapand
“Puny humans”
Impish
Poznas, malitios; dracesc
“Impish grin”
Dour
Aspru, dur
“Dour young man who displays all the symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.”
Skewer
Frigaruie
Moniker
Nume, porecla
Debauchery
Desfrau, destrabalare; lacomie
“He returned to Rome, where he abandoned himself to all kinds of debauchery and excess.”
Lambaste
A dojeni cu asprime
“Old hand Kevin Spacey has lambasted audience members in character.”
To scoff
A dispretui; a-si bate joc
“A rider scoffed at Mayor de Blasio’s planned vacation.”
To irk
A obosi, a plictisi
“Broken ticket machines, unforgiving conductors still irk riders even if new equipment is available.”
To renege
A nu se tine de cuvant
“Now the railroad threatened to renege on its most basic promise.”
To weather
to deal with or experience (something dangerous or unpleasant) without being harmed or damaged too much
“Some riders planned to weather the strike by taking a few extra vacation days at home.”
Harried
Hartuit, chinuit
“Harried riders swarmed out of the train and onto the platform.”
To dwarf
A se micsora, a pali
“The inconvenience of getting off a train two stops early was dwarfed by a strike.”
Poised
: not moving but ready to move
: ready or prepared for something
: in a state, place, or situation that is between two different or opposite things
“He stands to the left of the train door, poised to dash out as soon as it begins to slide open.”
To stave off
A opri, a ingradi, a restrange
“He staved off gloom by muttering a prayer.”
To roil
A tulbura; a supara, a necaji
“Eastern Ukraine has been roiled for months by an uprising.”
Airborne
: in the air : moving or being carried through the air
of soldiers : specially trained to jump from airplanes into enemy territory for battle ; also : of or relating to airborne soldiers
“Flights already airborne are being routed around the area by traffic controllers.”
To ramp up
to increase, expand, or decrease especially quickly or at a constant rate — with up or down
Jaw-dropping
: causing great surprise or astonishment
Germane
Inrudit, corespunzator; care are legatura cu
synonyms relevant
To be down on your luck
to be experiencing a bad situation or to have very little money :
“Mr. Taylor was perpetually down on his luck, living in an abandoned house and looking for odd jobs.”
To err on the side of something
To choose an action that may be too extreme
“If we’re not sure what to do, let’s err on the side of being prepared.”
To garble
to cause (a word, name, message, etc.) to be unclear or confusing
Rattle
4 : to upset especially to the point of loss of poise and composure : disturb
“He seemed unusually rattled, so they sat on the porch and performed breathing exercises.”
Etch
to delineate or impress clearly
“A dance routine as sharply etched as a tango”
Face off
to be in or come into opposition or competition
To taunt
synonyms ridicule
“A taunting seduction”
To jeer
to shout insulting words at someone : to laugh at or criticize someone in a loud and angry way
