English vocabulary Flashcards
(200 cards)
1
Q
snazzy (clothing, cars, places)
A
fashionable, bright and modern
2
Q
scruff
A
someone who looks untidy and dirty
3
Q
frumpy
A
wearing clothes that are not attractive or fashionable
4
Q
scrupulous
A
i) very careful to be honest and to do what is morally correct;
ii) done very carefully, giving a lot of attention to details
5
Q
unscrupulous
A
without moral principles; not honest or fair
6
Q
pigheaded
A
obstinate, stubborn
7
Q
haughty
A
arrogant
8
Q
unprincipled
A
dishonest
9
Q
impetuous
A
rash, impulsive
10
Q
conceit
A
i) concetto, idea; ii) presunzione
11
Q
to dabble
A
to take part in a sport, an activity, etc. but not very seriously
12
Q
swarthy
A
having dark skin
13
Q
lanky
A
having long, thin arms and legs and not moving in an easy way
14
Q
gangling
A
tall, thin and not moving in an easy way
15
Q
scrawny
A
very thin in a way that is not attractive
16
Q
scraggy
A
very thin and not looking healthy
17
Q
to pout
A
tenere il broncio
18
Q
haggard
A
looking very tired because of illness, worry or lack of sleep
19
Q
drawn
A
(usually of the face) very tired and showing suffering
20
Q
sallow
A
(of a person’s skin or face) having a slightly yellow colour that does not look healthy
21
Q
pasty
A
pallid
22
Q
stout
A
rather fat
23
Q
portly
A
rather fat
24
Q
bony
A
very thin so that the bones can be seen under the skin
25
to stunt
to prevent somebody/something from growing or developing as much as they/it should
26
prying
indiscreto, ficcanaso
27
comity
cortesia, rispetto reciproco
28
louse
pidocchio (pl: lice)
29
flustered
nervous and/or confused, especially because you have a lot to do or are in a hurry
30
flurried
nervous and confused, especially because there is too much to do
31
rickety
not strong or well made; likely to break
32
upstanding
behaving in a moral and honest way
33
upright
behaving in a moral and honest way
34
upright
behaving in a moral and honest way
35
gown
camice
36
to flounder
to struggle to know what to say or do or how to continue with something
37
motley
variopinto, variegato
38
plucky
brave
39
gruff
(of a person’s behaviour) impatient and unfriendly
40
officious
too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power you have to give orders
41
grasping
greedy
42
dowdy
not attractive or fashionable
43
to scold
rimproverare
44
to scald
ustionare
45
rapturous
expressing extreme pleasure or enthusiasm for somebody/something
46
ecstatic
delighted
47
unswerving
strong and not changing or becoming weaker
48
rift
a serious break in the relationship between people or organizations
49
affectionate
loving
50
fatuous
stupid
51
underhand(ed)
secret and dishonest
52
upturn
a change for the better
53
upswing
upturn
54
overleaf
on the other side of the page of a book, etc.
55
overboard
over the side of a boat or a ship into the water
56
to abscond
darsi alla latitanza
57
adrift
alla deriva
58
afloat
a galla
59
extraneous
irrelevant
60
lookout
vedetta, sentinella
61
damp
umido
62
stationery
cancelleria
63
to rouse
i) to wake somebody up, especially when they are sleeping deeply; ii) to make somebody want to start doing something when they were not active or interested in doing it; iii) to make somebody feel a particular emotion
64
to congeal
rapprendersi; solidificarsi; coagularsi
65
cot
branda, lettino
66
porch
portico, veranda
67
astir
active or agitated
68
to recant
to say, often publicly, that you no longer have the same belief or opinion that you had before
69
to pool
to collect money, information, etc. from different people so that it can be used by all of them
70
haze
foschia
71
to loom
incombere, minacciare
72
leniency
clemenza
73
scrap
a small piece of something, especially paper, cloth, etc.
74
probity
the quality of being completely honest
75
rife
widespread
76
to thump
picchiare
77
to wallop
picchiare
78
gloom
i) depression; ii) darkness
79
marsh
palude
80
abiding
lasting for a long time and not changing
81
glare
bagliore
82
lead
piombo
83
hay
fieno
84
hen
gallina
85
to skulk
appostarsi, imboscarsi
86
to glide
scorrere; sdrucciolare; scivolare
87
to uncoil
srotolare
88
to own
to admit
89
to wean
svezzare
90
askew
bieco, storto, obliquo
91
to gape
spalancarsi
92
slime
melma
93
frowning
accigliato, imbronciato
94
to glisten
luccicare
95
rag
straccio, brandello
96
shabby
i) old and in bad conditions;
ii) wearing worn clothers;
iii) of low quality;
iv) unfair or unreasonable
97
lawn
prato
98
greasy
unto
99
smarmy
too polite in a way that is not sincere
100
slimy
polite and extremely friendly in a way that is not sincere or honest
101
clinking
tintinnio
102
screech
grido, strillo acuto
103
to refurbish
ristrutturare
104
draughty
uncomfortable because cold air is blowing through
105
a long shot
something you try although it is unlikely to be successful
106
do a number on
to deliberately do something that has a negative effect on someone or something
107
run on fumes
operate with few resources or little money
108
come home to roost
If bad or wrong things that someone has done in the past have come home to roost, or if their chickens have come home to roost, they are now experiencing the unpleasant effects of these actions.
109
not have a care in the world
to not be worried about anything
110
stay the course
finish something that you have started, even though it has become very difficult
111
forthright
direct and honest in manner and speech
112
short of sth
except for, or unless
113
huff and puff
i) to complain loudly and express disapproval; ii) to breathe in a noisy way because you are very tired
114
a slap on the wrist
a punishment that is less severe than is expected or usual
115
to take the biscuit/cake
to be the most silly, stupid, or annoying thing in a series of things
116
gaunt
very thin, usually because of illness, not having enough food, or worry
117
to run someone ragged
to make someone feel extremely tired by forcing them to do a lot of work
118
obliging
very willing to help
119
conscientious
taking care to do things carefully and correctly
120
backwater
a place, situation, or organization in which nothing exciting or important happens, and in which people still have old-fashioned ideas
121
at a canter
easily, without effort
122
pebble
ciottolo
123
blinkered
narrow-minded
124
obsequious
servile
125
mane
criniera
126
to deputise
to temporarily do the work of someone more senior than you
127
to pigeonhole
to decide that someone or something belongs to a particular type or group, especially without knowing much about them
128
turnstile
tornello
129
flabbergasted
very surprised or shocked
130
skittish
nervous or worried and likely to change your opinion about something
131
to haggle
mercanteggiare
132
stiff upper lip
a quality of remaining calm and not letting other people see what you are really feeling in a difficult or unpleasant situation
133
hex
incantesimo, maledizione
134
cant
talk that is not sincere, often about religion or morals
135
to squint
1) to close your eyes slightly and try to see something, either because of a bright light or because your eyes do not work very well; 2) essere strabico
136
gruelling
estenuante
137
bedlam
baraonda, confusione
138
take/pick up the slack
1) to do the things that someone else is not able or willing to do; 2) to improve an organization or system by using people, equipment, and money in a more effective way
139
knock someone sideways/for six
to make someone feel very shocked or upset
140
close to the bone
telling the truth about a subject that people prefer not to think about, in a way that may offend or upset people
141
that'll be the day
used for saying that you do not believe something will happen
142
like the cat that got the cream
very pleased about something you have achieved
143
poacher turned gamekeeper
someone who did not obey the law or authority in the past but now makes other people obey it
144
radiator
calorifero, termosifone
145
can but
can only
146
in places
in some areas but not all areas
147
misbegotten
not well planned and not likely to be successful
148
racket
confusione, chiasso, baccano
149
on the sly
secretly
150
to wear thin
become gradually weaker or harder to accept
151
catwalk
passerella
152
dependable
affidabile
153
at your wits' end
so worried and tired because of your problems that you cannot think of any more ways of solving them
154
to nix
to refuse or say no to something
155
knick-knack
cianfrusaglia
156
brawny
physically strong, with big muscles
157
sated
sazio, pago
158
soggy
fradicio
159
sodden
completely wet
160
to shimmer
luccicare, scintillare
161
to drive a hard bargain
to argue in a very determined way in order to reach an agreement that benefits you
162
mawkish
melenso, sdolcinato
163
to splinter
to break into small sharp pieces, or to make something do this
164
dapper
a man who is dapper is small and wears attractive clothes that give him a tidy appearance
165
grit
courage and determination despite difficulty
166
to take sth in your stride
to calmly deal with something unpleasant and not let it have an effect on you
167
to gild the lily
used for saying that someone has spoiled a good thing by trying to improve it
168
adroit
clever of skilful
169
to get bent out of shape
to become very angry or upset
170
nonplussed
perplexed, puzzled
171
to rue
to regret
172
mishap
a minor mistake or accident
173
to snug
rannicchiarsi, mettersi al coperto
174
misgiving
a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event
175
ingenuity
ingegnosità
176
erstwhile
precedente, di un tempo
177
sham
false
178
morass
pantano, acquitrinio, palude; groviglio, intrico
179
to come clean with
to tell the truth about something that you have kept secret
180
to retrofit
apportare migliorie a, modificare
181
to be firing on all cylinders
to be operating as powerfully and effectively as possible
182
frazzled
very tired and easily annoyed
183
to lose your marbles
become crazy
184
to walk on eggshells
be very careful not to offend someone or do anything wrong
185
to bring sth to the table
provide sth that will be a benefit
186
above yourself
having too high an opinion of yourself
187
adept
skilful
188
accomodating
obliging
189
crafty
cunning, wily
190
airhead (noun)
a stupid person
191
a live wire
a person who is lively and full of energy
192
artful
crafty
193
wily /ˈwaɪli/
cunning
194
agreeable
pleasant
195
amiable
agreeable
196
backbiting (noun)
unpleasant and unkind talk about somebody who is not present
197
basket case
a person who is slightly crazy and who has problems dealing with situations
198
base
having no moral principles or rules
199
the apple doesn’t fall/never falls far from the tree
a child usually behaves in a similar way to his or her parent(s)
200
big-headed
having a very high opinion of how important and clever you are; too proud
