Chapter 1 Flashcards

Question

Cut sb. some slack

Answer 1

To not judge someone as severely as you usually would because they are having problems at the present time. Because it was the last day of class, the teachers cut us some slack. Would you give/cut me some slack? I'm doing the best I can.

Answer 2

To learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple. **get the hang of it**: "I've never used this program before." "Don't worry - you'll soon get the hang of it." I had never sailed a boat before but by the third day, I was getting the hang of it. | C2 Cambridge

Answer 3

To do something that is different from the usual or common way of behaving. The recent pattern of weather deviates from the norm for this time of year. Deviate typically refers to straying from a defined path, plan, or expected behavior. It has a broader application and is often used when talking about behavior, courses of action, or routes. It can also imply a significant change or departure from what is considered normal or expected. Digress is more specific to veering off from the main topic in speech or writing. It is generally used in the context of conversations, discussions, or narratives when someone starts talking about something unrelated to the main point. `|ˈdiːvɪeɪt|` ## Footnote deviate from, deviation, **deviant**

Answer 4

To desire strongly, so as to satisfy an appetite; to long or yearn for. Collocations: - crave attention - crave food Many young children crave attention. There may be certain times of day when smokers crave their cigarette. The neglected kids just crave attention. Noun: craving | C2 Cambridge ## Footnote to yearn, to long, to be dying for, to desire

Answer 5

to take a machine apart or to come apart into separate pieces. She dismantled the washing machine to see what the problem was, but couldn't put it back together again. ## Footnote disassemble, detach, disconnect

Answer 6

If one thing denotes another, it is a sign or indication of it (formal). The colour red is used to denote passion or danger. Red eyes denote strain and fatigue ## Footnote signify, mean, imply, indicate

Answer 7

Too obviously showing your money, possessions, or power, in an attempt to make other people notice and admire you. They criticized the ** ostentatious lifestyle ** of their leaders. Her **ostentatious display** and over-the-top emotions were mercilessly parodied. ostentation `**|ˌɑːstenˈteɪʃəs|**` ## Footnote arrogant, pretentious, pompous

Answer 8

If you describe someone as astute, you think they show an understanding of behaviour and situations, and are skilful at using this knowledge to their own advantage. He made a series of astute business decisions She made the **astute observation** that the whole matter had been exaggerated He is an **astute observer** of the current political scene.. political astuteness astuteness, astutely ## Footnote smart, savvy, wise

Answer 9

Giving too much attention to small details and wanting everything to be correct and perfect. If you say that someone is fastidious, you mean that they pay great attention to detail because they like everything to be very neat, accurate, and in good order. He is fastidious, he has got an eye for detail, margins matter to him. He is very **fastidious about **how a suitcase should be packed. Her fastidiousness about personal hygiene was getting on his nerves. ## Footnote careful, particular, meticulous, picky, fastidiousness, meticulousness

Answer 10

A whimsical person or idea is unusual, playful, and unpredictable, rather than serious and practical She has a **whimsical sense of humor.** It's hard to make plans with such a whimsical best friend. `|ˈwɪmzɪkl|` ## Footnote fanciful, odd, funny, unusual, impulsive

Answer 11

If you describe someone as frivolous, you mean they behave in a silly or light-hearted way, rather than being serious and sensible. I just decided I was a bit too frivolous to be a doctor. - Frivolous lawsuit - Frivolous claim ## Footnote silly, flippant

Answer 12

If you have an aversion to someone or something, you dislike them very much. Many people have a natural and emotional aversion **to** insects. I felt an instant aversion to his parents. ## Footnote disgust, hartred

Answer 13

If someone demotes you, they give you a lower rank or a less important position than you already have, often as a punishment. The captain **was demoted to** sergeant for failing to fulfil his duties. If they prove ineffective they should be demoted or asked to retire. - to be demoted to ## Footnote downgrade, reduce, dismiss, degrade

Answer 14

A vicarious pleasure or feeling is experienced by watching, listening to, or reading about other people doing something, rather than by doing it yourself. Lots of people use television as their vicarious form of social life. She experienced a vicarious thrill from watching her friend skydive, even though she would never attempt it herself. Reading about the hero's adventures gave him a vicarious sense of excitement and danger. ## Footnote indirect, substitute, surrogate

Answer 15

If you describe a person, or their appetite for something, as voracious, you mean that they want a lot of something. The fish are such voracious eaters that they have crowded out other species and disrupted ecosystems. A voracious reader, he became a self-educated art historian and a well-informed generalist whose knowledge awed his friends, including well-known artists. - voracious appetite ## Footnote greedy, hungry

Answer 16

If something baffles you, you cannot understand it or explain it. An apple tree producing square fruit is baffling experts. I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms. The mysterious signal from deep space continues to baffle scientists. ## Footnote perplex, bewilder, confuse, puzzle

Answer 17

If you are equivocal, you are deliberately vague in what you say, because you want to avoid speaking the truth or making a decision. Many were equivocal about the idea. If something is equivocal, it is difficult to understand, interpret, or explain, often because it has aspects that seem to contradict each other. Research in this area is somewhat equivocal. `|ɪˈkwɪvəkl|` Collocations: - equivocal result - equivocal evidence - equivocal findings - remain equivocal - give an equivocal response/answer | dubious, suspicious, ambigious, obscure

Answer 18

A chore is a task that you must do but that you find unpleasant or boring. Collocations: - do household chores - do daily chores - domestic chores - everyday chores We share the domestic chores. Should my kids do chores? The children were each assigned different household chores. | task, job, duty, assignment ## Footnote C1

Answer 19

In summary, "**shed light on**" is more about providing clarity, while "**shine a light on**" is about highlighting or bringing focus to something, often with a critical or purposeful intent. I wanted to help to shine a light on their best work. The documentary shines a light on social inequality.

Answer 20

Someone who has a sedentary lifestyle or job sits down a lot of the time and does not take much exercise. `|ˈsednterɪ|` Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle has been linked with an increased risk of heart disease. Collocations - Sedentary lifestyle - Sedentary behaviour - Sedentary life | inactive, sitting, seated

Answer 21

In animals and plants, tissue consists of cells that are similar to each other in appearance and that have the same function. As we age we lose muscle tissue. Athletes have hardly any fatty tissue. All the cells and tissues in the body benefit from the increased intake of oxygen. Collocations - healthy tissue - sheet of tissue - tissue growth | matter, material, substance

Answer 22

physical strength and big muscles. She said she preferred brawn to brains (= a person who is physically attractive rather than an intelligent one). He was a big brawny man with huge hands. He's got plenty of brains as well as brawn. | brawny, muscle, might, power, strength

Answer 23

At a very high level (informal). His blood pressure was off the charts. In January 2013 they went off the charts. Her career is off the charts! | successful, be flying high, booming, have the world at your feet

Answer 24

If you trounce someone in a competition or contest, you defeat them easily or by a large score. (informal) To defeat a competitor by a large amount. **trounce someone by something ** `|traʊns|` France **trounced** Germany **by** five goals to one in the qualifying match She trounced her rivals in the election. His team were trounced by Arsenal last Tuesday. Donald Trump’s ego cannot handle being trounced by Kamala Harris | beat, crush, annihilate

Answer 25

To persuade someone to do something. To cause something to happen. `|ɪnˈduːs|` - induce someone to do something - nothing could induce They induced her to take the job by promising editorial freedom. Nothing could induce me (= I definitely cannot be persuaded) to climb a mountain/ride a bike. Doctors said surgery could induce a heart attack - induce a feeling - induce a state - induced nausea | cause, produce, create, begin

Answer 26

To mix one thing in with another in a way that is not regular. The documentary intersperses graphical animations with film clips of the actual event. Her handwritten notes were interspersed throughout the text. `|ˌɪntərˈspɜːrs`| | blend

Answer 27

With so many problems or so much work that you are finding it difficult to deal with something (US, informal) Concerned with small details, often when this prevents you from understanding what is important. We're **down in the weeds** here with customer service. He's one of those rare people who can **get down in the weeds** and work on the details, but still see the big picture. We're deep in the weeds right now.

Answer 28

If someone or something exerts influence, authority, or pressure, they use it in a strong or determined way, especially in order to produce a particular effect. He **exerts** a lot of **influence** on the other members of the committee. Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid. If you exert yourself, you make a great physical or mental effort, or work hard to do something. She will have to exert herself a lot more if she wants to succeed in this business. Collocations - exert influence - exert pressure - exert control `|ɪɡˈzɜːrt|` `|ɪɡˈzɜːrʃn| ` Noun: Exertion The use of a lot of mental or physical effort. - physical exertion I get out of breath with any kind of physical exertion. We were exhausted after our exertions. | endeavor, struggle, attempt

Answer 29

If you say that someone or something is fallible, you mean that they are not perfect and are likely to make mistakes or to fail in what they are doing. `|ˈfæləbl| ` [formal] They are only human and all too fallible. The system has proved fallible time after time. Human reason is a fallible guide. - Fallible human - Being fallible | imperfect, weak, infallible (opposite)

Answer 30

If you say that someone is malleable, you mean that they are easily influenced or controlled by other people. `|ˈmælɪəbl|` [written] She was young enough to be malleable. Europe saw its colonies as a source of raw material and a malleable workforce. Also, malleable metal/iron etc. | manageable, adaptable, compliant, impressionable

Answer 31

To be very careful not to offend or upset someone. You have to walk on eggshells around her or risk provoking the snakes. I was always on eggshells when my family came to stay.

Answer 32

To join an activity that has become very popular or to change your opinion to one that has become very popular so that you can share in its success. When they saw how things were going everybody jumped on the bandwagon After a couple of politicians won elections by promising to cut taxes, most of the others jumped on the bandwagon.

Answer 33

A jaunt is a short journey which you go on for pleasure or excitement. Giving up our holidays and business jaunts will be more difficult. He's always jaunting off around the world on business trips, leaving his wife to cope with the babies by herself. - a **weekend jaunt** to the coast (typical collocation) - a Sunday jaunt into the hills | outing, tour, trip, stroll

Answer 34

To reduce in amount or become lower in level. His voice tailed off as he drifted into sleep. The profits tailed off after a few years. Our productivity tailed off last year. She started to ask a question and then her voice tailed off.

Answer 35

If you clock up a large number or total of things, you reach that number or total. Our company clocked up a record number of sales this year. In two years, he clocked up over 100 victories. Rude taxi drivers clocked up a total of 239 offences in 1990.

Answer 36

If something summons up a memory or thought, it causes it to come to your mind. Time to summon up the energy for an appointment with your doc. `|ˈsʌmən|` summon courage summon the will summon a spirit It took her four years **to summon the courage** to go to the police. He tried to **summon up the courage** to speak to her. Teachers, who have **to summon the police** to deal with some routine discipline problems, will be given new powers to 'stop and search' pupils. But they can barely **summon the wil**l to open the mail. We were summoned to the director's office.

Answer 37

To begin to sweat. He started running and soon broke a sweat. He loaded all five boxes without breaking a sweat. often used figuratively to say that something is not hard for someone to do: He gave a perfect performance and didn't break a sweat.

Answer 38

If someone slouches, they sit or stand with their shoulders and head bent so they look lazy and unattractive. Try not to slouch when you are sitting down. She has recently begun to slouch over her typewriter. If you say that someone is no slouch at a particular activity, you mean that they are skilful at it or are willing to work hard at it. He proved himself to be no slouch. He was no slouch at languages. The show was no slouch.

Answer 39

Waiting in an impatient way to do something We've all been **champing** at the bit to get started on the project. The team was **chomping** at the bit for their chance to play the defending champions.

Answer 40

If you are back to square one, you have to start dealing with something from the beginning again because the way you were dealing with it has failed. f this doesn't work we're back to square one. If your complaint is not upheld, you may feel you are back to square one. We got a phone call from the lawyers and it was back to square one.

Answer 41

If you uphold something such as a law, a principle, or a decision, you support and maintain it. It is the responsibility of every government to uphold certain basic principles. | support, back, defend, aid, sustain,

Answer 42

1. The evidence suggests otherwise. 2. The evidence suggests a need for more clarification. 3. Yet the evidence suggests the opposite: free time is more difficult to enjoy than work.

Answer 43

1. a small child, esp. a boy (informal) 2. a very small amount or degree; bit Please shift your chair a tad to the right The frosting could use a tad more vanilla Looks like Night at the Museum is becoming a tad more realistic.

Answer 44

If there is a knock-on effect, one action or event causes several other events to happen one after the other. - knock-on effect A system failure has a knock-on effect throughout the whole hotel. Example sentences including 'knock-on' The cut in new car prices has had a knock-on effect on the price of used cars.

Answer 45

If you have a bout of an illness or of an unpleasant feeling, you have it for a short period. He was recovering from a severe bout of flu. I was suffering with a bout of nerves. a drinking bout (= short period of drinking a lot of alcohol) | period, time, term

Answer 46

Someone's prowess is their great skill at doing something. `|ˈpraʊəs|` He's always bragging about his prowess as a cricketer. The best and the brightest pupils competed to demonstrate their intellectual prowess. - athletic prowess - academic prowess - intellectual prowess | skill, ability, talent, expertise

Answer 47

When a liquid evaporates, or is evaporated, it changes from a liquid state to a gas, because its temperature has increased. The water is evaporated by the sun. High temperatures also result in high evaporation from the plants. | disappear, vaporize

Answer 48

If you draw on or draw upon something such as your skill or experience, you make use of it in order to do something. He drew on his experience as a yachtsman to make a documentary programme. Americans are spending more than they earn, drawing on savings and building up debt to do so. He has secured a loan for a new building by drawing upon the resources of two existing tenants.

Answer 49

If you pore over or through information, you look at it and study it very carefully. (to look at and study something, usually a book or document, carefully) She spends her evenings poring over textbooks. He pored over the letter searching for clues about the writer. | study, read, examine, go over

Answer 50

If you refute an argument, accusation, or theory, you prove that it is wrong or untrue. (formal) If you refute an argument or accusation, you say that it is not true. (formal) Are you refuting the evidence? It was the kind of rumour that it is impossible to refute. Isabelle is quick to refute any suggestion of intellectual snobbery. - refute a claim - refute a suggestion - refute a theory - refute allegations

Answer 51

Hindsight is the ability to understand and realize something about an event after it has happened, although you did not understand or realize it at the time. `|ˈhaɪndsaɪt|` **With** (the benefit/wisdom of) hindsight, I should have taken the job. **In** hindsight, it would have been better to wait. **With** hindsight, we'd all do things differently. Even **with** the benefit of hindsight, I doubt I would change anything if I had my time again.

Answer 52

If a business racks up profits, losses, or sales, it makes a lot of them. If a sportsman, sportswoman, or team racks up wins, they win a lot of matches or races. Lower rates mean that firms are more likely to rack up profits in the coming months. He has racked up 450 points in three months. Astronomical profits/losses were racked up by airlines last year.

Answer 53

Something that happens in fits and starts or by fits and starts keeps happening and then stopping again. My slimming attempts tend to go in fits and starts Military technology advances by fits and starts.

Answer 54

If you describe something as excruciating, you are emphasizing that it is extremely painful, either physically or emotionally. - I was in excruciating pain and one leg wouldn't move. - The excruciatingly painful disease causes blood vessels to deteriorate. - The ball hit him excruciatingly in the most sensitive part of his anatomy. If you describe something as excruciating, you mean that it is very unpleasant to experience, for example because it is very boring or embarrassing. - Meanwhile, the boredom is excruciating. - The dialogue is excruciatingly embarrassing. `|ɪkˈskruːʃɪeɪtɪŋ|` | agonizing, acute, severe, extreme

Answer 55

If someone stifles something you consider to be a good thing, they prevent it from continuing. [disapproval] Regulations on children stifled creativity. Critics have accused the U.S. of trying to stifle debate. `|ˈstaɪfl| ` | suppress, repress, prevent, stop

Answer 56

Something that is pertinent is relevant to a particular subject. (formal) - She had asked some pertinent questions. - Pertinent information will be forwarded to the appropriate party. - particularly pertinent - pertinent question - it is pertinent to note that.... `|ˈpɜːrtnənt|` | relevant, fitting, fit

Answer 57

So firmly held that they are not likely to change. Such ingrained prejudices cannot be corrected easily. The belief that you should own your house **is deeply ingrained in** our society.

Answer 58

Unwilling to take risks or wanting to avoid risks as much as possible, avoiding risk - He feels modern attitudes to children's play are too restrictive and risk-averse. - risk-averse investors

Answer 59

Something that is arduous is difficult and tiring, and involves a lot of effort. ...a long, hot and arduous journey. The task was more arduous than he had calculated. syn: difficult, trying, hard, tough

Answer 60

Experiencing or doing something that is difficult, unpleasant, or painful. `|θrəʊz|` The country is presently in the throes of the worst recession since the Second World War. He's in the throes of a mid-life crisis that makes him pretty hard to live with. **Also**: The death throes of something are its final stages, just before it fails completely or ends. If a person or animal is in their death throes, they are dying and making violent, uncontrolled movements, usually because they are suffering great pain.

Answer 61

If something such as the value of something slumps, it falls suddenly and by a large amount. - Net profits slumped **by** 41%. - The value of property has slumped. A slump is a time when many people in a country are unemployed and poor. The airline industry is currently in a slump. an economic slump | fall, decline, recession, depression, stagnation,

Answer 62

To start doing something, or become involved in a situation Sally stepped into the role of team leader. If you step into a job, you get it very easily. **step straight into something** He just stepped straight into a job as soon as he left college.

Answer 63

If you stipulate a condition or stipulate that something must be done, you say clearly that it must be done. The law stipulates **that** new cars must have seat belts for the driver and every passenger. We have signed a contract which stipulates **when** the project must be completed. The only **stipulation** is that candidates must be over the age of 35.

Answer 64

Havoc is great disorder, and confusion. Confusion and lack of order, especially causing damage or trouble: Rioters caused havoc in the centre of the town `|ˈhævək|` **wreak havoc ** The storm wreaked (= caused) havoc in the garden, uprooting trees and blowing a fence down. **play havoc with** The delay played (= caused) havoc with their travel arrangements.

Answer 65

You say conversely to indicate that the situation you are about to describe is the opposite or reverse of the one you have just described. |ˈkɑːnvɜːrslɪ| In real life, nobody was all bad, nor, conversely, all good. Poor health is accepted as an attribute of normal ageing. Conversely, youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health. The staff of any organisation are its best ambassadors or conversely may be its worst.

Answer 66

When a government or authority enacts a proposal, they make it into a law. To put something into action, especially to make something law. `|ɪˈnækt|` A package of economic sanctions is to be enacted against the country. The bill would be submitted for public discussion before being enacted as law. If people enact a story or play, they perform it by acting. She often enacted the stories told to her by her father. | establish

Answer 67

Work that is done as a preparation for work that will be done later. The groundwork for something is the early work on it which forms the basis for further work. **to lay the groundwork for** The committee will meet today to lay the groundwork for inter-party talks next month. | basis, foundation,

Answer 68

If an amount, rate, or price plummets, it decreases quickly by a large amount. `|ˈplʌmɪt|` House prices have plummeted in recent months. In Tokyo share prices have plummeted for the sixth successive day. If someone or something plummets, they fall very fast towards the ground, usually from a great height. The jet burst into flames and plummeted to the ground | drop, fall, crash

Answer 69

If a country's economy or something such as a process grinds to a halt, it gradually becomes slower or less active until it stops. The peace process has ground to a halt. To stop or no longer work well: Traffic ground to a halt. The country’s economy is slowly grinding to a halt. | stop, halt, stall

Answer 70

A bailout of an organization or individual that has financial problems is the act of helping them by giving them money. The act of helping a person or organization that is in difficulty, usually by giving or giving or lending money. Three years of huge losses forced the bank to seek a government bailout. The administration assembled the $50 billion emergency bailout package to ease a financial crisis in Mexico. **bailout plan**, bailout fund, bailout loan, bailout money

Answer 71

If you curb something, you control it and keep it within limits. To control or limit something that is not wanted. - He called for energy consumption to be curbed. - The government should act to curb tax evasion. *Curb is also a noun.* - He called for much stricter curbs on immigration If you curb an emotion or your behaviour, you keep it under control. He curbed his temper You must curb your extravagant tastes | restrain, control, suppress, restrict ## Footnote C2

Answer 72

1. A mistake made because of a failure to notice something (countable) 2. systems or actions to control an activity and make sure that it is done correctly and legally. If someone has oversight of a process or system, they are responsible for making sure that it works efficiently and correctly. (uncountable) ...a new system, where there'll be greater oversight of doctors. Lawmakers are questioning whether the industry needs more** government oversight.** administrative oversight, government oversight, judicial oversight

Answer 73

A gust is a short, strong, sudden rush of wind. A gust of wind drove down the valley. [+ of] A hurricane-force gust blew off part of a church tower. A sudden gust of wind blew the door shut. - gust of wind - high gust - strong gust - sudden gust | blast, blow, rush, breeze

Answer 74

If you say that someone is stand-offish, you mean that they behave in a formal and rather unfriendly way. [disapproval] He can be quite stand-offish and rude, even to his friends Behaving in a slightly unfriendly and too formal way | reserved, remote, distant, aloof

Answer 75

If you avert something unpleasant, you prevent it from happening. Talks with the teachers' union over the weekend have averted a strike. [VERB noun] A fresh tragedy was narrowly averted yesterday. - to avert a war - to avert a crisis - to avert a disaster | ward off, avoid, prevent

Answer 76

To annoy someone without intending to. As soon as they met they started to rub each other the wrong way.

Answer 77

If someone is an **aficionado of** something, they like it and know a lot about it. I happen to be an aficionado of the opera, and I love art museums. [+ of] | fan, lover, enthusiast, admirer

Answer 78

1. If you sprawl somewhere, you sit or lie down with your legs and arms spread out in a careless way. `|sprɔːl| ` They sprawled in lawn chairs, snoozing. 2. If you say that a place sprawls, you mean that it covers a large area of land. The sprawling city contained some 4m people. The refugee camps sprawl across the landscape. | often said about cities

Answer 79

to criticize someone or something, often unfairly (informal) He's always running himself down. She's always running down her son's wife. | criticize, attack, condemn ## Footnote C1

Answer 80

Run-down buildings or areas are in very bad condition. - a run-down building/cemetery - ...one of the most run-down areas in Scotland. ...a run-down block of flats.

Answer 81

To make something blocked or crowded in a way that causes difficulties, or to become blocked or crowded. `|kənˈdʒest|` There is no need for us to congest the city with traffic. The subway entrance was so congested that no one could move The usual weekend traffic congested the region's highways. congestion, congestive | block smth up, to crowd

Answer 82

To cause a road or area to be so blocked by traffic that it is impossible for any vehicles to move. As a verb: The accident has **gridlocked** the entire freeway. As a noun: A car breaking down at rush hour could **cause gridloc**k across half the city. As an adjective: If a place is **gridlocked**, the roads are blocked with a lot of traffic so vehicles cannot move: | traffic jam

Answer 83

large in quantity and expensive or impressive. lavish gifts/promises/praise lavish spending The evening was a lavish affair with glorious food and an endless supply of champagne. spending, giving, or using more than is necessary or reasonable; more than enough They live in a lavishly furnished apartment overlooking Central Park. They lead an extremely lavish lifestyle. | generous, lush, grand ## Footnote C2

Answer 84

to find something difficult to accept. The new phone is a great piece of technology, but many people will choke on the price. Staunch supporters choked on the idea that she might not have been honest with them. The leader of the negotiating team choked on conceding so much. He choked on a piece of bread.

Answer 85

When something spews out a substance or when a substance spews from something, the substance flows out quickly in large quantities. The volcano spewed a giant cloud of ash, dust, and gases into the air. The drains spew (out) millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river. Paper came spewing from the computer printer. If someone spews or spews up, they vomit. (informal) | send out, vomit, throw up

Answer 86

If there is a dearth of something, there is not enough of it. `|dɜːrθ|` ...the dearth of good fiction by English authors a dearth of new homes in the region | lack, absense

Answer 87

If you feel snug or are in a snug place, you are very warm and comfortable, especially because you are protected from cold weather. `|snʌɡ|` She felt snug under the warm blanket. She wished she were back in her snug little house. We curled up in bed, all snug and warm, and listened to the storm outside. | cozy, warm, comfortable, comfy

Answer 88

Plants, trees, and flowers can be referred to as vegetation. (formal) The inn has a garden of semi-tropical vegetation The lush vegetation and lack of sandy beaches contrasts sharply with other regions of the island. The first part is green with lush vegetation. | plants, flora, greenery

Answer 89

When a bird or an insect such as a cricket or grasshopper chirps, it makes short high-pitched sounds. `|tʃɜːrp|` The crickets chirped faster and louder. **Chirp is also a noun** The chirps of the small garden birds sounded distant the chirping **of **birds

Answer 90

To cover and surround something with a material or substance in order to stop heat, sound, or electricity from escaping or entering. `|ˈɪnsəleɪt|` They lived in happy insulation **from** brutal facts They wonder if their community is no longer insulated from big city problems. insulated from the hustle and bustle of a big city

Answer 91

To relax `|ˌdiːkəmˈpres| ` After two weeks' hiking we'll need a few days to decompress. I used to come to this place to decompress after a busy day of climbing the corporate ladder. | relax, chill out, unwind

Answer 92

If you commute, you travel a long distance every day between your home and your place of work. Mike commutes to London every day. [V + to/from] McLaren began commuting between Paris and London. [V + between] He's going to commute. [VERB] Commuter train | to travel

Answer 93

slang to cause to become crazy or furious, to make someone extremely angry. My flat-mate is driving me up the wall. Your constant tapping is driving me up the wall!

Answer 94

An influx of people or things into a place is their arrival there in large numbers. `|ˈɪnflʌks| ` ...the first large influx of immigrants to arrive on these shores. [+ of] ...the influx of American popcorn into the British market. Turkey is expecting an influx of several thousand refugees over the next few days. | arrival, flow, rush, invasion ## Footnote C2

Answer 95

clap/lay/set eyes on someone/something idiom to see someone or something for the first time. Everyone keeps talking about Patrick, but I've never clapped eyes on the man. They had never laid eyes on such a big car before

Answer 96

If something springs up, it suddenly appears or begins to exist. New theatres and arts centres sprang up all over the country. Thousands of new businesses have sprung up in the past couple of years.

Answer 97

If you describe something such as a price as extortionate, you are emphasizing that it is much greater than it should be. (usually about price) |ɪkˈstɔːrʃənət| extortionate prices Young people from the area are either forced to leave the area or rent at extortionate prices. The price of books nowadays is extortionate.

Answer 98

Rubble is the piles of broken stone and bricks, etc. that are left when a building falls down or is destroyed. `|ˈrʌbl|` The bomb **reduced** the house to **rubble**. Entire suburbs have been reduced to rubble.

Answer 99

To be notorious means to be well-known for something bad. `|nəʊˈtɔːrɪəs|` The company is notorious for paying its bills late. He is one of Mexico's most notorious criminals. notoriously `|nəʊˈtɔːrɪəslɪ|` The train company is overstaffed and notoriously inefficient. | infamous(ly), disreputably ## Footnote C1

Answer 100

To work hard over a long period, especially doing work that is difficult or boring (informal) **slog away** `|slɑːɡ|` I've been **slogging away** for days on this essay and I'm still not finished. If you slog through something, you work hard and steadily through it. They **secure** their degrees by **slogging** **through** an intensive 11-month course.

Answer 101

If you deduce something or deduce that something is true, you reach that conclusion because of other things that you know to be true. `|dɪˈduːs|` Alison had cleverly deduced that I was the author of the letter. [VERB that] The date of the document can be deduced from references to the Civil War. [be VERB-ed + from] She hoped he hadn't deduced the reason for her visit. [VERB noun]

Answer 102

If you describe something as dubious, you mean that you do not consider it to be completely honest, safe, or reliable. `|ˈduːbɪəs| ` This claim seems to us to be rather dubious . Soho was still a highly dubious area. Those figures alone are a dubious basis for such a conclusion dubious merit

Answer 103

If you have a hunch about something, you are sure that it is correct or true, even though you do not have any proof. `|hʌntʃ|` [informal] I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together. Then Mr. Kamenar, acting on a hunch, ran a computer check at the Federal Election Commission.