New Flashcards
(109 cards)
1
Q
If we club together, we’ll be able to get her the complete dinner set.
A
If a group of people club together, they share the cost of something between them
2
Q
I might try my hand at a bit of Chinese cookery.
A
to try doing something for the first time
3
Q
They made a bundle selling their business.
A
to earn a lot of money
4
Q
If the European Central Bank believes the eurozone economy to be set fair, it can start to think about withdrawing the exceptional stimulus measures at its meeting in Estonia this week.
A
to be sunny and dry and not changing or expected to change
5
Q
You can tell she’s in the loop. She always knows about policy decisions before the rest of us.
A
to have the special knowledge or power that belongs to a particular group of people
6
Q
Garnish the dish with parsley before serving.
A
to decorate food with a small amount of different food
7
Q
Repairing watches must be a very finicky job.
A
needing a lot of attention to detail
8
Q
We cannot deduce very much from these figures.
A
to reach an answer or a decision by thinking carefully about the known facts
9
Q
Falling house prices are illustrative of the crisis facing the construction industry.
A
helping to explain or prove something
10
Q
She succeeded in conflating the three plays to produce a fresh new work.
A
to combine two or more separate things, especially pieces of text, to form a whole
11
Q
They’re on track to make record profits.
A
making progress and likely to succeed
12
Q
Getting the job finished in under a week was no mean feat.
A
to be a great achievement
13
Q
Just a sliver of cake for me, please - I shouldn’t really be having any.
A
a very small thin piece of something, usually broken off something larger
14
Q
His most trenchant criticism is reserved for the party leader, whom he describes as ‘the most incompetent and ineffectual the party has known’.
A
severe, expressing strong criticism or forceful opinions
15
Q
The community centre scheme has run up against strong local opposition.
A
to experience an unexpected difficulty
16
Q
The provincial government also soothed pastoralists with subsidies.
A
a sheep or cattle farmer
17
Q
blustery weather
A
very windy
18
Q
The political repression in this country is enforced by terror.
A
when people are controlled severely, especially by force
19
Q
Rivalries have grown as each struggles to create global shipping hubs, airlines, media arms, expeditionary forces and financial districts.
A
a group of soldiers sent to another country to fight in a war
20
Q
HLL Lifecare went from being a monopolist condom-maker to an also-ran, hence its more recent foray into vibrating gizmos.
A
someone in a competition who is unlikely to do well or who has failed
21
Q
Greed has been the undoing of many a businessman.
A
the cause of someone’s failure, or of their loss of power or money
22
Q
You seem mighty chipper this morning - what’s up?
A
very happy
23
Q
We ate and drank copiously at the party.
A
in large amounts; more than enough
24
Q
Reading should be an adventure, a personal experience full of serendipitous surprises.
A
occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way
25
Made by a local sculptor and muralist whose work graces the police headquarters, the international airport and the Saudi ambassador’s residence, among other prominent spots, it had been installed in front of the supreme court only months before.
the person making a large picture that has been painted on the wall of a room or building
26
The article is written in his usual punchy style.
expressing something effectively and with power
27
The oak was 2 metres in girth.
the distance around the outside of a thick or fat object, like a tree or a body 胴回り
28
an offbeat sense of humour
unusual and strange and therefore surprising or noticeable
29
He made several jokes and each of them fell flat.
If a joke, idea or suggestion falls flat, it does not have the intended effect
30
They accused him of playing into the hands of the enemy.
act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage 術中にはまる
31
Her face has graced the covers of magazines across the world.
When a person or thing graces a place or thing, they make it more attractive
32
There is traffic tailing back along the motorway for ten miles because of road repairs.
If traffic tails back, it forms a long line and moves very slowly or stops
33
It's reckoned that someone in the government was in cahoots with the assassin.
acting together with others for an illegal or dishonest purpose
34
Are you impugning my competence as a professional designer?
to cause people to doubt someone's character, qualities or reputation by criticizing them
35
Graeme was cock-a-hoop when Hibs won the championship.
extremely happy and excited about something
36
Ecological problems usually require holistic solutions.
dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part
37
Aramco has a concession for 12 times more oil and gas than ExxonMobil and 27 times more than Shell.
a special right to property or land
38
a big piece of succulent steak
Succulent food is pleasantly juicy
39
a white-knuckle ride in a theme park
describes an experience or activity that makes you feel very frightened and often excited
40
The concert was supposed to be a charity event but it had strong political overtones.
something that is suggested, but is not clearly stated
41
The road to Ely leads out across the fens.
an area of low flat wet land
42
Tribal divisions and the dispersal of the population hampered resistance to Chinese authority.
spreading across or moving away over a large area, or making something do this
43
Regular exercise can result in a general diminution in stress levels.
reduction in size or importance
44
Mr Macron’s first month, marked by much diplomatic summitry, has gone down well.
the act or practice of holding a summit meeting, especially to conduct diplomatic negotiations.
45
There's always an element of sexual innuendo in our conversations.
(the making of) a remark or remarks that suggest something sexual or something unpleasant but do not refer to it directly
46
He was regarded as a righteous and holy man.
morally correct
47
The drive along the winding coast road is not for the faint-hearted.
people who are not brave
48
I found him pugnacious and arrogant.
wanting to start an argument or fight, or expressing an argument or opinion very forcefully
49
She swivelled round to look out of the window.
to (cause to) turn round a central point in order to face in another direction 旋回する
50
He took it upon himself to personally thank each person at the meeting.
to accept responsibility for something without being asked to
51
I don't want all and sundry knowing about our problems.
everyone
52
Bedini and Curzi were probably not far off the mark in their analysis.
If something someone says or writes is off the mark, it is not correct
53
They live a vagabond life/existence, travelling around in a caravan.
a person who has no home and usually no job, and who travels from place to place
54
She always returns from vacation with a few souvenirs, even if they're only cheap trinkets.
a small decorative object, or a piece of jewellery that is cheap or of low quality
55
Since the fall of the government, the two opposition parties have been jostling for position .
If people jostle for something, they compete with each other in order to get what they want
56
They hauled the boat out of the water.
to pull something heavy slowly and with difficulty
57
The new traffic scheme worked up to a point, but it had its problems.
partly, or to a limited degree
58
At the frontier, there were people pestering tourists for cigarettes, food or alcohol.
to behave in an annoying manner towards someone by doing or asking for something repeatedly
59
Her latest fashion collection features shimmering iridescent materials.
showing many bright colours which change with movement
60
Keep your letter succinct and to the point.
said in a clear and short way; expressing what needs to be said without unnecessary words
61
scones with lashings of cream
a lot of food or drink
62
If you had to pick someone to ruffle feathers, it would hardly be David Kaye, the UN special rapporteur for freedom of expression.
a person who is appointed by an organization to report on the proceedings of its meetings
63
The surgeon makes a small incision into which a tube is inserted.
an opening that is made in something with a sharp tool, especially in someone's body during an operation
64
Don't sit there gawking like that - give me a hand!
to look at something or someone in a stupid or rude way
65
Rosalind conducted the meeting with characteristic aplomb/ with her usual aplomb.
confidence and style
66
The snipers picked the soldiers off one by one as they ran for cover.
to shoot at one particular person, animal or vehicle which you have chosen from a group
67
My bike chain was clanking in an alarming way as I pedalled along.
to make a short loud sound like that of metal objects hitting each other, or to cause something to make this sound
68
Most newly energised progressives are united, above all, by their detestation of Mr Trump.
hating someone or something very much
69
to prospect for oil/gold
to search for gold, oil or other valuable substances on or under the surface of the Earth
70
"How much did you say you earned last year - was it fifteen thousand?" she said with a sneer.
an unkind expression on your face which shows you do not respect or approve of someone or something
71
The lawyer averred her client's innocence.
to state the truth of something strongly
72
The examiner will try to catch you out, so stay calm and think carefully before you speak.
to trick someone into making a mistake
73
She's been badgering me into doing some exercise.
to persuade someone by telling them repeatedly to do something, or to question someone repeatedly
74
The steak was just how he liked - pink, juicy and marbled with fat.
decorated with a delicate pattern consisting of lines and areas of colour
75
a featureless desert
looking the same in every part, usually in a way that most people consider to be boring
76
Korea signed a treaty in favor of the Mongols and became a vassal state.
a country that is controlled by a more powerful country, and has to provide military support or pay money to it when needed
77
His business deals make him a tidy sum.
(of amounts of money) large
78
A great number of trees were felled to provide space for grazing.
to cut down a tree
79
There was a disconcerting silence.
making someone feel suddenly uncertain and worried
80
Hotel guests are requested to vacate their rooms by noon.
to leave a room, building, chair, etc. so that it is available for other people
81
The company's finances look a bit dicey.
slightly dangerous or uncertain
82
Defibrillators are used to restore normal rhythm to the heart.
a machine used especially in hospitals, which uses an electric current to stop any irregular (= not regular or normal) and dangerous activity of the heart's muscles
83
I prized the lid off with a spoon.
to move or lift something by pressing a tool against a fixed point
84
These setbacks seemed to vindicate the curmudgeonly sneer cited by Peter Tasker, of Arcus Investment, dismissing the BRICs as a “Bloody Ridiculous Investment Concept”.
a bad-tempered person, especially an old one
85
In Shakespeare's play, 'King Lear', the Earl of Gloucester's eyes are gouged out.
to remove something by digging or cutting it out of a surface
86
Winds gusting to 50 mph brought down power cables.
to blow strongly
87
There was a man outside the window gesticulating wildly .
to make movements with your hands or arms, to express something or to emphasize what you are saying
88
She's received plaudits for her work with homeless people.
praise
89
She gave a bashful smile as he complimented her on her work.
often feeling uncomfortable with other people and easily embarrassed; shy
90
You don't want lumps in the sauce.
a piece of a solid substance, usually with no particular shape
91
He was a very earnest young man.
serious or determined, especially too serious and unable to find your own actions funny
92
If I'm passing by I might take a peek at the new premises.
to look at something for a short time
93
negative sanctions to enforce normative behaviour
relating to rules, or making people obey rules, especially rules of behaviour
94
Cut flowers will soon wilt without water.
(of a plant) to become weak and begin to bend towards the ground, or (of a person) to become weaker, tired or less confident
95
Farmers are eligible for government support if they let a certain amount of land lie fallow.
describes land that is not planted with crops, in order to improve the quality of the soil
96
He ate a whole slab of chocolate.
a thick, flat piece of a solid substance, such as stone, wood, metal, food, etc., which is usually square or rectangular
97
Violent squalls signalled the approach of the hurricane.
a sudden strong wind or short storm
98
Just beyond this rural scene lurks something discordant.
producing an unpleasant sound
99
Meanwhile, just a few issues later, I personally conducted an interview with a hard-charging entrepreneur who had left his comfortable perch in New York City to set up an internet-based bookstore in Seattle.
energetic, enterprising, ambitious; go-getting
100
It is unclear if it is the beginning of a trend, or if vagabonds are taking advantage of rare booty to test a new line of business.
any valuable things or money stolen by an army at war or by thieves
101
He's a glib, self-centred man.
speaking or spoken in a confident way, but without careful thought or honesty
102
The child stared intently at her.
giving all your attention to something
103
The article about political corruption caused a real stink.
to cause trouble and make people angry
104
You know you have a standing invitation to come and stay anytime you're in town.
permanent, rather than formed or created when necessary
105
Cablevision might have first dibs on buying the rest of the property.
a right to have or get something from someone, or to use something
106
Generally Democrats accepted that a limber economy offered the best route to growth and good jobs.
(of a person) able to bend and move easily and smoothly
107
I was apprehensive about near encounters with earnest, granola-crunching tree-huggers
An environmental campaigner (used in reference to the practice of embracing a tree in an attempt to prevent it from being felled)
108
If Ms Tsai’s plan to revitalise the Taiwanese economy falls flat, it will soon start to ring hollow.
If something someone says rings hollow, it does not sound true or sincere.
109
The painter's depictions of the horror of war won her a worldwide reputation.
the way that something is represented or shown
