Deck 24 Flashcards
(100 cards)
1
Q
a modicum [S]
A
a small amount of something good such as truth or honesty
- ‘There’s not even a modicum of truth in her statement.’
2
Q
rancor
A
bitter anger or unfriendly feelings
- ‘Can we settle this disagreement without rancour?’
3
Q
to enrapture
A
to give delight to
- ‘The audience was enraptured by her performance.’
4
Q
a jaunt
A
a short journey for pleasure, sometimes including a stay
5
Q
to muse
A
to think about something carefully and for a long time
- ‘I began to muse about/on the possibility of starting my own business.’
6
Q
placid
A
having a calm appearance or characteristics
- ‘a slow-moving and placid river’
7
Q
languid
A
moving or speaking slowly with little energy, often in an attractive way
8
Q
dissent
A
a strong difference of opinion on a particular subject, especially about an official suggestion or plan or a popular belief
9
Q
absolution
A
the act of forgiving someone, especially in the Christian religion, for something bad that they have done or thought
10
Q
to dilate
A
to (cause a part of the body to) become wider or further open
- ‘The pupils of the eyes dilate as darkness increases.’
11
Q
levity
A
humour or lack of seriousness, especially during a serious occasion
12
Q
a cranium
A
the hard bone case that gives an animal’s or a human’s head its shape and protects the brain
13
Q
precognition / postcognition
A
Precognition is seeing the future, and postcognition is seeing the past.
14
Q
a pre-cog
A
an individual who possesses precognition as a form of extra-sensory perception
15
Q
a crucible
A
a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new
- ‘Their relationship was forged in the crucible of war.’
16
Q
a breach
A
an act of breaking a law, promise, agreement, or relationship
- ‘They felt that our discussions with other companies constituted a breach of/in our agreement.’
17
Q
primordial
A
existing at or since the beginning of the world or the universe
18
Q
ooze
A
a thick brown liquid made of earth and water found at the bottom of a river or lake
19
Q
recursion
A
something that is done or said several times in order to produce a particular result or effect; the act of doing something several times
20
Q
to edify
A
to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge
- ‘These books will both entertain and edify readers.’
21
Q
a bed of roses
A
used in reference to a situation or activity that is comfortable or easy
- ‘Farming is no bed of roses.’
22
Q
to dust off
A
to get something ready to use that you have not used for a long time
23
Q
to vault
A
to jump over something by first putting your hands on it or by using a pole
- ‘He vaulted over the gate.’
24
Q
to gallop
A
to move or act quickly
25
sagacious
having or showing understanding and the ability to make good judgments
26
putrid
decayed and having an unpleasant smell
- 'the putrid body of a dead fox'
27
germane
relevant to a subject under consideration
- 'That is not germane to our theme.'
28
haphazard
not having an obvious order or plan
29
a debacle
a complete failure, especially because of bad planning and organisation
30
incipient
just beginning
- 'He could feel incipient anger building up.'
31
to curb your appetite
to control or restrain your appetite
32
a rabble-rouser
a person who makes speeches that make people excited or angry, usually intentionally in order to make them act in a particular way
33
to take sth with a pinch of salt
to not completely believe something that you are told because you think it is unlikely to be true
34
a straight arrow
someone who is very honest and careful to behave in a socially acceptable way
35
the bottom line
the most important fact in a situation
36
in cahoots (with)
acting together with others for an illegal or dishonest purpose
- 'It's reckoned that someone in the government was in cahoots with the assassin.'
37
a cohort
a group of people who share a characteristic, usually age
38
atemporal
independent of or unaffected by time
39
to temporise
to delay making a decision or stating your opinion in order to get an advantage
40
benevolent
kind and helpful
41
to heave
to move something heavy using a lot of effort
- 'He heaved the bag onto his shoulder.'
42
acumen [U]
skill in making correct decisions and judgments in a particular subject, such as business or politics
43
to atrophy
(of a part of the body) to be reduced in size and therefore strength, or, more generally, to become weaker
- 'After several months in a hospital bed, my leg muscles had atrophied.'
44
to eulogise
to praise someone or something in a speech or piece of writing
45
outmoded
no longer modern, useful, or necessary
46
to broach
to begin a discussion of something difficult
- 'At some point, we've got to discuss money but I don't know how to broach the subject with him.'
47
brevity
concise and exact use of words in writing or speech
48
to get a/your foot in the door
to have an opportunity
- 'This part-time work has allowed Frank to get his foot in the door and he hopes it will lead to a full-time job.'
49
loquacious
Someone who is loquacious talks a lot.
50
a bereavement
the death of a close relation or friend
51
a pinnacle
the most successful point; the culmination
- 'He had reached the pinnacle of his career.'
52
a libel
a piece of writing that contains bad and false things about a person
- 'She threatened to sue the magazine for libel.'
53
to peddle
to sell things, especially by taking them to different places
54
impropriety
behaviour that is dishonest, socially unacceptable, or unsuitable for a particular situation
55
a narrative
story or a description of a series of events
56
subversive
trying to destroy or damage something, especially an established political system
57
a blip
an unexpected, minor, and typically temporary deviation from a general trend
58
to console
to make someone who is sad or disappointed feel better by giving them comfort or sympathy
59
to consolidate
to become, or cause something to become, stronger, and more certain
60
a thicket
a dense group of bushes or trees
61
a forgery [C/U]
an illegal copy of a document, painting, etc. or the crime of making such illegal copies
- 'These banknotes are forgeries.'
- 'He increased his income by forgery.'
62
a scapegoat
a person who is blamed for something that someone else has done
63
to give someone lip
to speak to someone in an impertinent and offensive way
- 'People get on here all day long and all they do is give me lip.'
64
to percolate
(of a liquid or gas) filter gradually through a porous surface or substance
- 'Sea water percolates down through the rocks.'
65
hellish
very bad or unpleasant
66
to precipitate
to make something happen suddenly or sooner than expected
- 'Fear of losing her job precipitated (= suddenly forced) her into action.'
67
bereft
not having something or feeling a great loss
- 'Alone now and almost penniless, he was bereft of hope.'
68
to not have the stomach for sth
to not feel brave or determined enough to do something unpleasant
69
a noose
one end of a rope tied to form a circle that can be tightened round something such as a person's neck to hang them
70
sea legs
a person's ability to keep their balance and not feel seasick when on board a moving ship
- 'Now I've found my sea legs I'll be much more useful.'
71
disenfranchised
not having the right to vote, or a similar right, or having had that right taken away
72
servitude
the state of being under the control of someone else and of having no freedom
73
to cut to the chase
to talk about or deal with the important parts of a subject and not waste time with things that are not important
74
facade [fuh-sahd]
the front of a building, especially an imposing or decorative one
75
to make the cut
to succeed at something or meet a requirement
76
a crone
a withered old woman
77
boldface
a type or print that has thick, heavy lines, used for emphasis, headings, etc.
78
to gloat
to feel or express great pleasure or satisfaction because of your own success or good luck, or someone else's failure or bad luck
- 'She's continually gloating over/about her new job.'
79
a prodigy
someone with a very great ability that usually shows itself when that person is a young child
80
to wallow
(especially of some animals) to lie or roll around slowly in deep, wet earth, sand, or water
81
to haggle
to attempt to decide on a price or conditions that are acceptable to the person selling the goods and the person buying them, usually by arguing
- 'It's traditional that you haggle over/about the price of things in the market.'
82
a hag
an ugly old woman
83
an inkling
a feeling that something is true or likely to happen, although you are not certain
84
nay
or rather = used to introduce a second and more extreme phrase in a sentence when the first phrase was not strong enough
- 'It is my pleasure, nay (my) privilege, to introduce tonight's guest speaker.'
85
a blight
something that spoils or has a very bad effect on something, often for a long time
- 'His arrival cast a blight on the wedding day.'
86
a posse [pos-ee]
a group of people who have come together for the same purpose
87
to be on/off the table
offered for discussion/ not offered for discussion
- 'Our offer is still on the table. Let us know if you want to take it.'
88
a miscreant
someone who behaves badly or does not obey rules
89
a shindig
a noisy event or situation, especially a large, energetic party, celebration, etc.
90
prissy
caring too much about behaving and dressing in a way that is considered correct and that does not shock
91
to corroborate
to add proof to an account, statement, idea, etc. with new information
92
sage
wise, especially as a result of great experience
93
scrutiny
the careful and detailed examination of something in order to get information about it
- 'The government's record will be subjected to/come under (close) scrutiny in the weeks before the election.'
94
to vet
to examine something or someone carefully to make certain that they are acceptable or suitable
95
sardonic
grimly mocking or cynical
96
a coroner
an official who examines the reasons for a person's death, especially if it was violent or unexpected
97
irrevocable
impossible to change
- 'an irrevocable decision'
98
solicitous
showing care and helpful attention to someone
99
to backslide
to revert to a worse condition
- 'Smokers who quit often backslide within a year.'
100
to adhere
to stick firmly
- 'A smooth, dry surface helps the tiles adhere to the wall.'
