Vocabulary for CSS Flashcards
1
Q
commemorate
A
recall and show respect for (someone or something).
2
Q
hallow
A
honor as holy
3
Q
recrimination
A
an accusation in response to one from someone else.
4
Q
slew
A
a large number of something
5
Q
potency
A
the power of something to make an influence
6
Q
out of thin air
A
unexpectedly
7
Q
backslide
A
relapse into bad ways or error; relapse, retrogress, regress..
8
Q
spiral
A
show a dramatic and continuous increase
9
Q
slack
A
sluggish and lazy
10
Q
feeble
A
lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness
Or-
lacking the strength of character
11
Q
cataclysmic
A
large-scale and violent
12
Q
stringent
A
strict, precise, and exacting
13
Q
concoct
A
create or devise; fabricate
14
Q
flout
A
openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention)
15
Q
insidious
A
proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with very harmful effects
16
Q
riven
A
split or tear apart violently
17
Q
brew
A
(of an unwelcome event or situation) begin to develop
18
Q
bicker
A
argue about petty and trivial matters
19
Q
wilful
A
(of a bad or harmful act) intentional; deliberate
20
Q
wallow
A
(of a person) indulge in an unrestrained way in (something that one finds pleasurable)
21
Q
fawn
A
(of a person) give a servile display of exaggerated flattery or affection, typically in order to gain favor
22
Q
inveigh
A
speak or write about (something) with great hostility
23
Q
propel
A
drive or push something forwards
24
Q
qualms
A
an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear; a misgiving
25
affirmative action
action favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination; positive discrimination
26
roil
move in a turbulent, swirling manner
27
fringes
the outer, marginal, or extreme part of an area, group, or sphere of activity
28
slump
fail or decline substantially
29
subsume
include or absorb (something) in something else
30
soothe
gently calm (a person or their feelings); pacify
31
bluster
blow or beat fiercely and noisily
32
opprobrium
harsh criticism
33
recuse
(of a judge) excuse oneself from a case because of a potential conflict of interest or lack of impartiality
34
olive branch
an offer of reconciliation
| e.g. China has extended an olive branch to the USA
35
scruple
hesitate or be reluctant to do something that one thinks may be wrong
36
simmer
show or feel barely suppressed anger or other strong emotion; be enraged
37
row (n, v)
a noisy acrimonious quarrel
38
odds are stacked against him
he is unlikely to succeed due to unfavorable conditions
39
preen
congratulate or pride oneself
40
vociferously
in a loud and forceful manner
41
cross a picket line
to become a dissent and continue working while the unions/colleagues are on strike
42
dread
anticipate with great apprehension or fear
43
flag
become tired or less enthusiastic or dynamic
44
unwavering
not wavering; steady or resolute
45
clandestine
kept secret or done secretively, especially because illicit
46
errant
erring or straying from the accepted course or standards
47
spill the beans
reveal secret information unintentionally or indiscreetly
48
smokescreen
a ruse designed to disguise someone's real intentions or activities
49
malign
speak about (someone) in a spitefully critical manner; slander, defame, libel
50
hue and cry
a loud clamour or public outcry
51
farce
an event or situation that is absurd or disorganized
52
inanity
a nonsensical remark or action
53
sedition
conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch
54
surreal
having the qualities of surrealism; bizarre
55
dilapidated
in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect
56
leaps and bounds
rapidly
57
spree
a spell or sustained period of unrestrained activity of a particular kind
58
expedite
make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly; accelarate; hasten
59
morph
undergo or cause to undergo a gradual process of transformation
60
bout
a short period of intense activity of a specified kind
61
decelerate
opposite of accelerate
62
malaise
a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or unease whose exact cause is difficult to identify; restlessness
63
doggedly
in a manner that shows tenacity and grim persistence
64
laggard
a person who makes slow progress and falls behind others
65
lampoon
publicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm
66
Rancorous
Characterized by bitterness and resentment
67
Forestall
Prevent or obstruct by taking an advanced action
68
Innocuous
Not harmful or offensive
69
Credence
The likelihood of something being true; plausibility
| Used in sentences as: lent credence to the argument...
70
Spew
Expel large quantities of something rapidly and forcibly
71
Complacency
Uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements
72
Limbo
An uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; and intermediate state or condition
73
Congruous
Being in agreement
74
Complaisant
Marked by an inclination to please or oblige
75
Animate
Full of life; possessing characters of a living thing
76
Credulous
Believing anything; not questioning the facts etc.
77
Ingenious
Clever and skillful
78
Ingenuous
Frank, open, and innocent
79
Burn a bridge
To cut off all ties so that there is no way that the relationship can be renewed
80
Recourse
Seek help from; turning to someone for solution
| Example: the dispute was resolved without recourse to the law
81
Voracious
Having a large appetite; insatiable
82
Callous
Feeling no emotion or sympathy
83
Furor
An outbreak of public anger or excitement
84
Libel
A statement published without just cause probably to defame someone
85
Desolated
Showing the effects of neglect and abandonment; dilapidated
86
Tortuous
Marked by repeated twists or bents
87
Exceptionable
Offensive and upsetting
88
Venal
Behaving in an immoral way for money
89
Froward
(Of a person) difficult to deal with
90
Ruinous
Disastrous or destructive/
Costing far more than can be afforded/
In ruins; dilapidated
91
Salutary
Producing good results; beneficial
92
Collate
Collect and combine
93
Ordeal
A very unpleasant and prolonged experience; agony; plight; misery
94
Watershed
An event or period marking a turning point in a situation
95
Vanquish
Defeat thoroughly; annihilate; overwhelm
96
Sycophant
A person who acts obsequiously towards someone important in order to gain advantage
97
Erroneous
Wrong; incorrect
98
Reprieve
Grant a stay of execution to
99
Come (or get) to grips with
Begin to deal with or understand
100
Exodus
Mass departure
101
Ratchet
Cause something to rise
102
Hubris
Excessive pride or self confidence; arrogance, haughtiness
103
Fray
Wear thin; show the effects of strain
104
Incendiary
Provocative, seditious, revolutionary
105
Elated
Make (someone) happy
106
Smother
Make (someone) feel trapped and overwhelmingly surrounded
107
Prise
Obtain something with effort or difficulty
108
Behemoth
A huge or monstrous creature/ thing
109
Decrepit
Worn out or ruined because of age or neglect; dilapidated
110
Poster Child
A person or thing that epitomizes or represents a specified quality, cause, etc.
111
Intrepid
Fearless; adventurous, dauntless
112
Taciturn
Reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little, untalkative
113
Gaffe
An unintentional act causing embarrassment to its originator
114
Pipe dream
An unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme
115
Excruciating
Intensely painful; agonizing, harrowing
116
Ensnare
Catch in or as in a trap
| E.g. they were ensnared in city centre traffic
117
Misbegotten
Badly conceived or planned; ill-conceived, ill-advised
118
Imbecile
A stupid person; fool, silly
119
Vilify; vilification
Speak or write about in an abusively disparaging manner; denigrate, berate
120
Carte blanche
Complete freedom to act as one wishes
121
Restive
Unstable; moving relentlessly
122
Protracted
Lasting for a long time or longer than usual
| E.g. a protracted crisis leading up to the July elections
123
Nihilism
The belief that nothing in the world has a real existence
124
Anguish
Severe mental or physical pain or suffering
125
Ebb
Gradually decrease; diminish, wane, dwindle
126
Convulsing
Throw ( a country) into violent or political upheaval
127
Far and away
By a very large amount
| E.g. it is far and away the biggest port
128
Loth
Reluctant
| E.g. politicians seem loth to allow that
129
Deride
Express contempt for; ridicule
| E.g. Obamacare, which was much derided..
130
Bind
A problematic situation; predicament, quandary, mess, quagmire..
131
Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction
e.g. the question is whether one should take seriously the oxymoron of nationalist internationalism
132
Smoking gun
A piece of incontrovertible incriminating evidence
133
Eyesore
A thing that is very ugly
| E.g. some say that encroachments are a eyesore of Karachi
134
Chide
Scold or rebuke; chastise, berate, castigate
135
Flak(n)
Strong criticism
136
Encumber
Restrict or impede; constrain, hamper
137
Petered
Decrease or fade gradually
138
Effusive
Showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval
139
Rut
A pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change
E.g. talks with India are stuck in a rut
140
Rapprochement
An establishment or resumption of harmonious relations
141
Impasse
A situation in which no progress is possible; a deadlock, stalemate
142
Ominous
Inauspicious, baleful
143
Moot
Raise (a question or topic) for discussion
144
Fend off or ward off
Send away; avoid
145
Sham
A thing that is not what it is purported to be
146
Factotum
An employee who does all kinds of work
147
Unblemished
Impeccable, flawless, whiter than white..
148
Stymie
Prevent or hinder the progress of
| E.g. the changes must not stymie poverty eradication
149
Cleave
Unneeded divide
150
Unremitting
Never relaxing or slackening; incessant, restive
151
Unravel
Undo; disentangle,
| Become undone; fail, collapse
152
Petered
Decrease or fade gradually
153
Effusive
Showing or expressing gratitude, pleasure, or approval
154
Rut
A pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive but is hard to change
E.g. talks with India are stuck in a rut
155
Rapprochement
An establishment or resumption of harmonious relations
156
Impasse
A situation in which no progress is possible; a deadlock, stalemate
157
Ominous
Inauspicious, baleful
158
Laissez faire
A policy of non-interference by the State
159
Blight (n & v)
A thing that spoils or damages something
Spoil, harm or destroy
E.g. his result blighted his career
160
Travail
Engage in a painful or laborious effort
161
Teem
be full of or swarming with
E.g. The territory under its control is rich in
phosphates and its waters teem with fish
162
Run-of-the-mill
Ordinary
| E.g. Teslas have become so run-of-the-mill in Oslo that it is not unusual to see them spattered with mud
163
Belch; belch out
Send out large amounts of
164
Perfidious
deceitful and untrustworthy
165
Denunciation
public condemnation of someone or something
166
Scattershot
denoting something that is broad but random and haphazard in its range
E.g. your scattershot approach is doomed to fail
167
Innocuous
not harmful or offensive
| E.g. it was an innocuous question
168
condescending; condescension
an attitude of patronizing superiority; disdain
| E.g. Farmers were treated with contempt and condescension by the state
169
treacherous
1. guilty of or involving betrayal or deception; disloyal, perfidious
2. presenting hidden or unpredictable dangers; perilous, unsafe
170
ignoble
not honorable in character or purpose
e.g. The EU has an ignoble tradition of getting
people to vote again
171
plough on
move in a fast and uncontrolled manner
| e.g. If the British are determined to plough on, that is their right
172
run out of steam
lose impetus or enthusiasm
| e.g. The “Ethiopian miracle” has run out of steam
173
Pull the plug
Prevent something from happening or continuing
174
vex
make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried
| e.g. spycams in toilets are not the only problem vexing women
175
beset
(of a problem or difficulty) trouble (someone or something) persistently
e.g. the structural problems that beset their respective sectors are many
176
moribund
in terminal decline; lacking vitality or vigor
177
go awry
away from the usual or expected course
178
good faith
honesty or sincerity of intention
| e.g. we have come here to negotiate in good faith
179
glacially slow
very very slow
180
comity
an association of nations for their mutual benefit
181
piecemeal
characterized by unsystematic partial measures taken over a period of time
e.g. the order it created came apart in a more piecemeal fashion
182
percolate
spread gradually through an area or group of people
183
horrendous
extremely unpleasant, horrifying, or terrible
184
denigrate
criticize unfairly; disparage
185
churlish
rude in a mean-spirited and surly way; impolite, ungracious, ungallant
186
nefarious
(typically of an action or activity) wicked or criminal
| e.g. the nefarious activities of the organized-crime syndicates
187
ignominy (n)
| ignominious (adj)
public shame or disgrace
| e.g. the ignominy of being imprisoned
188
attenuate
reduce the force, effect, or value of; weaken, impair, lessen
189
accentuate
make more noticeable or prominent; underline, underscore
190
suffuse
gradually spread through or over
| e.g. The event will be suffused with symbolic references to Mr. Xi’s favorite topics
191
seethe
be filled with intense but unexpressed anger
| e.g. In downtown Beijing, residents have other reasons to seethe.
192
atypical
not representative of a type, group, or class; non-typical, unusual
193
rile
make (someone) annoyed or irritated
| e.g. Not long ago children used to rile their parents by declaring they were bored
194
invidious
(of a comparison or distinction) unfairly discriminating; unjust
e.g. women still have to make invidious choices between the demands of work and family.
195
gravitate
move towards or be attracted to a person or thing
196
supplant
supersede and replace
| e.g. Russia has supplanted America as a superpower in Syria
197
spurious
not being what it purports to be; false or fake
| e.g. Turkey released an American pastor who had spent two years behind bars on spurious coup charges
198
lay waste
destroy, disrupt
| e.g. the current administration's inaction is continuing to lay waste to the real economy.
199
limpid
clear and accessible or melodious; lucid, clear, intelligible
200
Forfended
Protect by precautionary measures
201
Inexorable
Impossible to prevent
| Or- impossible to persuade (of a person)
202
Deracinated
Uproot (something/ someone) from their natural geographical, social, or cultural environment
203
Scatterbrained
(Of a person) disorganized and lacking in concentration
204
Addled (adj. and verb)
Unable to think clearly; confused
205
Promiscuous
Immoral, Unchaste, Dissolute
206
Benighted
Unenlightened, unlettered
207
Belie (vb.)
Fail to give a true impression
208
muzzle
prevent (a person or group) from expressing their opinions freely; suppress, silence
209
lumber
move in a slow, heavy, awkward way
210
geld
deprive of vitality or vigor
211
bolshiness
the act of giving emotionally-charged statements
212
imperious
arrogant and domineering
213
trounce
defeat heavily in a contest
214
expend
spend or use up (a resource such as money or energy)
215
Revulsion
A sense of disgust and loathing; repugnance, abhorrence
216
Recondite
Little known; abstruse
217
Profligate (adj,)
Recklessly extravagant in the use if resources
218
Befuddling
Cause to become unable to think clearly
219
Recursive
Characterized by recurrence ir repetition
220
Privy
Sharing in the knowledge of (something private or secret)
| E.g. he was no longer privy to company’s new strategy
221
Distraught (adj.)
Very worried and upset
222
Remission
A temporary diminution of the severity of disease or pain; respite; abeyance
223
Onslaught
A fierce or destructive attack
224
Dovetail (verb)
Fit or cause to fit together easily and conveniently
225
Contrite(adj)
| Contrition(noun)
The state of feeling remorseful and penitent
226
Cusp (noun)
A point of transition between two different states
| E.g. he was on cusp of resigning
227
Rigmarole
A lengthy and complicated procedure
228
Rudimentary (adj)
Involving or limited to basic principles
229
Extant (adj)
Still in existence; surviving
230
Ingratiate
Bring oneself into favour with someone by flattering or trying to please them
231
Pangloss
A person who is optimistic regardless of the circumstances
232
Concomitant
Accompanying especially in a subordinate or incidental way
233
Wherewithal
Means, resources especially money
234
Internecine
marked by slaughter; deadly especially mutually destructive
235
Saddle
Burden (someone) with an onerous responsibility or task
236
Propitious
Giving or indicating a good chance of success; favourable
237
Stultify (ver)
Cause to lose enthusiasm as a result of restrictive routine...impede,hamper, frustrate, repress...
238
Gargantuan (adj.)
Enormous.
239
Fait accompli
A thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it
240
Cauldron (n.)
A situation characterized by instability and strong emotions
241
Ceteris Paribus
All other things equal
242
Skulduggery
Underhand, unscrupulous, or dishonest behaviour or activity
243
Unmistakable
Very distinct
244
Aphorism
A pithy observation which contains a general truth
245
Immiserate
Cause to become poor or impoverished
246
Peter out
To diminish gradually and stop
247
up the ante
increase what is at stake or under discussion, especially in a conflict or dispute
248
Out of one’s depth
Not having a knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with particular subject or situation
250
Worth one’s salt
Good at one’s job
254
Far cry
Very different
254
Cut corners
To do something rapidly and cheaply but usually by eluding regulations
255
Pull a rabbit out of the hat
Do something effective which was unexpected
257
On a shoestring
To live within a very limited budget
257
Snake oil
A product, policy etc. Of little real worth or value that is promoted as the solution to a problem
259
Short end of the stick
To suffer the bad effects of a situation
259
Fly in the ointment
Something little that disturbs or destroys the whole salutary effects of something
260
Writing on the wall
That there clear signs that something’s gonna fall apart
260
Last straw that broke the camel’s back
The seemingly minor or routine action that causes an unpredictably large and sudden reaction, because of the cumulative effect of small actions
260
Hand over fist
To do something very quickly; at a rapid pace
260
Heave a sigh of relief
To suddenly feel happy
261
The pot calling the kettle black
Finding a fault in someone, which you already have
262
To ruffle someone’s feathers
To do something to cause confusion, agitation, irritation
263
Clip someone/something’s wings
To restrain or curtail
264
Let up
End in sight
265
Run amok
Behave in a frenzied, out of control, or unrestrained manner
266
Let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret or information once hidden
267
Cost an arm and a leg
Something that is very expensive or damaging
268
Weather/Brave the storm
Survive hard times
269
Elephant in the room
Something obvious and clear
270
Vanish into thin air
Disappear
271
Bitter pill to swallow
Bad news that you have to hear and accept
272
Crunch time
A critical time when action needs to be taken
273
No-brainer
An easy decision
274
Stick to guns
To refuse to compromise or change position
275
Miss the boat
When someone has missed the opportunity to do something
276
Run from pillar to post
To move from one place to another, often without purpose or due to failure
277
To make no bones about something
To say something clearly and unapologetically
278
Relic of the Past
Something no longer used or considered modern
279
Jewel in the crown
Something that is the most valuable out of all things
280
Shoot from the hip
React without careful consideration of one’s words or actions
281
Hang by a thread
Be in a highly precarious state
282
Shifting sands
Something that is constantly changing and is thus unpredictable
283
Crocodile Tears
Tears or expressions of sorrow that are insincere
284
To find one’s feet
To feel confident and deal with things successfully
285
A race against time
A situation in which someone has to do something very quickly because of shortage of time
286
On the flip side
Looking at a different or opposite aspect
287
Wag the dog maneuvers
Purposefully diverting attention way from something of greater importance
288
Defeat(s) the purpose
To make (something) pointless
289
Save the day
Find or provide a solution to a difficulty or disaster
290
Brainchild
An idea or invention which is considered to be a particular person’s creation
291
Plant the Seeds
To lay the groundwork for something that can develop or expand in the future.
292
When the dust settles
When the situation becomes calmer
293
Hornet’s nest
A troublesome or hazardous situation
294
Achilles Heel
A weakness or vulnerable point
295
A tough act to follow
A high standard that is hard to break or overdo
296
Upset the apple cart
Disturb the status quo
297
Back to square one
Back to the starting point with no progress made
298
Go bananas
Become extremely angry or excited
299
Hand on the baton
Hand over a particular duty or responsibility
300
The be-all and end-all
A feature of an activity that is of greater importance than any other
301
A bed of roses
A situation or activity that is comfortable or easy
302
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
In a difficult situation when one has to choose between two equally unpleasant situations
303
A bitter pill to swallow
An unpleasant or painful necessity to accept
304
A bolt from the blue
A sudden and an unexpected event
305
Burn the candle at both ends
Drain resources lavishly
306
By and large
On the whole; everything considered
307
The butterfly effect
The phenomenon whereby a minute localized change can have large effects everywhere
308
Appeal to Caesar
Appeal to the highest possible authority
309
Carrot and stick
The promise of reward combined with the threat of force or punishment
310
A catch-22 situation
A dilemma or difficulty from which there is no escape
311
Throw caution to the wind
Act in a completely reckless manner
312
Hobson’s Choice
No choice at all
313
Silver lining
A negative occurrence may have a positive aspect to it
314
Be caught in a crossfire
Suffer harm inadvertently as a result of conflict between two other parties
315
At the crossroads
At a critical point; when decisions with far reaching consequences must be made
316
Gordian Knot
An extremely difficult or involved problem
317
Penny wise and pound foolish
careful and economical in small matters while being wasteful or extravagant in large ones
318
Acid test
a conclusive test of the success or value of something
319
Gravy train
Used to refer to a situation in which someone can make a lot of money for very little effort
320
Bruised and battered
Thoroughly worn down
321
Dig your own grave
Do something which causes your own downfall
322
Recipe for disaster
Be almost certain to have unfortunate consequences
