The Elements of Styles Flashcards
(54 cards)
1
Q
muddle (v)
A
- to put things in the wrong order or mix them up
- to confuse somebody
- muddle along: to continue doing something without any clear plan or purpose
- muddle through: to achieve your aims even though you do not know exactly what you are doing and do not have the correct equipment, knowledge, etc; lúng túng
- a state of mental confusion
- tình trạng lộn xộn, làm lộn xộn, làm rối
- Don’t do that—you’re muddling my papers.
- Slow down a little—you’re muddling me.
- We can’t just keep muddling along like this.
- We’ll muddle through somehow.
- Can you start from the beginning again—I’m in a muddle.
2
Q
burst (n)
A
- a short period of a particular activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly
- an occasion when something bursts; the hole left where something has burst
- a short series of shots from a gun
- sự xuất hiện đột ngột, sự nổ tung, sự bùng lên
- a sudden burst of activity/energy/anger/enthusiasm
- a burst in a water pipe
- frequent bursts of machine-gun fire
3
Q
summon (v)
A
- to order somebody to appear in court
- to arrange an official meeting
- to call for or try to obtain something
- gọi đến, triệu tập
- to summon assistance/help/reinforcements
- He was summoned to appear before the magistrates.
- She summoned the waiter.
4
Q
condolence (n)
A
- sympathy that you feel for somebody when a person in their family or that they know well has died; an expression of this sympathy
- lời chia buồn với người vừa có người thân mất
- to give/offer/express your condolences
- Our condolences go to his wife and family.
- a letter of condolence
5
Q
feeble (adj)
A
- very weak
- not effective; not showing determination or energy
- yếu đuối, nhu nhược, lờ mờ, không rõ
- The heartbeat was feeble and irregular.
- a feeble argument/excuse/joke
- Don’t be so feeble! Tell her you don’t want to go.
6
Q
compendium (n)
A
- a collection of facts, drawings and photographs on a particular subject, especially in a book
- bản tóm tắt, bản trích yếu
- I pray that this compendium is not complete, because it appears that the U.S. only launched 15 rockets last year.
- While not new to publishing (release in 1996), this book is a necessary swear word compendium for any English lover.
7
Q
recalcitrant (adj)
A
- unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions; difficult to control
- hay cãi lại, hay chống lại, cứng đầu
- a recalcitrant child
- Angus called his recalcitrant attention back to order
8
Q
tuck (v) (away)
A
- to push, fold or turn the ends or edges of clothes, paper, etc. so that they are held in place or look neat
- to put something into a small space, especially to hide it or keep it safe or comfortable
- to cover somebody with something so that they are warm and comfortable
- be tucked away: to be located in a quiet place, where not many people go
- gấp nếp, chui vào, rúc vào, thu gọn lại
- The shop is tucked away down a backstreet.
- She tucked a blanket around his legs.
- She tucked up her skirt and waded into (lội) the river.
9
Q
bob (v) (up)
A
- to move or make something move quickly up and down, especially in water
- bob up: to come to the surface suddenly
- nhấp nhô, nhảy nót, lắc lư, lắc nhẹ
- Tiny boats bobbed up and down in the harbour.
- She bobbed her head nervously.
- The dark head of a seal bobbed up a few yards away.
10
Q
sardonically (adv)
A
- showing that you think that you are better than other people and do not take them seriously
- nhạo bán, mỉa mai, biểu thị sự khinh thường
- a sardonic smile
- He looked down at her sardonically.
11
Q
pith (n)
A
- a soft dry white substance inside the skin of oranges and some other fruits
- the essential or most important part of something
- phần cốt yếu, phần ruột, nghị lực
- With a sharp knife, remove as much white pith from the lemon peels as is possible.
- the pith of her argument
12
Q
audacious (adj)
A
- willing to take risks or to do something shocking
- recklessly daring
- táo bạo
- an audacious decision
- To address this set of challenges we will need bold - even ‘audacious’ - policies.
13
Q
spectacle (n)
A
- a performance or an event that is very impressive and exciting to look at
- make a spectacle of yourself: to draw attention to yourself by behaving or dressing in a ridiculous way in public
- cảnh tượng, quan cảnh, kính đeo
- a pair of spectacles
- The carnival parade was a magnificent spectacle.
- The sunset was a stunning spectacle.
14
Q
relish (n)
A
- to get great pleasure from something; to want very much to do or have something
- great enjoyment or pleasure
- a cold thick spicy sauce made from fruit and vegetables that have been boiled, that is served with meat, cheese, etc.
- đồ gia vị, sự hứng thú, điều gây hứng thú
- nếm, thưởng thức
- She savoured (thưởng thức) the moment with obvious relish.
- I don’t relish the prospect of getting up early tomorrow.
15
Q
lapel (n)
A
- one of the two front parts of the top of a coat or jacket that are joined to the collar and are folded back
- ve áo
- to wear a flower in your lapel
- He grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket.
16
Q
husky (adj)
A
- sounding deep, quiet and rough, sometimes in an attractive way
- big, strong and sexually attractive
- vạm vỡ, khàn khàn
- She spoke in a husky whisper.
- The suspect is described as a husky African-American man, average height, age 25 to 35.
17
Q
conspiratorial (adj)
A
- connected with, or like, a conspiracy (âm mưu)
- suggesting that a secret is being shared
- bí ẩn, bí hiểm
- ‘I know you understand,’ he said and gave a conspiratorial wink.
- These individuals, who happen to be Jewish, do not act together in any kind of conspiratorial manner.
18
Q
sting (n)
A
- the sharp pointed part of an insect or creature that can go into the skin leaving a small, painful and sometimes poisonous wound
- any sharp pain in your body or mind
- nốt đốt, vết cắt, vết thương lòng, nọc độc
- The scorpion has a sting in its tail.
- She felt the sting of tears in her eyes.
- He smiled at her, trying to take the sting out of his words (= trying to make the situation less painful or difficult).
19
Q
lash (n)
A
- a hit with a whip, given as a form of punishment
- the thin leather part at the end of a whip
- lông mi, dây buộc ở đầu roi, quất bằng roi, sự xỉ vả, đả kích
- her long dark lashes
- They each received 20 lashes for stealing.
- to feel the lash of somebody’s tongue (= to be spoken to in an angry and critical way)
- The lash struck him across the back.
20
Q
brevity (n)
A
- the quality of using few words when speaking or writing
- the fact of lasting a short time
- tính khúc chiết, sự vắn tắt, sự ngắn ngủi của cuộc sống
- The report is a masterpiece of brevity.
- For the sake of brevity, I’d like to make just two points.
- the brevity of human life
21
Q
peculiar (adj)
A
- strange or unusual, especially in a way that is unpleasant or worrying
- belonging or relating to one particular place, situation, person, etc, and not to others
- kỳ dị, khác thường
- There was something peculiar in the way he smiled.
- He has his own peculiar style which you’ll soon get used to.
22
Q
stance (n)
A
- the opinions that somebody has about something and expresses publicly
- the way in which somebody stands, especially when playing a sport
- thái độ, lập trường, thế đứng trong thể thao
- What is the newspaper’s stance on the war?
- Widen your stance (= move your feet wider apart) for greater stability when hitting the ball.
23
Q
doctrine (n)
A
- a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, a political party, etc
- a statement of government policy
- học thuyết, học thuyết chủ nghĩa
- He was deeply committed to political doctrines of social equality.
- the Monroe Doctrine
24
Q
tonsillectomy (n)
A
- a medical operation to remove the tonsils
- cắt bỏ amidan
- At a hospital, the accused mastermind of the bombing of the USS Cole was recovering from a tonsillectomy.
25
poise (n)
* a calm and confident manner with control of your feelings or behaviour
* the ability to move or stand in an elegant way with good control of your body
* tư thế đĩnh đạc, dáng đứng cân bằng
1. His performance was full of maturity and *_poise_*.
2. She seemed embarrassed for a moment but quickly recovered her *_poise_*.
26
comical (adj)
* funny or amusing because of being strange or unusual
* hài hước, kỳ cục, lố bịch
1. The effect of having characters that are always comical is one of levity (khinh suất), and in the scheme of gravity of such a world you feel the void of intelligent people.
27
porch (n)
* a small area at the entrance to a building, such as a house or a church, that is covered by a roof and often has walls
* cổng vòm, hành lang
1. His front *_porch_* is part of his castle, and I would appreciate respect.
2. One other thing ... apparently Palin's *_porch_* is some sort of 8th wonder of the world.
28
sensuous (adj)
* giving pleasure to your senses
* suggesting an interest in sexual pleasure
* làm hài lòng giác quan, kích dục
1. I'm drawn to the poetic, *_sensuous_* qualities of her paintings.
2. his full *_sensuous_* lips
29
mannerism (n)
* a particular habit or way of speaking or behaving that somebody has but is not aware of
* too much use of a particular style in painting or writing
* thói cầu kỳ, kiểu cách, phong cách viết/vẽ riêng
1. nervous/odd/irritating *_mannerisms_*
2. Sometimes I base part of characters on friends; for instance, a certain *_mannerism_* or personality trait.
30
lassitude (n)
* a state of feeling very tired in mind or body; lack of energy
* sự mệt nhọc, uể oải
1. I was overcome by *_lassitude_*.
2. A kind of *_lassitude_* compelled him to play this game.
31
convalescence (n)
* a period of time when you get well again after an illness or a medical operation; the process of getting well
* sự hồi sức sau khi bệnh
1. You need four to six weeks' *_convalescence_*.
32
adornment (n)
* to make something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it or them with something
* sự tô điểm, trang hoàng
1. Gold rings *_adorned_* his fingers.
2. A plain necklace was her only *_adornment_*.
33
indispensable (adj)
* too important to be without
* không thể thiếu được, tối quan trọng
1. Cars have become an *_indispensable_* part of our lives.
2. She made herself *_indispensable_* to the department.
3. A good dictionary is *_indispensable_* for learning a foreign language.
34
ornate (adj)
* covered with a lot of decoration, especially when this involves very small or complicated designs
* trang trí công phu, trang sức lộng lẫy
1. a mirror in an *_ornate_* gold frame
2. This style is a little too *_ornate_* for my taste.
35
casbah (n)
* a castle on high ground in a North African / Middle East city or the area around it
* cung điện ở Bắc Phi / Trung Đông
1. Come with me to the *_casbah_* and we will make beautiful music.
2. For decades, his home base has been that *_casbah_* of the Northeast Corridor, Westport, Conn.
36
primo (adj)
* the principal part of a duet
* best, first-class
* phần chủ đạo
1. The 2001 flick is kind of *_primo_* and really stands the test of time in pop culture's current fascination with pop music and gossip.
37
collegian (n)
* a college student or recent college graduate
* a member of a college, particularly of a literary institution so called; a student in a college
* nhân viên trường đại học, sinh viên đã tốt nghiệp
1. Junior CB Patrick Peterson also will return kickoffs for the first time as a *_collegian_*.
2. Several schools also give parents calendars detailing the dates of spring break and exam schedules, along with tips on supporting a *_collegian_* with care packages.
38
horde (n)
* a large crowd of people
* bầy người, bộ lạc du cư
1. There are always *_hordes_* of tourists here in the summer.
2. Football fans turned up in *_hordes_*.
39
rein (n)
* a long narrow leather band that is attached to a metal bar in a horse's mouth (= a bit ) and is held by the rider in order to control the horse
* **give/allow somebody/something free/full rein**
* *| give/allow free/full rein to somethingto give**: somebody complete freedom of action; to allow a feeling to be expressed freely
* dây cương, sự kiềm chế
1. It was time to *_hand over the reins of power_* (= to give control to somebody else).
2. The vice-president was forced to *_take up the reins_* of office.
3. When I paint I just give my imagination free *_rein_*.
40
deliberately (adv)
* done in a way that was planned, not by chance
* slowly and carefully
* có tính toán, chủ tâm, thận trọng
1. She's been *_deliberately_* ignoring him all day.
2. He packed up his possessions slowly and *_deliberately_*.
41
colloquialism (n)
* a word or phrase that is used in conversation but not in formal speech or writing
* câu nói thông tục
1. "African-American vernacular" is simply a *_colloquialism_*, meaning it is unacceptable in any formal situation.
42
slipshod (adj)
* done without care; doing things without care
* cẩu thả, tùy tiện
1. The work was done in a *_slipshod_* manner.
43
mutilation (n)
* to damage somebody's body very severely, especially by cutting or tearing off part of it
* to damage something very badly
* làm cho tàn tật, tổn thương
1. The body had been badly *_mutilated_*.
2. Intruders slashed and *_mutilated_* several paintings.
3. Thousands suffered death or *_mutilation_* in the bomb blast.
44
snobbery (n)
* the attitudes and behaviour of people who are snobs
* sự màu mè, tính trưởng giả, học làm cao
1. The *_snobbery_* is hateful, but you can see that Kipling - the poet of Empire would have no sympathy for Gordon Brown's idea.
2. Your East Coast intellectual and social *_snobbery_* is leaking out around the mask, old buddy.
45
scrawl (n)
* to write something in a careless untidy way, making it difficult to read
* scrawl something (across/in/on/over something)
* scrawl across/in/on/over something
* a careless untidy way of writing; something written in this way
* chữ viết nguệch ngoạc, mảnh giấy ghi vội vàng
1. Her signature was an illegible *_scrawl_*.
2. The paper was covered in *_scrawls_*.
3. I tried to read his directions, *_scrawled_* on a piece of paper.
4. Someone had *_scrawled_* all over my notes.
46
plight (n)
* a difficult and sad situation
* cảnh ngộ khốn khổ tuyệt vọng, lời thề nguyền giữa đôi trai gái
1. the *_plight_* of the homeless
2. The African elephant is in a desperate *_plight_*.
3. The term is similar to a mid-life crisis, but it refers to the *_plight_* of students in school or right out of college trying to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives.
47
coffin (n)
* a box in which a dead body is buried or cremated
* quan tài, tàu ọp ẹp
1. A procession of mourners slowly followed the *_coffin_*.
48
reef (n)
* a long line of rocks or sand near the surface of the sea
* a part of a sail that can be tied or rolled up to make the sail smaller in a strong wind
* đá ngầm, mép buồm, mạch quặng
1. a coral *_reef_* (rặng san hô)
2. Fishing on the *_reef_* is only a rich man's pleasure.
3. The *_reef_* is razor sharp, the waves as deep steep, a mountainous blue, curved clear walls of glass.
49
erode (v)
* to gradually destroy the surface of something through the action of wind, rain, etc; to be gradually destroyed in this way
* to gradually destroy something or make it weaker over a period of time; to be destroyed or made weaker in this way
* xói mòn, ăn mòn
1. The rocks have *_eroded away_* over time.
2. Her confidence has been slowly *_eroded_* by repeated failures.
3. the *_erosion_* of the coastline by the sea
50
garment (n)
* a piece of clothing
* áo quần, vỏ ngoài, bọc ngoài
1. a strange shapeless *_garment_* that had once been a jacket
2. woollen/winter/outer *_garments_*
51
halloo (v)
* used to attract somebody's attention
* used in hunting to tell the dogs to start chasing an animal
* hú hú, xuỵt xuỵt
1. At the same moment there was a "*_halloo_*" outside, and a woman burst open the door, turning quickly to shut out behind her the onrush of the shower and the biting cold of the wind.
2. He raised his voice in a long "*_halloo_*" and rapped three times on the table.
52
innocuous (adj)
* not intended to offend or upset anyone
* not harmful or dangerous
* không độc hại, vô thưởng vô phạt, tẻ nhạt
1. It seemed a perfectly *_innocuous_* remark.
2. an *_innocuous_* substance
53
dictatorial (adj)
* connected with or controlled by a dictator
* using power in an unreasonable way by telling people what to do and not listening to their views or wishes
* độc tài
1. *_dictatorial_* behaviour
2. Putin accused the United States of pursuing what he called a *_dictatorial_* foreign policy.
54
antagonistic (adj)
* showing or feeling opposition
* **antagonistic (to/toward(s) somebody/something)**
* trái ngược, đối lập, tương phản
1. In the first case, you can call the *_antagonistic_* principle “the existing order,” in the second, “antiquated prejudice.”
2. These color-pairs are known as *_antagonistic_* or complementary colors.
