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Flashcards in PEOPLE AND PLACES Deck (56)
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1
Q

HACKNEYED

A

A hackneyed phrase or idea has been said or used so often that it has become boring and has no meaning

Example: The plot of the film is just a hackneyed boy-meets-girl scenario

The book’s storyline is so hackneyed, a girl alone in the world and the popular guy

2
Q

MUNDANE

A

Very ordinary and therefore not interesting

Example: Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her

His project was so mundane, a soda volcano

3
Q

ECCENTRIC

A

Strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way

Example: eccentric behaviour

His clothes were very eccentric that night

4
Q

COMPULSIVE

A

**Doing something a lot and unable to stop doing it

Example: a compulsive liar/thief/eater

**If a film, play, sports event, book, etc. is compulsive, it is so interesting or exciting that you do not want to stop watching or reading it

Example: Her latest book is compulsive reading/a compulsive read

5
Q

CORNY

A

(especially of jokes, films, stories, etc.) showing no new ideas or too often repeated, and therefore not funny or interesting

Example: I couldn’t watch the whole movie - it was just too corny

The situation in the book is so corny, the writer is not original at all

6
Q

CLIFFHANGER

A

A story or a situation that is exciting because its ending or result is uncertain until it happens

Example: Many of Hitchcock’s films are real cliffhangers

The story had a cliffhanger ending

7
Q

UNCONVINCING

A

Not sound or seem true or real

Example: They gave some unconvincing explanations for the system failure

He told me and stupid and unconvincing explanation about why he was late

8
Q

ATROCIOUS

A

**Violent and shocking

Exampe: An atrocious crime

**Of very bad quality

Example: An atrocious film/piece of acting

The weather has been atrocious all week

9
Q

FAR-FETCHED

A

Very unlikely to be true, and difficult to believe

Example: A far-fetched idea/story

He told me a far-fetched explanation of why he didn’t called

10
Q

DISTURBING (memory)

A

Making you feel worried or upset

Example: The following programme contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers

That memory was so disturbing that till this day gives me shaking chills

11
Q

BITTERLY (memory)

A

In a way that shows strong negative emotion such as anger or disappointment

Example: She wept bitterly at the news

That meory was so bitter that it still makes me upset

12
Q

CONTRIVED

A

Artificial and difficult to believe

Example: I enjoyed the film, but felt the ending was a bit contrived

His excuse sounded a bit contrived

13
Q

TOPICAL

A

Of interest at the present time; relating to things that are happening at present

Example: The discussion focused on topical issues in medicine

In Argentina, people make topical jokes about poitics and every other random situation

14
Q

NEGATIVE

A

Bad or harmful

Example: The warm winter has had a very negative effect/impact on the ski industry

The test resaults were negative

15
Q

GLAMOROUS

A

Attractive in an exciting and special way

Example:a glamorous job

Her party dress was so glamorous

16
Q

FEATURELESS

A

Looking the same in every part, usually in a way that most people consider to be boring

Example: A grey featureless landscape

A featureless desert

17
Q

VIVID (memory)

A

Vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful, and detailed images in the mind

Examen: He’s one of those people with a very vivid imagination - every time he hears a noise he’s convinced it’s someone breaking in

He gave a very vivid and often shocking account/description of his time in prison

18
Q

DISTANT (memory)

A

Far away

Example: This memory is quite distant, I don’t remember very well

She could hear the distant sound of fireworks exploding.

19
Q

SHORT-TERM (memory)

A

Relating to a short period of time or lasting a short period of time

Example: short-term memory

Our short-term aim is to deal with our current financial difficulties

20
Q

LONG-TERM (memory)

A

Continuing a long time into the future

Example: the long-term effects of the drug

This memory is a long-term one, it was so funny I never want to forget

21
Q

DREADFUL (memory)

A

**Causing fear, shock, or suffering

Example: The news report was so dreadful that I just had to switch it off

**Of very low quality or very unpleasant

Example: The food was bad and the service was dreadful

22
Q

FADED (memory)

A

Having weakened or diminished with the passage of time

Example: a faded memory

It all seems quite faded now

23
Q

CHERISHED (memory)

A

Bringing the pleasure of love or caring about someone or something that is important to you

Example: Her most cherished possession is a 1926 letter from F. Scott Fitzgerald

That was my mos cherished memory ever

24
Q

NOSTALGIC (memory)

A

Feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the past

Example: alking about our old family holidays has made me feel all nostalgic

Remembering that mekes me so nostalgic

25
Q

FUZZY (memory)

A

Not clear

Example: The basic facts of the story are starting to emerge though the details are still fuzzy

My head’s a little fuzzy this morning after all that wine last night

26
Q

PRECIOUS (memory)

A

Of great value because of being rare, expensive, or important

Example: A precious moment/memory

Clean water is a precious commodity in many parts of the world

27
Q

TREASURED (memory)

A

To take great care of something because you love it or consider it very valuable

Example: I will always treasure those memories of my dad

This pen that my grandfather gave me is one of my most treasured possessions

28
Q

BITTER-SWEET (memory)

A

Containing a mixture of sadness and happiness

Example: The bittersweet end to the movie is just right

This memory is bittersweet, so much happened good and bad

29
Q

HAUNTING (memory)

A

Beautiful, but in a sad way and often in a way that cannot be forgotten

Example: a haunting melody

The memory of the trip is a haunting one, so sad it end but so happy we lived it

30
Q

VAGUE (memory)

A

Not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided

Example: I do have a vague memory of meeting her many years ago

The patient had complained of vague pains and backache

31
Q

TRAUMATIC (memory)

A

Causing severe and lasting emotional shock and pain

Example: Some of the most disturbed children had witnessed really traumatic things, such as rape and murder

That memory must be so traumatic that her brain forbides her to remember

32
Q

LINGERING (memory)

A

Lasting a long time

Example: She gave him a long, lingering kiss

She says she stopped seeing him, but I still have lingering doubts

33
Q

FLEETING (memory)

A

Short or quick

Example: A fleeting glimpse

This is just a fleeting visit

34
Q

REKINDLE

A

To make someone have a feeling that they had in the past

Example: The holiday was a last chance to rekindle their love

She tried to rekindle the happiness of the relationship but it didn’t work

35
Q

TRIGGER

A

To cause something to start

Example: Some people find that certain foods trigger their headaches

The racial killings at the weekend have triggered off a wave of protests

36
Q

CONJURE STH UP

A

To make a picture or idea appear in someone’s mind

Example: For some people, the word “England” may still conjure up images of pretty gardens and tea parties

Her speach conjured up images of food in my mind

37
Q

BLOT OUT

A

To cause something to disappear, or to remove something unpleasant from your thoughts

Example: He blots out the painful memories by keeping very busy

A dark cloud blotted out the sun

38
Q

HECTIC

A

Full of activity, or very busy and fast

Example: The area has become a haven for people tired of the hectic pace of city life

She always has a hectic schedule

39
Q

FALL FOT STH. HOOK INE AND SINKER

A

**to fell completely in love

Example: The moment I met my wife, I fell for her hook, line, and sinker

**to completely believe something that someone tells you that is not true

Example: She told him she needed the money for her baby and he fell for it hook, line, and sinker

40
Q

(TAKE) HEED

A

Pay attention

Example: The company took no heed of (= did not consider) public opposition to the plans

The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines

41
Q

STRANDED

A

Unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money

Example: He left me stranded in town with no car and no money for a bus

If the tide comes in, we’ll be stranded on these rocks

42
Q

DERELICT (buildings, places)

A

Derelict buildings or places are not cared for and are in bad condition

Example: The theatre has been left to stand/lie derelict

A derelict site over there

43
Q

GIVE IN (to comeone)

A

To finally agree to something that someone wants after first refusing or to accept that you have been defeated and stop arguing or fighting

Example: If you want them to give in you’ll have to offer them more than that

After months of resisting the takeover, the company was forced by its shareholders to give in

44
Q

NOVELLA

A

a short novel

Example: his last novella was amazing

45
Q

MAR

A

To spoil something, making it less good or less enjoyable

Example: Sadly, the text is marred by careless errors

It was a really nice day, marred only by a little argument in the car on the way home

46
Q

LADEN

A

Carrying or holding a lot of something

Example: He always comes back from France laden with presents for everyone

The table, as always, was laden with food

47
Q

MOUNT

A

**To gradually increase, rise, or get bigger

Example: The children’s excitement is mounting as Christmas gets nearer

Tension was mounting as the minutes went by

**To get on a horse, bicycle, etc.. in order to ride

Example: She mounted her horse and rode off

**To organize and begin an activity or event

Example: to mount an attack/campaign/challenge/protest

48
Q

DOOM

A

Death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided; to make something bad certain to happen

Example: The newspapers are always full of doom and gloom (= bad news and unhappiness) these days

Mounting debts doomed the factory to closure

49
Q

GRIP

A

**To keep someone’s attention completely

Example: This trial has gripped the whole nation

**When an emotion such as fear grips you, you feel it strongly

Then he turned towards me, and I was suddenly gripped by fear

50
Q

BACKDROP

A

**The view behind something

Example: The mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the little village

**The general situation in which particular events happen

Their love affair began against a backdrop of war

51
Q

RESONATE

A

**If an experience or memory resonates, it makes you think of another similar one

Example: Her experiences resonate powerfully with me, living, as I do, in a similar family situation

**To produce, increase, or fill with sound, by vibrating (= shaking) objects that are near; or to be filed with a particular quality

Example The building resonates with historic significance

The noise of the bell resonated through the building

52
Q

IN TATTERS

A

Badly damaged or completely spoiled

Example: After the newspaper story appeared his reputation was in tatters

The book was marveous, it’s a shame it had to end in tatters

53
Q

ESOTERIC

A

Very unusual and understood or liked by only a small number of people, especially those with special knowledge

Example: She has a somewhat esoteric taste in clothes

Literary readings can sometimes seem esoteric, but we are trying to make them more attractive to more people

54
Q

TRITE

A

Lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse

Example: I know it will sound trite, but I’ve loved being part of this club

His lyrics about love and peace are too trite for me to take them seriously

55
Q

CONCEALMENT

A

The act of hiding something

Example: The concealment of evidence/facts/weapons

He was arrested for the concealment of the suspect

56
Q

AT PLAY

A

Active or existing as something to be considered

Example. It’s a complicated matter with several important issues at play

This plan has to work, there are several things at pay