Words P151-200 Flashcards
Usher
to show someone where they should go, or to make someone go where you want them to go
She ushered us into her office and offered us a coffee.
Portal
- a website that helps you find other websites
- [usually plural] literary a tall and impressive gate or entrance to a building
– Against
One favorite, a tiny post office installed against dogwood, collected around 100 letters.
next to and touching or being supported by (something)
Offset v.
The extra cost of travelling to work is offset by the lower price of houses here.
to balance one influence against an opposing influence, so that there is no great difference as a result
Arbitrary
CHANCE
■based on chance rather than being planned or based on reason
arbitrary decision-making
UNFAIR
■using unlimited personal power without considering other people’s wishes
*The company has been the subject of an arbitrary take-over.
Esophagus
the tube which food passes down from your mouth to your stomach
Soluble
a soluble substance can be dissolved in a liquid
OPP insoluble
water-soluble (=that can be dissolved in water) fat-soluble
Constipation
the condition of having difficulty in getting rid of solid waste from your body
Imbibe
Both men imbibed considerable quantities of gin.
to drink something, especially alcohol – sometimes used humorously
Gestric
relating to your stomach
Peppermint
a plant with a strong taste and smell, often used in sweets
Strenuous
*His doctor advised him not to take any strenuous exercise.
■needing or using a lot of physical or mental effort or energy
Stool
medical a piece of solid waste from your bowels
Cramp
n. a severe pain that you get in part of your body when a muscle becomes too tight, making it difficult for you to move that part of your body
Several players were suffering from cramp
v. to prevent the development of someone or something
SYN hinder, restrict:
Stricter anti-pollution laws may cramp economic growth.
Debut
[n.] the first public appearance of an entertainer, sports player etc or of something new and important
[v.] to appear in public or become available for the first time
Yale has consistently ranked as the top law school since the list debuted, while Harvard has been in the top five. Law schools submit data to US News & World Report for its rankings.
Rostrum
a small platform that you stand on when you are making a speech or conducting musicians
Savvy n.
practical knowledge and ability
He’s obviously got a lot of political savvy.
Fallout
The political fallout of the revelations has been immense.
the results of a particular event, especially when they are unexpected
Obscurity
- [uncountable] the state of not being known or remembered
It has been preserved by centuries of obscurity and abandonment. - [uncountable and countable] something that is difficult to understand, or the quality of being difficult to understand vague – obscure
obscurities in the text
Trek
to walk a long way, especially in the mountains, as an adventure
SYN hike
For five days he trekked across the mountains of central China.
Frigid
COLD
■(of weather conditions or the conditions in a room) extremely cold
*Few plants can grow in such a frigid environment.
UNFRIENDLY
■unfriendly or very formal
*There’s a rather frigid atmosphere in the school.
Thaw
- [intransitive and transitive] (also thaw out) if ice or snow thaws, or if the sun thaws it, it turns into water
OPP freeze:
The lake thawed in March. - [intransitive and transitive] (also thaw out) to let frozen food become warmer until it is ready to cook
OPP freeze:
Thaw frozen meat in its packet and then cook as soon as possible.
Bracelet
a band or chain that you wear around your wrist or arm as a decoration
Taper
■to become gradually narrower at one end, or to make something do this
In Japan, the chopsticks are shorter and taper to the end.
Phrasal Verbs taper off
■to become gradually smaller or less frequent
Her voice tapered off as she realized everyone was listening.
Customary
Traditional
In my village, it is customary for a girl to take her mother’s name.
Spike
if the number or rate of something spikes, it increases quickly and by a large amount
When gang violence spiked, parents at a Louisiana high school said “not on our watch”
Brawl
two groups of boys brawled across the courtyard at Southwood high school in Shreveport, Louisiana.
to quarrel or fight in a noisy way, especially in a public place
– Battery
CRIME [uncountable] law the crime of hitting someone
One was charged with battery for allegedly hitting an assistant principal.
Boisterous
someone, especially a child, who is boisterous makes a lot of noise and has a lot of energy
Now, anyone who wants to enter the school with rage and a closed fist will have to dodge boisterous papa bears, big smiles, and positive affirmation.
– Pilot
to test a new idea, product etc on people to find out whether it will be successful
The new exams are currently being piloted in a number of areas
Allot
to use a particular amount of time for something, or give a particular share of money, space etc to someone or something
Everyone who works for the company has been allotted ten shares.
Accrue /əˈkruː/
if advantages accrue to you, you get those advantages over a period of time
the benefits that accrue to upper-class students
if money accrues or is accrued, it gradually increases over a period of time:
The study revealed that the effect take times to accrue, so aspirin should be taken over a long period.
Libel
a piece of writing which contains bad and false things about a person
She threatened to sue the magazine for libel.
Lax
not strict or careful enough about standards of behavior, work, safety etc
SYN slack
He toke a gun through baggage control to highlight the lax security.
– Sanction
to officially accept or allow something
SYN approve:
The church refused to sanction the king’s second marriage.
Debris
the pieces of something that are left after it has been destroyed in an accident, explosion etc
So far, they found only debris.
– Appropriate
to take something, especially money, to use for a particular purpose
Congress appropriated $5 million for International Women’s Year.
Bluff
■to deceive someone by making them think either that you are going to do something when you really have no intention of doing it, or that you have knowledge that you do not really have, or that you are someone else
Is he going to jump or is he only bluffing**?
**Tony seems to know a lot about music, but sometimes I think he’s only bluffing.
Incursion
- a sudden attack on or act of going into a place, especially across a border
Russia began a military incursion into eastern Ukraine in 2014.
Supplant
to take the place of a person or thing so that they are no longer used, no longer in a position of power etc
SYN replace:
all over the world, open-air markets are being supplanted by supermarket.
Tract
the digestive/reproductive/urinary etc tract a system of connected organs that have one main purpose in a part of your body
Plasma is made mostly of water and salts that we absorb through our digestive tracts everyday.
Stipulate
if an agreement, law, or rule stipulates something, it must be done
SYN state
Laws stipulate the maximum interest rate that banks can charge.
Apprehend
if the police apprehend a criminal, they catch him or her
SYN arrest:
The police have failed to apprehend the culprits.
Havoc
a situation in which there is a lot of damage or a lack of order, especially so that it is difficult for something to continue in the normal way
SYN chaos
A strike will cause havoc for commuters.
In a bind
in a difficult situation
Now, the costs of that approach are piling up, putting China in a bind from which there appears to be on easy escape, scientists said in interviews.
Glaring
very bad and very noticeable
SYN obvious:
Glaring errors
The vaccination gaps in China’s older population are all the more glaring because the country has achieved relatively strong coverage overall.
Lip service
to say that you support or agree with something without doing anything to prove it
But some experts, like Yanzhong Huang, a global health specialist and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, expressed skepticism that the move was much more than lip service.
Provocation
an action or event that makes someone angry or upset, or is intended to do this ⇨ provoke
She claims that Graham attacked her without any provocation.
Thwart
to stop something from happening or someone from doing something
Colleges and universities have been critical of the U.S. News ranking system of decades, saying that it was unreliable and skewed educational priorities, but they have rarely taken action to thwart it, and every year almost always submitted their data for judgement on their various undergraduate and graduate programs.
Motif
an idea, subject, or image that is regularly repeated and developed in a book, film, work of art etc:
The designer balance is two very different motifs and brand histories.
Feudal
relating to the social system of Western Europe in the Middle Ages or any society that is organized according to rank
*the feudal system
Sustenance
food that people or animals need in order to live:
Without sustenance, the animals will soon die
Astute
able to understand situations or behavior very well and very quickly, especially so that you can get an advantage for yourself
SYN clever
an astute politician
Throng
a large group of people in one place
he got lost in the throng.
a throng of excited spectators
▪ crowd
▪ mass athe mass of people in the station
▪ throng literary a very large crowd: A great throng had gathered to listen to his speech.
▪ flock flock of children were being shown through the museum.
▪ pack a pack of reporters shouted questions.
▪ crush There was such a crush on the Metro this morning.
▪ multitude formal literary a very large number of people, especially ordinary people: The Emperor came out to speak to the multitude.
Subsist
to stay alive when you only have small amounts of food or money
SYN survive
subsist on We had to subsist on bread and water.
Purport
■to pretend to be or to do something, especially in a way that is not easy to believe
*They purport to represent the wishes of the majority of parents at the school.
Snug
clothes that are snug fit closely
SYN tight the snug jeans
Scald
to burn your skin with hot liquid or steam
Don’t scald yourself with that kettle!
I dropped a pan of boiling water and scalded my leg.
Knock out
DEFEAT defeat a person or team in a competition so that they can no longer take part
** The German team were knocked out in the first round.**
– Upset
DEFEAT to defeat an opponent who is considered to be much better than you
Japan and South Korea upset the German, Spain and Portugal in the 2022 Qatar FIFA world cup.
Inaugurate
to hold an official ceremony when someone starts doing an important job in government
inaugurate somebody as something
On 8 January 1959 de Gaulle was inaugurated as First President of the Fifth Republic.
Time-tested
describes something, for example a method, that has been used for a long period and has been proved to work well
The school uses old, time-tested techniques for teaching children to read.
Vigil
a silent political protest in which people wait outside a building, especially during the night
silent/candle-lit vigil
2,000 demonstrators held a candle-lit vigil outside the embassy.
Flare
When something bad such as violence, pain or anger flares (up), it suddenly starts or gets much worse
*Violence flared up again last night.
Pelt
to throw a number of things quickly at someone or something
*We saw rioters pelting police with bricks and bottles.
Morgue
place where dead bodies are kept
Cremate
to burn the body of a dead person at a funeral ceremony
But when family members were taken to the morgue, they found his body covered in bruises. The authorities cremated the body five days after his death.
Preside
to be in charge of a formal meeting or ceremony
Who would be the best person to preside at/over the public enquiry?
Spectacle
UNUSUAL EVENT
■an unusual or unexpected event or situation which attracts attention, interest or disapproval
*It was a strange spectacle to see the two former enemies shaking hands and slapping each other on the back.
PUBLIC EVENT
■a public event or show which is exciting to watch; an exciting appearance
*The carnival was a magnificent spectacle.
Glue
to look at something with all your attention
He glued to his phone for at least 3 hours, what going on?
Plateau
a large area of flat that is higher than the land around it
– Avenue
a possible way of achieving something
the president wants to explore every avenue towards peace in the region.
here are many avenues open to researchers.
Credence
the acceptance of something as true
give credence to something (=to believe or accept something as true)
I don’t give any credence to these rumors.
Blurt out
to say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are nervous or excited
Peter blurted the news out before we could stop him.
Aftermath
the period which follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects which it causes
Many more people died in the aftermath of the explosion.
Ambience
the qualities and character of a particular place and the way these make you feel
SYN atmosphere
pleasant/relaxing/friendly etc ambience
The restaurant’s new owners have created a welcoming ambience.
Onslaught
a large violent attack by an army
onslaught on/against
In December they launched a full-scale onslaught on the capital.
Arid
arid land or an arid climate is very dry because it has very little rain
Water from the Great Lakes is pumped to arid regions.
Thrifty
using money carefully and wisely SYN economical
hard-working, thrifty people
Damp
slightly wet, often in an unpleasant way:
a cold, damp day
Iron the shirt while it is still damp.
Corny
■(especially of jokes, films, stories, etc.) showing no new ideas and not sincere; too often repeated and therefore not funny or interesting
corny jokes
Mill around
if a lot of people mill around, they move around a place in different directions without any particular purpose
Dad on duty Mike Morgan noticed that a student who’d been bullied was milling about outside with friends.
Tormentor
Someone’s tormentor is a person who deliberately causes them physical or mental pain.
Foil
metal sheets that are as thin as paper, used for wrapping food
silver/aluminium/kitchen foil
Cover the chicken with silver foil and bake.
to prevent something bad that someone is planning to do:
A massive arms-smuggling plan has been foiled by the CIA.
–Apply
■to spread or rub a substance such as cream or paint on a surface
The paint should be applied thinly and evenly.
Parabola
a curve in the shape of the imaginary line an object makes when it is thrown high in the air and comes down a little distance away
Unbounded
infinite
Inbound
an inbound flight or train is arriving at a place
OPP outbound
We expect delays to both inbound and outbound train.
Commemorate
to do something to show that you remember and respect someone important or an important event in the past
a parade to commemorate the town’s XXX
a commemorative plaque
Backtrack
- to change an opinion or promise that you gave so that it is not as strong as it was earlier ⇨ backpedal
backtrack on
The President is backtracking on his promise to increase health care spending. - to return by the same way that you came:
We went the wrong way and had to backtrack till we got to the right turning.
Peddle
- to sell goods to people, especially goods that people disapprove of because they are* illegal, harmful, or of not very high quality*
They were accused of peddling drugs. - to try to persuade people to accept an opinion or idea which is wrong or false:
politicians peddling instant solutions to long-standing problems
Lengthy
continuing for a long time, often too long
A federal judge on Friday, Nov. 18, will decide whether Holmes should serve a lengthy prison sentence for endangering patients while peddling a blood-testing technology.
Recognition
- [singular, uncountable] the act of realizing and accepting that something is true or important
There is general recognition that the study techniques of many students are weak.
official recognition of the need for jail reform - [singular, uncountable] public respect and thanks for someone’s work or achievements
He has achieved recognition and respect as a scientist.
He was presented with a gold watch in recognition of his service to the company.
Commutation
law a reduction in how severe a punishment is
A complete commutation of sentences.
– Plot
SECRET PLAN
n. ■a secret plan made by several people to do something that is wrong, harmful or not legal, especially to do damage to a person or a government
*The plot was discovered before it was carried out.
MARK
■to make marks to show the position, movement or development of something, usually in the form of lines or curves between a series of points on a map or piece of paper
*We’ve plotted our projected costs for the coming year, and they show a big increase.
SECRET PLAN
■to make a secret plan to do something wrong, harmful or illegal
*The army is plotting the overthrow of the government.
Oscillate
to keep changing between two extreme amounts or limits
The stock market is oscillating wildly at the moment.
His income oscillated between £1,500 and £2,000 a month.
Slash
■to cut with a sharp blade using a quick strong swinging action
The museum was broken into last night and several paintings were slashed**.
**She tried to commit suicide by slashing her wrists.
■to very much reduce something, such as money or jobs
Prices have been slashed by 50%!
Stir
to make someone have a strong feeling or reaction
I was deeply stirred by her performance.
Fragrant
with a pleasant smell
fragrant flowers**
**The sauce itself was light, fragrant and slightly sweet.
Revert
revert to sth
■to return to doing, using, being or referring to something, usually something bad or less satisfactory
*Why does the conversation have to revert to money every five minutes?
Metropolis
a very large city that is the most important city in a country or area:
The city has become a huge, bustling metropolis.
Tenuous
A tenuous connection, idea or situation is weak and possibly does not exist
We were only able to make a tenuous connection between the two robberies
Indignant
angry and surprised because you feel insulted or unfairly treated
indignant at/about
Liz was indignant at the way her child had been treated.
Lore
knowledge or information about a subject, for example nature or magic, that is not written down but is passed from person to person
According to local lore, a ghost still haunts the castle.
Meticulous
very careful about small details, and always making sure that everything is done correctly
Their planning and preparation were meticulous.
Malicious
very unkind and cruel, and deliberately behaving in a way that is likely to upset or hurt someone
Who is responsible for these malicious rumors?
To date
until now
So what have we learned to date?
Overarching
including or influencing every part of something
The crisis gave an overarching justification to the government’s policy.
Surface
KNOWN ■If a feeling or information surfaces, it becomes known
Doubts are beginning to surface about whether the right decision has been made.
Spring
something, usually a twisted piece of metal, that will return to its previous shape after it has been pressed down
Adjourn
if a meeting, parliament, law court etc adjourns, or if the person in charge adjourns it, it stops for a short time
His trial was adjourned until May.
Desert
to leave someone or something and no longer help or support them
SYN abandon:
Helen was deserted by her husband.
Dew
the small drops of water that form on outdoor surfaces during the night
Pavilion
one of a group of related buildings
the West Pavilion of Central General Hospital
Rebuff
to refuse to accept a helpful suggestion or offer from someone, often by answering in an unfriendly way
The two deans said they had decided to withdraw only after they and “a number” of other schools had taken their concerns directly to U.S. News and been rebuffed
Conciliatory
doing something that is intended to make someone stop arguing with you
conciliatory approach/tone/gesture etc
Perhaps you should adopt a more conciliatory approach..
Prospective
prospective employee/candidate/buyer etc
someone who is likely to do a particular thing or achieve a particular position
U.S. News said, our mission is, and has always been, to provide data on schools for prospective students and their families.
Boycott v. /n.
to refuse to buy something, use something, or take part in something as a way of protesting:
We boycott all products tested on animals
Dupe
to deceive someone, usually by making them do something they did not intend to do
What’s new here is they duped Americans into helping them seem more credible.
Flick
to move or hit something with a short sudden movement
Horses flick their tails to make flies go away.
Implore
to ask for something in an emotional way
SYN beg
She implored the soldiers to save her child.
Squander
to carelessly waste money, time, opportunities etc:
The home team squandered a number of chances in the first half.
We dare not squander the moment.
Anguish n.
mental or physical suffering caused by extreme pain or worry
His anguish at the outcome of the court case was very clear.
Attentive
listening to or watching someone carefully because you are interested
OPP inattentive
an attentive audience
Protrude
to stick out from somewhere
A rotting branch protruded from the swamp like a ghostly arm.
Genial
friendly and happy
The headteacher is very genial / has a genial manner.
Corollary
something that is the direct result of something else
corollary of/to
But the corollary of better performance is higher pay.
Aquatic
living or growing in water:
an aquatic plant
Allude
to mention something or someone indirectly
Rick didn’t want to discuss his past, though he alluded darkly to ‘some bad things that happened.’
Notch
■an imaginary point or position in a system of comparing values, where a higher position is better and a lower position is worse
Among current players, she is rated a notch above (= is better than) the rest.
Misfire
if a plan or joke misfires, it goes wrong and does not have the result that you intended ⇨ backfire
His attempt at a joke misfired.
Spatula
a kitchen tool with a wide flat blade, used for spreading, mixing, or lifting soft substances
– Minute /maɪˈnjuːt $ -ˈnuːt/
extremely small:
You only need a minute amount.
Hatch
if an egg hatches, or if it is hatched, it breaks, letting the young bird, insect etc come out:
They have laid a clutch of eggs every spring for the past nine years. Gertie faithfully sits on them every spring, but, sadly, the eggs never hatch.
Probe
■to try to discover information that other people do not want you to know, by asking questions carefully and not directly
*The interviewer probed deep into her private life.
■an attempt to discover information by asking a lot of questions
*an FBI probe into corruption
Repeal
if a government repeals a law, it officially ends that law
Annul
to officially state that a marriage or legal agreement no longer exists:
Their marriage was annulled last year.
Revoke
to officially state that a law, decision, or agreement is no longer effective
Their work permits have been revoked.
Shell
■a container, usually with a pointed end, which is filled with explosives and shot from a large gun
*Artillery and mortar shells were landing in the outskirts of the city.
Dissolve
to formally end a parliament, business arrangement, marriage etc:
This landmark piece of legislation protects the marriages of millions of LGBTQ Americans who have not slept well for months, wondering if our marriages would be dissolved by an activist court. While the Respect for Marriage Act is undoubtedly one of the most important pro-LGBTQ laws ever passed, it does not require states to grant marriages to LGBTQ couples. Until then, our fight is not over.
Swath / swathe
a long thin area of something, especially land
swathe of
The bomb had left a swathe of the town center in ruins.
Reprisal n.
something violent or harmful which you do to punish someone for something bad they have done to you ⇨ revenge
They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal.
Scramble
MOVE QUICKLY
■to move or climb quickly but with difficulty, often using your hands to help you *She scrambled up the steep hillside and over the rocks.
He scrambled into his clothes (= put them on quickly) and raced to fetch a doctor.
■to compete with other people for something there is very little of
After China’s boldest and most widespread protests in decades, the security apparatus built by CCP leader Xi, who prizes his reputation for ironclad authority, is scrambling to reassert control.
Nip in the bud
nip something in the bud
to prevent something from becoming a problem by stopping it as soon as it starts
Since the protests of 1989 Chinese leaders have fixated on the dangers of anti-government social movements, determined to nip them in the bud and avoid the trauma of another bloody crackdown.
Discredit
to make people stop respecting or trusting someone or something
The party’s army of online loyalists try to discredit protesters as tools of American-led subversion.
Elope
to leave your home secretly in order to get married:
My parents didn’t approve of the marriage, so we eloped.
– Eliminate
to defeat a team or person in a competition, so that they no longer take part in it
SYN knock out:
Our team was eliminated in the first round. / Round of 16
Lash out
to suddenly speak angrily to someone or criticize someone angrily
Olson lashed out at the media.
Aloof
unfriendly and deliberately not talking to other people
keep/hold yourself aloof (from somebody)
She had always kept herself aloof from the boys in class.
Filthy
extremely or unpleasantly dirty
Wash your hands - they’re filthy!
– Owe
GOOD EFFECTto be successful because of the good effect or influence of something or someone
Their success owes more to good luck than to careful management.
Pearson’s work owed much to the research of his friend, Hugh Kingsmill.
Smudge
to make a dirty mark on a surface:
someone had smudged the paper with their greasy hands.
Blip
a short pause or change in a process or activity, especially when the situation gets worse for a while before it improves again:
A government spokesman described the rise in inflation as a temporary blip.
Justification
a good reason or explanation for something
*There is no justification for treating people so badly.
Forge
CREATE
■to make or produce, especially with some difficulty
*The accident forged a close bond between the two families.
COPY
■to make an illegal copy of something in order to deceive
*a forged passport / *a forged signature
Forgery
a document, painting, or piece of paper money that has been copied illegally
SYN fake
The painting was a very clever forgery.
Topple
to become unsteady and then fall over, or to make something do this
topple over
The withdrawal of heavyweight institutions like Harvard and Yale is unlikely to topple the rankings industry.
Decry
They decried what they called ever more burdens from Brussels.
■to criticize something as bad, with no value or not necessary; to condemn
– Discount
to regard something as unlikely to be true or important:
Experts discounted the accuracy of the polls.
U.S. News appears to discount these invaluable opportunities to such an extent that these graduates are effectively classifies as unemployed.
Promising
showing signs of being successful or good in the future
This heavily weighted metric imposes tremendous pressure on schools to overlook promising students, especially those who cannot afford expensive test preparation courses.
Precedent
- [countable] an action or official decision that can be used to give support to later actions or decisions:
a legal precedent
set/create a precedent
UN involvement in the country’s affairs would set a dangerous precedent. - [uncountable and countable] something of the same type that has happened or existed before
without precedent
An epidemic on this scale is without precedent. - [uncountable] the way that things have always been done
break with precedent (=do something in a new way)
