Vocabs Flashcards
(451 cards)
inferno
a large fire that is dangerously out of control
deranged
insane
a deranged gunman
pass himself off
to try to make others believe that someone or something is something other than what the person or thing is: Maurice is trying to pass himself off as a journalist to get admitted to the press conference
renege
back out on a promise
“they have reneged on their promises to us”
prodigal
wasteful. spend money recklessly
“prodigal habits die hard (strongly devoted) “
having or giving something on a lavish scale.
generous
“the dessert was prodigal with whipped cream”
allude
suggest, refer to
“she had a way of alluding to Jean but never saying her name”
Meaning of the word ‘however’ in this sentence.
The king did not, however, gain his possession.
However : to whatever extent or whatever way.
put shoulder to the wheel
work extra hard to achieve something; just like pushing a car
We’ll have to put our shoulder to the wheel to get this job done
flew off the handle
lose one’s temper
He tends to fly off the handle when people disagree with him.
hand it up
surrender
Hands up, Johnson! I’ve got you in my sights, and I’m not afraid to put you down if you won’t come into custody quietly.
A signal that one agrees, intends to participate, or wants what someone is offering.
OK everyone, hands up if you think we should move forward with this policy.
strut
walk with a stiff, erect, and apparently arrogant or conceited gait.
“peacocks strut through the grounds”
gait : walking manner
plight
predicament / sorry situation
a dangerous, difficult, or otherwise unfortunate situation.
“we must direct our efforts towards relieving the plight of children living in poverty”
clamber
scramble : crawl
make one’s way quickly or awkwardly up a steep gradient or over rough ground by using one’s hands as well as one’s feet.
“I clambered out of the trench ( narrow channel/ ditch/ furrow / groove)”
groove : a long, narrow cut or depression in a hard material.
double entendre
a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué
flirty talk full of double entendres
risque ( riskaa) : verging ( be very close to ) on impropriety ( wrong doing) or indecency
ensue
happen or occur afterwards or as a result.
“the difficulties which ensued from their commitment to Cuba”
denote
indicate
present perfect tense
it is used for an action that has already taken place but the definite point of time is not known. it is used with indefinite time adverbs such as ‘just’, ‘already’ and ‘yet’.
eg : I have already shut the window.
he has just cut down the tree.
we used the present pefect tense with ever, never, for and since for an action which happened from a period or point of time in the past till now.
eg: have you ever seen a giraffe? I have never seen one before.
cobble
round pebbles
cobbler
someone who mend shoes
infinitives
infinitive : basic form of a verb
antics
foolish, outrageous, or amusing behaviour.
“the antics of our political parties”
what do ‘must’ and ‘have ‘ express as special finites?
- they are used to express obligation and necessity
- ‘must’ is used when the obligation is expressed from the speaker’s point of view.
- ‘have to’ is used when the obligation depends on outside circumstances.
negative form of ‘must’
- it is ‘need to’
‘must not’ is used to express prohibition.
eg. you must not smoke in the hall.
dearth
scarcity / lack of something
“there is a dearth of evidence”