English vocabulary - II Flashcards
(200 cards)
1
Q
birdbrain (noun)
A
stupid person
2
Q
bleeding heart
A
If you describe someone as a bleeding heart, you are criticizing them for being sympathetic towards people who are poor and suffering, without doing anything practical to help
3
Q
bonehead (noun)
A
a stupid person
4
Q
boisterous
A
lively and full of energy
5
Q
brain-dead (adj.)
A
very stupid and boring
6
Q
bullish
A
feeling confident and positive about the future
7
Q
braggart
A
a person who brags
8
Q
brash
A
confident in an aggressive way
9
Q
bouncing
A
healthy and full of energy
10
Q
rowdy
A
noisy and causing trouble
11
Q
mulish
A
stubborn
12
Q
inadvertent
A
unintentional
13
Q
brook
A
small river
14
Q
lecherous
A
behaving in an unpleasant way that shows you are sexually interested in someone
15
Q
catty
A
(of a woman) saying unkind things about other people
16
Q
canny
A
intelligent, careful and showing good judgement, especially in business or politics
17
Q
coy
A
(especially with reference to a woman) making a pretence of shyness or modesty which is intended to be alluring
18
Q
chutzpah
A
supreme self-confidence
19
Q
crackpot (adj.)
A
(of ideas, plans, etc.) strange or crazy
20
Q
daft
A
silly, often in a way that is funny
21
Q
dashing
A
(usually of a man) attractive and full of confidence
22
Q
conniving (adj.) /kəˈnaɪ.vɪŋ/
A
A conniving person deceives others for their own advantage
23
Q
dopey
A
rather stupid
24
Q
cover your tracks
A
to try and hide what you have done, because you do not want other people to find out about it
25
bat a thousand
be very successful
26
ammunition
information that can be used against another person in an argument
27
be at odds (with somebody) (over/on something)
disagree
28
be set in your ways
to have habits or opinions that you have had for a long time and that you do not want to change
29
belabour the point
to repeat an idea, argument, etc. many times to emphasize it, especially when it has already been mentioned or understood
30
bunfight
an angry argument or discussion
31
about-turn,
| about-face
a complete change of opinion, plan or behaviour
32
airing
an occasion when a subject is discussed in an open or public way
33
to scour
i) to search a place or document thoroughly for something;
| ii) to clean something thoroughly by rubbing it hard with something rough
34
conspicuous
easy to see or notice
35
ostensible
apparent
36
lustrous
soft and shining
37
listless
lethargic, having no energy or enthusiasm
38
to motion
to move your hand or head in a particular direction, for example to point somewhere or to get someone’s attention
39
out of sorts
slightly ill, upset, or unhappy
40
off-colour
feeling slightly ill
41
second-rate
mediocre
42
shoddy
second-rate
43
painstaking
done with a lot of care, effort and attention to detail
44
prudish
puritano
45
strait-laced
puritano
46
to have a field day
to have the chance to do something that you really enjoy, especially when it causes trouble for someone else
47
I wouldn’t put it past someone (to do something)
used for saying that you think someone is capable of doing something bad
48
on easy street
rich
49
dog whistle (adj.)
a political message that is only intended for and heard by a particular group of people
50
stricture
1) a limit to your freedom;
| 2) a criticism
51
demure
a demure woman is quiet and shy and always behaves well
52
to demur
to say that you do not agree with something or that you refuse to do something
53
all bets are off
anything can happen
54
chalice
calice, coppa
55
withdrawn
not wanting to talk to other people; extremely quiet and shy
56
big-hearted
very kind; generous
57
brainy
very intelligent
58
faithful
loyal
59
all the better, harder, more, etc.
so much better, harder, etc.
60
pushy
trying hard to get what you want, especially in a way that seems rude
61
rogue (noun)
a person who behaves badly, but despite this is quite attractive
62
assertive
behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to express your opinions and feelings
63
open-hearted
kind and friendly
64
off-kilter
slightly strange or unusual
65
cross (adj.)
angry
66
daring (noun)
courage and the quality of being willing to take risks if necessary
67
the apple of your eye
if you say that someone is the apple of your eye, you mean that they are very important to you and you are extremely fond of them.
68
fall, slip through the cracks
to not be noticed or dealt with
69
tread water
to not make progress, especially because you have to wait for something else to happen first
70
chirpy
lively and cheerful; in a good mood
71
dippy ideas
silly; strange but not dangerous
72
dozy
looking or feeling as if you are going to sleep
73
far gone
very drunk, ill, or in some other advanced and bad state
74
fickle
changing often and suddenly
75
fruit cake
a person who behaves in a strange or crazy way
76
gallant
heroic, brave;
| giving polite attention to women
77
ebullient
exuberant, excited, enthusiastic
78
jibe, gibe
an unkind or offensive remark about somebody
79
to goad
to keep annoying somebody/something until they react
80
godly
living a moral life based on religious principles
81
faint-hearted
cowardly
82
gregarious
sociable, liking to be with other people
83
guile
scaltrezza, astuzia
84
gutless
not brave or determined enough to do something
85
overbearing
domineering
86
high-handed
domineering
87
low-hanging fruit
something that is easy to obtain, achieve, or take advantage of
88
disingenuous
insincero, disonesto
89
high-minded
having strong moral principles
90
to ill-treat
to treat somebody in a cruel or unkind way
91
grubby hands, clothes
rather dirty, usually because it has not been washed or cleaned
92
she tried gamely to finish the race
in a way that is brave, usually when a lot of effort is involved
93
high-spirited behaviour
very lively and active
94
to bear someone ill will
bad and unkind feelings towards somebody
95
impudence
sfrontatezza, sfacciataggine
96
inspo*
a person or thing that inspires you
97
a jaunty smile
cheerful
98
he was jilted by his fiancée
to end a romantic relationship with somebody in a sudden and unkind way
99
importunate demands/pleas
asking for things many times in a way that is annoying
100
take the high road
to behave in a moral way when other people are not behaving morally
101
rollicking
exuberant
102
lay it on thick
to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes them or it seem much better or much worse than they really are;
to exaggerate something
103
lay it on with a trowel
to talk about somebody/something in a way that makes them or it seem much better or much worse than they really are;
to exaggerate something
104
working stiff
someone who does an ordinary job that is often not very well paid
105
to dither
tentennare, esitare
106
jaunt
scampagnata; gita; passeggiata
107
hit the deck
to fall or throw yourself to the ground
108
to stagger
barcollare, vacillare
109
by, in fits and starts
stopping and starting again many times, rather than progressing steadily
110
‘Can I ask you a question?’ - 'Fire _____'
away
111
a bang-up job
first-rate
112
to hobble
zoppicare
113
dry spell
1) a period or time where there is little activity, productivity, low income etc.;
2) period of time without sexual intercourse;
3) a period of dry weather
114
somersault
capriola, salto mortale
115
to cast aspersions (on)
to say or write things about someone that attack their character, work etc
116
iffy
1) uncertain;
| 2) bad in some way
117
an educated guess
a guess that is based on some degree of knowledge, and is therefore likely to be correct
118
to be on, off the mark
accurate, not accurate
119
hit, miss the mark
succeed, fail in achieving or guessing sth
120
be staring something in the face
to be unable to avoid sth
121
a mood of buoyancy
the feeling of being cheerful and feeling sure that things will be successful
122
an ironclad alibi/contract/excuse/guarantee
so strong that it cannot be challenged or changed
123
doddle
sth that is very easy
124
finger in the air
used to refer to an estimate or method of doing something that is not very accurate or scientific and partly based on guessing
125
get sth in one
to understand or guess something immediately
126
go one better
to outdo, to do something better than somebody else or than you have done before
127
halting
hesitant
128
Most of the available evidence lends colour to this view
(British English, formal) to make something seem true or likely
129
on spec
if you do something on spec, you do it hoping to get something that you want, but without being asked or without being certain to get it
130
My calculation is based on notional figures, since the actual figures are not yet available
based on a guess, estimate or theory; not existing in reality
131
reputed
rumoured
132
slam dunk
something that is certain to be successful
133
every which way
in every direction
134
thumbsuck
a guess or an estimate
135
(there are) no two ways around it
(saying) used to show that you are certain about something
136
a cast-iron excuse/alibi
very strong or certain; that cannot be broken or fail
137
shaky
uncertain
138
maverick
independent, with unusual opinions
139
inkling
suspicion
140
dry run,
| dummy run
a complete practice of a performance or way of doing something, before the real one
141
a balmy summer evening
warm and pleasant
142
fractious
irritable
143
makeshift
improvised, provisional
144
provisional
temporary
145
bewildered
confused
146
bemused
showing that you are confused and unable to think clearly
147
by happenstance
by chance
148
hard/hot on somebody’s/something’s heels
very close behind somebody/something; very soon after something
149
thumb your nose at
to show a lack of respect toward someone or something
150
for keeps
to have forever
151
(all) hot and bothered
in a state of worry or stress because you are under too much pressure, have a problem, are trying to hurry, etc.
152
The results of the study galvanized residents into action.
to shock or affect someone enough to produce a strong and immediate reaction
153
to jeer
to taunt
154
stick the landing
accomplish an impressive feat successfully
155
the import (of sth)
(formal) the importance or meaning of something, especially when it is not immediately clear
156
go against the grain
to be or do something different from what is normal or natural
157
turn your nose up at something
(informal) to refuse something, especially because you do not think that it is good enough for you
158
earthbound
(literary) not spiritual or having much imagination
159
boorish
very unpleasant and rude
160
to covet
to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else
161
to divest yourself of sth
to get rid of sth
162
come hell or high water
used to say that something will definitely happen or be done even though other events or situations might make it difficult
163
oblique
indirect
164
desultory
(formal) going from one thing to another, without a definite plan and without enthusiasm
165
you could have knocked me over with a feather
said when you are extremely surprised
166
the sound of water lapping against the boat
(of water) to touch something gently and regularly, often making a soft sound
167
an unfettered free market
(formal) not limited in any way
168
comely
attractive
169
scatterbrained
scatty, always losing or forgetting things and unable to think in an organized way
170
scatty
scatterbrained, always losing or forgetting things and unable to think in an organized way
171
to garner
to gather, to acquire
172
The threat of a good beating should keep him on the straight and narrow
If you keep on the straight and narrow, you behave in a way that is honest and moral
173
despondent
dejected, sad, withouth much hope
174
She looked so dejected when she lost the game
despondent
175
on the blink
(of a machine) no longer working correctly
176
mischief
bad behaviour (especially of children) that is annoying but does not cause any serious damage or harm
177
He was bawling his eyes out
cry very loudly
178
He sat in his office bawling orders at his secretary
to shout loudly, especially in an unpleasant or angry way
179
a glib salesman,
| glib answers
(of speakers and speech) using words that are clever, but are not sincere, and do not show much thought
180
the salt of the earth
a very good and honest person that you can always depend on
181
to take umbrage (at sth)
to take offence (at sth)
182
under the knife
used for saying that someone is having a medical operation
183
sleazebag
someone who you think is dishonest or immoral
184
The party is facing sleaze allegations
behaviour that is dishonest or immoral, especially in politics or business
185
first order of business
a situation or subject that must be dealt with before anything else
186
to lose your nerve
to suddenly become too frightened to do something that you intended to do
187
His work _____ a nerve with people who are attracted to nostalgia
strikes
188
a vacuous TV game show
stupid
189
Everyone needs a little downtime
(especially North American English) the time when somebody stops working and is able to relax
190
I sometimes wonder what TV show he cribbed that line from
to copy or take someone else's work
191
Nobody loves you when you're down and out
having no luck, no money, and no opportunities
192
The last question was especially inane
stupid or silly; with no meaning
193
she blanched with fear
impallidire, sbiancare
194
It behoves us to study these findings carefully
used for saying that someone should do something because it is the right thing to do
195
Two of the fireworks in the box were duds.
a thing that has no use, especially because it does not work correctly
196
cera
wax
197
She's never very forthcoming about her plans
willing to give information about something
198
stufa
stove
199
tops
al massimo
200
They decided to pull the plug on the project
pull the plug on somebody/something
