Krzysztof Cichy's SuperMemo collection sample
© Tomasz P. Szynalski, Antimoon.com
The following is a sample set of items from Krzysztof Cichy's SuperMemo collection for learning English.
| Q |
to stop people having an idea or feeling = banish |
| A |
to dispel (idea/feeling) [di'spel] The President is attempting to dispel the notion that he has neglected the economy. |
| Q |
(activities or situations) that are secret or hidden = ... activities (FORMAL) |
| A |
covert ['k^v..t] They have been supplying covert military aid to the rebels. The depth of covert racism in my own profession frightens me. |
| Q |
underhand The Prime Minister himself had been involved in underhand financial deals. |
| A |
If an action is underhand or if it is done in an underhand way, it is done secretly and dishonestly. ['^nd..,h@nd] |
| Q |
rascal If you call a man or child a rascal, what do you mean? |
| A |
If you call a man or child a rascal, you mean that they behave badly and are rude or dishonest. (OLD-FASHIONED) ['ra:sk..l] What's that old rascal been telling you? = rogue |
| Q |
recourse If you achieve something without recourse to a particular course of action, how do you achieve it? |
| A |
If you achieve something without recourse to a particular course of action, you succeed without carrying out that action. To have recourse to a particular course of action means to have to do that action in order to achieve something. [ri'ko:s] |
| Q |
behaviour that is bold, rude, or disrespectful (FORMAL) |
| A |
effrontery [i'fr^nt..ri] One could only gasp at the sheer effrontery of the man. |
| Q |
What do you mean if you say that sth is abominable? |
| A |
Something that is abominable is very unpleasant or bad. [..'bomin..b..l] The President described the killings as an abominable crime. English food can be wonderful but the normal English diet is abominable. |
| Q |
What word can be used to describe a quick movement of a large group of people? (N, V) |
| A |
swarm [swo:m] People swarmed to the shops, buying up everything in sight. When bees or other insects swarm, they move or fly in a large group. |
| Q |
to bear/take the brunt of sth unpleasant |
| A |
To bear the brunt or take the brunt of something unpleasant means to suffer the main part or force of it. [br^nt] Young people are bearing the brunt of unemployment. A child's head tends to take the brunt of any fall |
| Q |
to feel or show contempt for sb/sth {1/2} |
| A |
to scorn [sko:n] to despise [di 'spaiz] Several leading officers have quite openly scorned the peace talks. People scorn me as a single parent. |
| Q |
an adjective used to emphasize that a person or action is extremely nasty, cruel, or evil |
| A |
despicable ['de spi k.. b.l] The Minister, who visited the scene a few hours after the explosion, said it was a despicable crime. (also: atrocious) |
| Q |
to agree to do sth or to allow it to be done {1/2} |
| A |
to consent [k..n'sent] to assent [..'sent] He finally consented to go. He asked Ginny if she would consent to a small celebration after the christening. |
| Q |
food which you put on a hook or in a trap in order to catch fish or animals |
| A |
bait [beit] |
| Q |
What do you mean if you say that an action or situation is prejudicial to someone or something? |
| A |
If an action or situation is prejudicial to someone or something, it is harmful to them. (FORMAL) [,predZu'diS..l] You could face up to eight years in jail for spreading rumours considered prejudicial to security. |
| Q |
If you say that someone or something purports to do or be a particular thing, what do you mean? |
| A |
If you say that someone or something purports to do or be a particular thing, you mean that they claim to do or be that thing, although you may not always believe that claim. (FORMAL) [pe:'po:t] =claim |
| Q |
a state of worry and tension caused by a difficult situation =stress |
| A |
strain [strein] She was tired and under great strain. ...the stresses and strains of a busy and demanding career. |
| Q |
to try and reach for sth or hold sth in a clumsy way. |
| A |
to fumble for/with sth [f^mb.l] She crept from the bed and fumbled for her dressing gown. |
| Q |
a small, sheltered place |
| A |
a nook [nuk] |
| Q |
to push or move sth/sb swh quickly with a lot of force |
| A |
to thrust [thr^st] They thrust him into the back of a jeep. She grabs a stack of baby photos and thrusts them into my hands. =stove |
| Q |
What phrase can you use to say that you pause to think about all the aspects of a situation or event before deciding what to do next? |
| A |
to take stock of sth It was time to take stock of the situation. I was forty, the age when people take stock and change their lives. |
| Q |
fascinated so much that one can't think about anything else enchanted |
| A |
spellbound ['spel ,baund] His audience had listened like children, spellbound by his words. |
| Q |
What idiom can you use to say that sth doesn't happen or isn't done continuously, but regularly stops and then starts again |
| A |
in fits and stars |
| Q |
small animals or birds that destroy crops, spoil food etc, and are difficult to control |
| A |
vermin ['ve:min] a barn infested with vermin |
| Q |
to try to make sth happen by mental effort rather than physical one |
| A |
to will [wil] |
| Q |
What is a scimitar? |
| A |
It's a sword with a curved blade ['simit..] |
| Q |
facts or details about sth/sb that are kept as a record |
| A |
particulars [p..'tikjul..z] |
| Q |
clever or amusing use of words with 2 meanings or with the same sound but different meanings |
| A |
pun [p^n] |
| Q |
to annoy someone repeatedly, especially by asking them to do something |
| A |
pester sb for sth: Beggars kept pestering us for money. pester sb to do sth: The kids have been pestering me to buy them new trainers. ['pest..] |
| Q |
a statement which is considered meaningless and boring, because it's been made many times before in similar situations |
| A |
platitude ['pl@titju:d] |
| Q |
What can you say about lips that are unpleasantly dry? |
| A |
That they're parched. ['pa: tSd] |
| Q |
a high, sad-sounding sound |
| A |
plaintive sound ['plein tiv] |
| Q |
looking pale, weak, or tired |
| A |
wan [won] She gave a wan smile. |
| Q |
What do you mean if you describe sb/sth as noisome? |
| A |
noisome ['nois..m] =extremely unpleasant The workers lived in noisome slums. |
| Q |
a heavy gun that fires bombs or shells in a high curve or, a hard bowl in which substances are crushed into powder with a pestle (=tool with a heavy round end) into very small pieces or powder |
| A |
mortar ['mo:t..] Pound the garlic with a mortar and pestle. |
| Q |
to gather people/things together and arrange them for a particular purpose |
| A |
to marshal ['ma:S.l] Richard was marshalling the doctors and nurses, showing them where to go. |
| Q |
What do you mean if you describe sb as languid? |
| A |
You mean that they show little energy or interest and are very slow and casual in their movements. ['l@Ngwid] |
| Q |
to have an effect on someone or something; influence to affect sth/sb |
| A |
to impinge on/upon sth/sb [im 'pindZ] |
| Q |
to quickly write sth on a piece of paper so that you can remember it or use it later (PhV) |
| A |
to jot down [dZot] |
| Q |
behaving as if you want to keep something secret |
| A |
furtive ['fe:tiv] There was something furtive about his appearance. |
| Q |
to loathe to hate |
| A |
to detest [di'test] |
| Q |
What do you mean if you say that sb deigns to do sth? |
| A |
You mean that they do it unwillingly because they think they're too important to do it. (DISAPPROVAL) [dein] |
| Q |
to agree to do sth but in a way that shows that one thinks they're better than other people and shouldn't have to do it |
| A |
to condescend [,kondi'send] The managing director condescended to have lunch with us in the canteen. |
| Q |
to think carefully and seriously about something (FORMAL) |
| A |
to cogitate ['kodZiteit] |
| Q |
to shock someone by being very bad or unpleasant |
| A |
to appal [.. 'po:l] The whole idea of killing animals for fur appals me. |
| Q |
to look at or consider something in a way that shows you do not believe it or approve of it |
| A |
look askance (at) [..'sk@ns] |
| Q |
How can you describe a smell or taste, which is strong and unpleasant and stings your nose or throat |
| A |
acrid (smell/taste) ['@krid] a cloud of acrid smoke |
| Q |
to leave your home secretly in order to get married |
| A |
to elope [i'loup] |
| Q |
to cause sb to become involved in problems, from which it's hard to escape |
| A |
to entangle [in't@Ng.l] |
| Q |
How can you describe sb who is deliberately vague in what they say, because they want to avoid speaking the truth or making a decision |
| A |
equivocal [i 'kwi v..k.l] |
| Q |
You are ordered to desist from such behaviour. What does it mean to desist from sth? |
| A |
to stop doing something [di 'zist] |
| Q |
very bad, and deserving to be criticized or hated (man) despicable {1/2} |
| A |
detestable [di'test..b.l] odious ['oudi..s] a detestable little man |
| Q |
showing that you do not respect someone or something and think that they are unimportant (e.g. a look) |
| A |
disdainful [dis'deinful] a long disdainful look |
| Q |
to hang or to lean downwards with no strength |
| A |
to droop [dru:p] |
| Q |
What idiom can you use if you want to say that two people are very similar? |
| A |
They're birds of a feather. |
| Q |
What idiom can you use if you want sb to say sth directly and clearly? |
| A |
Don't beat about the bush! |
| Q |
What does copious mean? |
| A |
abundant ['koupi..s] |
| Q |
to succeed in doing something in spite of difficulties, often by tricking sb |
| A |
to contrive [k..n'traiv] |
| Q |
behaving in an immoral way without being embarrassed or ashamed |
| A |
brazen ['breiz.n] |
| Q |
a young person who works for sb in order to learn their skill |
| A |
apprentice [..'prentis] |
| Q |
What is an altercation? |
| A |
a noisy argument |
| Q |
What idiom can you use if you want to say sth/sb is put among a group of things/people because of one quality, often superficial, that links them |
| A |
to tar sth/sb with the same brush I am a football supporter and I often have to explain that I'm not one of the hooligan sort, because we all get tarred with the same brush. |
| Q |
a legal process to find out the cause of someone's death |
| A |
inquest ['inkwest] |
| Q |
a dress worn on formal occassions |
| A |
a gown [gaun] |
| Q |
to pay attention to sb's warning and do what they suggest |
| A |
to heed [hi:d] If she had only heeded my warnings, none of this would have happened. |
| Q |
Demonstrators were hurling bricks through the windows. What does it mean to hurl sth? |
| A |
to throw sth violently [he:l] |
| Q |
What do you mean if you say that sth is mundane? |
| A |
You mean it's ordinary, usual and uninteresting [,m^n'dein] |
| Q |
They watched the nobs in their satin and feathers. Who are the nobs? |
| A |
rich people, from a higher social class [nobz] |
| Q |
How would you describe e.g. a look of sb thinking deeply about something and seeming a little sad |
| A |
pensive ['pensiv] a pensive look |
| Q |
ideas that are ... are already formed before you have enough info or experience |
| A |
preconceived ['pri:k..nsi:vd] preconceived notions about art |
| Q |
someone that you choose to represent you, especially to vote for you |
| A |
proxy ['proksi] by proxy: if you do something by proxy, you arrange for someone else to do it for you |
| Q |
to reply angrily to sb |
| A |
to retort [ri:'to:t] “It's all your fault !” he retorted. |
| Q |
someone in former times who lived and worked on land that they did not own and who had to obey the owner of this land |
| A |
serf [se:f] |
| Q |
What can you call a smile, look etc that shows that you are hiding something you know from other people? |
| A |
sly [slai] She gave me a sly look. |
| Q |
a feeling of emotional comfort at a time of great sadness or disappointment (FORMAL) |
| A |
solace ['solis] After the death of her son, Val found solace in the church. |
| Q |
What is a soliloquy? |
| A |
a speech in a play in which a character talks to himself or herself so that the audience knows their thoughts [s..'lil..kwi] |
| Q |
Who is a squire? |
| A |
the man who in the past owned most of the land around a country village in England [skwai..] |
| Q |
What formal word can you use to express: more than is needed or wanted; unnecessary? |
| A |
superfluous [su:'pe:flu..s] We could all see what was going on, so the commentary was superfluous. |
| Q |
showing very strong feelings or opinions (person/action) |
| A |
vehement ['vi:..m..nt] a vehement attack on the President's budget proposals Dan vehemently denies the charges. |
| Q |
Who is a wench? |
| A |
It's a girl who worked as a servant or served people food or drink in former times (also a humorous use) [wentS] |
| Q |
Another word for: to trick or deceive someone? |
| A |
dupe sb into doing sth [dju:p] Consumers are being duped into buying faulty electronic goods. |
| Q |
What adjective can you use to disapprove of sb spending too much time on physical pleasures such as drinking alcohol, in a way that is harmful to their health? |
| A |
dissipated ['disipeitid] |
| Q |
a false spoken statement about someone that is intended to damage the good opinion that people have |
| A |
slander ['sla:nd..] defamation [,def..'meiS.n] |
| Q |
What does it mean to be a stickler for sth, e.g. rules/punctuality? |
| A |
It means that you always demand or require it. ['stikl..] I'm a bit of a stickler for accuracy. |
| Q |
to suddenly feel that you love someone or like something very much |
| A |
to be smitten (with sb/sth) ['smit.n] The young man was smitten with Miranda and her charms. |
| Q |
How can you describe a person that is likely to betray you and cannot be trusted? |
| A |
treacherous ['tretS..r..s] |
| Q |
to prove that someone or something is right or true; justify to prove that someone who was blamed for something is in fact not guilty |
| A |
to vindicate ['vindikeit] The outcome of the trial vindicates Howells completely. Your decision not to resign has been fully vindicated. |
| Q |
a plight of homeless children What is a plight? |
| A |
a bad, serious, or sad condition or situation [plait] |
| Q |
showing disrespect as a result of being too confident and doing what they have no right to do |
| A |
presumptuous [pri'z^mptSu..s] She found Conrad charming but rather presumptuous. |
| Q |
just before it is too late or just before something bad happens at the last possible moment (IDIOM) |
| A |
in the nick of time Luckily, help arrived in the nick of time. |
| Q |
What word can you use to describe people who are difficult to control or influence or to describe problems that are difficult to deal with? |
| A |
intractable [in'tr@kt..b.l] They found the islanders intractable, resisting their offers of gifts. the seemingly intractable problem of human greed |
| Q |
one that continues without stopping |
| A |
incessant [in'ses.nt] |
| Q |
What is a garret? |
| A |
a small uncomfortable room at the top of a house ['g@rit] |
| Q |
a serious and very polite request in which you ask someone to do something for you |
| A |
entreaty [in'tri:ti] |
| Q |
to speak to sb angrily or to punish them for sth wrong that they've done to criticize sb severely (FORMAL) pronounce the word! |
| A |
to chastise [tS@'staiz] He should be chastised for his insolence. |
| Q |
Another word for: to agree to sth/with sth |
| A |
to assent (to) [..'sent] |
| Q |
to make someone less angry or stop them from attacking you by giving them what they want |
| A |
to appease [..'pi:z] |
| Q |
What idiom can you use if you want to say that sb expresses their feelings forcefully? |
| A |
to give vent to sth She gave vent to her anger and jealousy. |
| Q |
What does "whither" mean in a literary style? |
| A |
to where [hwiTH..] |
| Q |
What formal plural word can you use to talk about unusual or unexpected events, changes, ideas etc, that have an effect on your life? |
| A |
vagaries ['veig..riz] the vagaries of the English weather |
| Q |
a clear liquid that is painted onto things, especially things made of wood, to protect them and give them a hard shiny surface |
| A |
varnish ['va:niS] |
| Q |
someone who lives in a house, room etc and pays rent to the person who owns it |
| A |
tenant ['ten..nt] |
| Q |
to hold your hands together and twist and turn them, usually because you are very worried or upset about sth |
| A |
to wring your hands [riN] |
| Q |
speaking very little, so that you seem unfriendly |
| A |
taciturn ['t@site:n] |
| Q |
to cry in a noisy way to say sth while crying |
| A |
to sob [sob] |
| Q |
to move back suddenly and quickly from something you dislike or are frightened of |
| A |
to recoil [ri'koil] She recoiled from his touch as if she had been slapped. |
| Q |
the buildings and land that a shop, restaurant, company etc uses |
| A |
premises ['premis..z] We hope to be moving to new premises shortly. business premises |
| Q |
What is mirth in literary English? |
| A |
happiness and laughter [me:th] Stifled laughter and cries of suppressed mirth issued from the next room. |
| Q |
What 2 meanings the word "quagmire" has? |
| A |
1 an area of soft wet muddy ground: In the rainy season the roads become a quagmire. 2 a difficult or complicated situation: Public housing regulations are a legislative quagmire. ['kw@gmai..] |
| Q |
the most basic part of sth |
| A |
mainstay ['meinstei] |
| Q |
What does it mean: to be loath to do sth (formal)? |
| A |
to be unwilling to do something [louth] Sarah was loath to tell her mother all that had happened. |
| Q |
feelings of anger and surprise because you feel insulted or unfairly treated |
| A |
indignation [,indig'neiS.n] Chamberlain found, to his great indignation, that he was not to be included in the team. |
| Q |
a situation or event that makes it difficult or impossible for someone or something to succeed or make progress a physical or nervous problem that makes it difficult for someone to speak or move normally |
| A |
impediment [im'pedim..nt] The main impediment to development is the country's huge foreign debt. a speech impediment |
| Q |
someone who uses very strong, direct selling methods, sometimes dishonestly |
| A |
huckster ['h^kst..] |
| Q |
What phrase can you use to say that you do sth because you want to? |
| A |
to do sth of your own accord [..ko:d] It's better that she comes of her own accord. |
| Q |
What's an accord? |
| A |
a formal agreement between countries or groups [..ko:d] the Helsinki accord on human rights |
| Q |
What are alms? |
| A |
old-fashioned: money, food, clothes etc that are given to poor people [a:mz] |
| Q |
friendly and easy to talk to, sociable (person) |
| A |
affable ['@f..b.l] an affable guy |
| Q |
a sudden attack by people who have been waiting and hiding, or the place where this happens |
| A |
ambush ['@mbuS] wait/lie in ambush (=wait to ambush someone): Armed police lay in ambush behind the hedge. |
| Q |
someone who helps a criminal, especially by helping them hide from the police, accomplice |
| A |
accessory to a crime [@k'ses..ri] an accessory to murder |
| Q |
extremely bad or showing no ability to do something at all of a very bad quality |
| A |
atrocious [..'trouS..s] atrocious weather Her singing was atrocious. atrocious housing conditions |
| Q |
an extremely cruel and violent action, especially during a war |
| A |
atrocity [..'trositi] one of the worst atrocities of the Vietnam War |
| Q |
to tease sb or joke with sb in an amusing, friendly way |
| A |
to banter ['b@nt..] |
| Q |
a bitter green-brown liquid formed in the liver, which helps you to digest fats literary: anger and hatred |
| A |
bile [bail] |
| Q |
What are callisthenics? |
| A |
a set of physical exercises that are intended to make you thin and healthy ['k@li'stheniks] |
| Q |
Another word for frankness? |
| A |
candour ['k@nd..] I appreciate your candour in this matter. |
| Q |
(liquid) to become very thick and sticky and almost solid |
| A |
to congeal [k..n'dZi:l] |
| Q |
sth hidden or kept secret, often because it's illegal underhand |
| A |
clandestine [kl@n'destin] a clandestine affair |
| Q |
What person could you describe as consumptive in former times? |
| A |
someone who had the lung disease tuberculosis [k..n's^mptiv] |
| Q |
next to something, or near something in time or order bordering, neighbouring |
| A |
contiguous [k..n'tigju..s] Canada is contiguous with the US along much of its border. |
| Q |
What word can you use to describe sb who is immoral because they drink a lot of alcohol, take drugs, or have an immoral attitude to sex =dissipated |
| A |
debauched [di'bo:tSt] |
| Q |
showing that you think someone or something is stupid or silly remarking contempt (noise, expression, remark) |
| A |
derisive [di'raisiv] a derisive laughter |
| Q |
so interested in something that you do not notice anything else |
| A |
engrossed [in'groust] I tried to attract her attention but she was engrossed in conversation with Stephen. |
| Q |
to persuade someone to do something by offering them something if they will do it |
| A |
to entice sb to do sth to entice sb away/across/down etc [in'tais] Banks are offering low interest rates in an attempt to entice new customers. |
| Q |
a clever and effective way of dealing with a problem, even though it may be morally wrong How can you use this word? |
| A |
expedient [iks'pi:di..nt] by the expedient of: Moore escaped by the simple expedient of lying down in a clump of grass. |
| Q |
(formal) to show that you are very happy and proud, especially because you have succeeded in doing something |
| A |
to exult in/at/over sth [i'gz^lt] They exulted at their victory. The people exulted over their fallen enemies. |
| Q |
to make it easier for a process or activity to happen to help, to further |
| A |
to facilitate [f..'siliteit] Computers can be used to facilitate language learning. |
| Q |
to pretend to have a particular feeling or to be ill, asleep etc. |
| A |
to feign [fein] I didn't want to go to school so I decided to feign illness. Feigning a headache, I went upstairs to my room. Mattie watched him approach with feigned indifference. |
| Q |
to prevent something bad that someone is planning to do to succeed in stopping sb from doing what they want |
| A |
to foil one's plan [foil] A massive arms-smuggling plan has been foiled by the CIA. |
| Q |
a large common black and white sea bird that lives near the sea =mewa |
| A |
gull [g^l] seagull ['si:g^l] |
| Q |
to make it difficult for sb to do what they're trying to do |
| A |
to hamper sb ['h@mp..] Women's progress in the workplace is still hampered by male attitudes. |
| Q |
easily becoming angry |
| A |
irascible [i'r@sib.l] He was an irascible, energetic little man. |
| Q |
to make someone feel calm or sleepy |
| A |
to lull [l^l] The movement of the train gradually lulled me to sleep. |
| Q |
What formal word can you use instead of: lying, rather than telling the truth? (noun) |
| A |
mendacity [men'd@siti] |
| Q |
Who is a myrmydion? |
| A |
a follower, subordinate [me:mid.n] |
| Q |
to try to find out details about someone else's private life in an impolite way |
| A |
to pry [prai] to pry into I don't wish to pry, but is it true that you're having problems at home? We don't want people prying into our affairs. |
| Q |
to get something good as a result of what you have done to cut and gather a crop of grain |
| A |
to reap the benefit/reward/profit (of) to reap [ri:p] Don't let others reap the benefits of your research. |
| Q |
How can you describe sb who is able to understand and judge a situation quickly and use the understanding to their own advantage? (especially in business, politics etc.) |
| A |
shrewd [Sru:d] |
| Q |
What is a sinciput? |
| A |
the forward upper part of the skull the forehead ['sinsi,p^t] |
| Q |
the watery liquid produced in your mouth |
| A |
spittle ['spi t.l] saliva [s.. 'laiv..] |
| Q |
to move your fingers over a sensitive part of sb's body making them laugh |
| A |
to tickle [tik.l] if a situation, remark etc tickles you, it amuses or pleases you: I was tickled by her description of the wedding. |
| Q |
What word can you use to describe sb watchful who gives careful attention to a particular problem or situation and concentrates on noticing any danger or trouble that there might be? |
| A |
vigilant ['vidZil..nt] Please remain vigilant at all times and report anything suspicious. |
| Q |
to make a bad situation worse (informal) to make someone angry or annoyed |
| A |
to aggravate ['@gr..veit] Their debt problem was aggravated by a rise in interest rates. Stop aggravating the cat! |
| Q |
What word can you use to say that sb refuses to change their mind or come to an agreement? |
| A |
to not budge on sth [b^dZ] Both sides say they'll not budge. It's no good, Dad won't budge. |
| Q |
What idiom can you use to say: to choose the good and useful things or people and get rid of the others? |
| A |
to separate the wheat from the chaff [tS@f] [tSa:f] |
| Q |
a medical condition in which you cannot control your movements so that your body becomes stiff like a dead body or remains in whatever position it is placed |
| A |
catalepsy ['k@t..lepsi] |
| Q |
(especially sport) a movement or an attack that is intended to deceive an opponent =zwód |
| A |
feint [feint] |
| Q |
a person who makes or sells clothes from fur |
| A |
furrier ['f^ri..] AM['fe:ri..] |
| Q |
What phrase can you use to say: to listen carefully because you have heard something interesting? |
| A |
to prick up one's ears [prik] Jay pricked up his ears when I mentioned vacation. |
| Q |
How can you describe sth/sb that never stops or never becomes less intense? regime that was _____ in its persecution of dissidents |
| A |
relentless [ri'lentl..s] regime that was relentless in its persecution of dissidents |
| Q |
(old-fashioned) a violent man, involved in crime |
| A |
ruffian ['r^fi..n] a gang of ruffians |
| Q |
to hide the unpleasant facts or truth about sth/sb in order to make it acceptable or to avoid being punished |
| A |
to whitewash ['hwaitwoS] whitewash - also easy win in sport e.g. 6:0 6:0 in tennis |
| Q |
to close and open one eye quickly, usually to communicate amusement or a secret message |
| A |
to wink (at sb) [wiNk] Joel winked at me, and I realized he was joking. |
| Q |
to give someone something of great value or importance (formal) |
| A |
bestow sth on/upon [bi'stou] honours bestowed on him by the Queen |
| Q |
What expression can you use to say about sb that they are unable to think clearly? |
| A |
They are in a daze [deiz] I've been wandering around in a daze all day. |
| Q |
a feeling of great respect and admiration for someone or something |
| A |
awe [o:] Kate gazed at the mountains with awe. The sight of so many jewels in one place filled them with awe. |
| Q |
to express formal support or approval for someone or something to say publically that you support or approve of them |
| A |
to endorse sth/sb [in'do:(r)s] The committee has endorsed our proposals. I can endorse their opinion wholeheartedly. ...policies agreed by the Labour Party and endorsed by the electorate. |
| Q |
to persuade somebody not to do something (FORMAL) |
| A |
dissuade sb from doing sth [dis 'weid] a campaign to dissuade young people from smoking He considered emigrating, but his family managed to dissuade him. |
| Q |
to make someone feel calmer and less anxious, upset, or angry |
| A |
to soothe [su:TH] Rocking often soothes a crying baby. |
| Q |
What expression can you use to express that sb has been allowed to know about sth secret? |
| A |
They are privy to sth [pri vi] Colby was privy to the committee's decisions. Only 3 people will be privy to the facts. |
| Q |
to invent a clever story, excuse, or plan, especially in order to deceive someone |
| A |
to concoct [k..n 'kokt] [k..n 'ka:kt] John concocted an elaborate excuse for being late. |
| Q |
to find out facts and information slowly and with difficulty, sometimes indirectly |
| A |
glean sth (from) [gli:n] I've managed to glean a few details about him from his friends. At present, we are gleaning information from all sources. |
| Q |
expressed in a way that is clear and easy to understand |
| A |
lucid ['lu: sid] a lucid and accurate account of the day's events a lucid account of the history of mankind His prose as always lucid and compelling |
| Q |
to prevent you from remembering an unpleasant experience |
| A |
to efface sth [i 'feis] Nothing could efface the indignity of being publicly criticized. |
| Q |
If you are ________ by sth, it makes you feel afraid, worried, or sad. |
| A |
dismayed [,dis 'meid] If you are dismayed by sth, it makes you feel afraid, worried, or sad. The committee was dismayed by what it had been told. |
| Q |
You can describe sth as ________ if it happens, by chance, to be very successful or pleasant. |
| A |
fortuitous [fo:(r) 'tju: i t..s] You can describe sth as fortuitous if it happens, by chance, to be very successful or pleasant. Their success is the result of a fortuitous combination of circumstances. |
| Q |
What do you mean if you say that sth is tantamount to sth? Pronounce "tantamount". |
| A |
tantamount ['t@n t.. maunt] It is almost the same thing as it. But that's tantamount to saying poor people are criminals! |
| Q |
something that is _______ is present but hidden, and may develop or become more noticeable in the future |
| A |
latent ['lei t..nt] something that is latent is present but hidden, and may develop or become more noticeable in the future The virus remains latent in the body for many years. latent aggression |
| Q |
completely lacking courage; cowardly |
| A |
craven ['krei v..n] |
| Q |
an idea, method, or quality that is most typical of a particular person or thing |
| A |
hallmark ['ho:l ma:(r)k] Non-violence and simplicity were the hallmarks of Gandhi's philosophy. have all the hallmarks of: The explosion had all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack |
| Q |
What is a pelf? |
| A |
pelf [pelf] money or wealth, esp. if dishonestly acquired; |
| Q |
to look at someone in an angry or hostile way |
| A |
to scowl [skaul] She scowled at the two men as they entered the room. |
| Q |
Something that is _________ indicates that the success is likely. |
| A |
auspicious [o: 'spi S..s] Something that is auspicious indicates that the success is likely. His career as a playwright had an auspicious start. |
| Q |
How can you express "unfortunately" in a formal way? |
| A |
alas [.. 'l@s] There is, alas, no short way to success. Alas, it's not that simple. |
| Q |
What are extenuating circumstances? |
| A |
These are reasons or factors that partly excuse a crime or a wrong action. [iks 'te nju ei tiN] |
| Q |
Who can you informally describe as "plucky"? |
| A |
plucky ['pl^ ki] Someone who is brave and determined and faces their difficulties with courage. The plucky schoolgirl amazed the doctors by hanging on to life for nearly two months. |
| Q |
What does it mean if sb frets at/about sth? |
| A |
It means they feel worried about small or unimportant things to fret [fret] Don't you fret - everything will be all right. Nicki was always fretting over something or other. |
| Q |
"Porphyrius Petrovitch," said the young man, in curt and hurried accents... curt |
| A |
replying with very few words in a way that does not seem polite With a curt nod, he turned away and sat down. |
| Q |
What formal word can you use to talk about sth that might happen in the future? =possibility, eventuality |
| A |
contingency [k..n 'tin dZ.n si] I need to examine all possible contingencies. |
| Q |
What does it mean to lay siege to? When the scandal broke, dozens of journalists laid siege to Mellor's apartment. |
| A |
It's a situation in which the police surround a building to try and force the people inside to come out. siege [si:dZ] |
| Q |
someone or something that is _______ is so important or useful that it is impossible to manage without them |
| A |
indispensable [in di 'spen s.. b..l] a piece of equipment that modern divers regard as indispensable |
| Q |
He gingerly felt his way along the dark tunnel. gingerly |
| A |
if you move gingerly or touch something gingerly you do it in a careful way because you are afraid it will be dangerous or painful gingerly ['dZin dZ..(r) li] |
| Q |
someone who eats too much |
| A |
glutton [gl^t.n] |
| Q |
someone who has no importance, power, or ability, and who you have no respect for |
| A |
nonentity [no 'nen ti ti] [na: 'nen ti ti] Chomsky was the only speaker of any importance - the rest were nonentities. She was writen off then as a political nonentity. |
| Q |
a speech or piece of writing in which you praise someone or something very much, especially at a funeral |
| A |
eulogy ['ju: l.. dZi] |
| Q |
If you are betrothed to sb, what does it mean? |
| A |
That you have agreed to marry them. betrothed [bi 'trouTHd] |
| Q |
showing strong positive feelings about an activity and determination to succeed at it |
| A |
ardent ['a: d..nt] an ardent supporter of free trade |
| Q |
What phrasal verb can you use to express: to start to go somewhere? |
| A |
to set off I wanted to set off early in order to avoid the traffic. The old man set off down the path towards the river. |
| Q |
"As for his fetters, he never felt them" (about Raskolnikoff) fetters |
| A |
fetters ['fe t..z] a) (literary) the things that prevent someone from being free breaking the fetters of convention b) chains that were put around a prisoner's feet in former times |
| Q |
"His family rejoiced at the news." to rejoice |
| A |
(literary) to feel or show that you are very happy to rejoice [ri 'dZois] |
| Q |
"She was endowed with both looks and brains." |
| A |
to be endowed with = to naturally have a good feature or quality endowed [in 'daud] |
| Q |
"Violent crime is rife in our inner cities." rife |
| A |
rife [raif] [not before noun] if something bad or unpleasant is rife, it is very common rife with = full of something bad or unpleasant: The streets were rife with rumors of the President's resignation. |
| Q |
"This nonsensical dream, so weird and horryfying, lingered so strongly in his recollection" to linger |
| A |
to linger ['liN g..] to stay somewhere a little longer, especially because you do not want to leave They lingered over coffee and missed the last bus. |
| Q |
"The prison rules were stringent" |
| A |
stringent ['strin dZ..nt] very strict and must be obeyed stringent anti-noise regulations |
| Q |
to make something less attractive or enjoyable; spoil |
| A |
to mar [ma:] His appearance was marred by a scar on his left cheek. |