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newsvocab

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck

to be at the start of a new period, especially when important changes or new things happen, or to cause important changes to start happening

 

 Yesterday's match

usher in

to lose blood

 

He was ----ing heavily.

bleed

to put your arms around someone and hold them in a loving way, or (of two people) to hold each other close for affection or comfort

 

She ------ed  the baby and event

cuddle

different from what is usual or expected in behaviour, ideas, methods, etc

 

Steiner was recognized as an original if -------- thinker.

unorthodox

describes a reaction which is not enthusiastic

 

 I got a ------ response to my suggestion that we should start work earlier.

tepid

not completely trusting or certain about something or someone

 

I'm a bit ------ of/about giving people my address when I don't know them very wel

wary

a book or film that is very successful, especially because of its exciting contents

 

a ---------- movie/novel

blockbuster

to support or improve something or make it stronger

 

More money is needed to ------ the industry.

bolster

to eat or drink quickly, eagerly and usually in large amounts

 

You're bound to get indigestion if you ------ like that!

guzzle

a small pointed tower on top of a building, or the top part of a mountain

 

The ---------s of the Himalayas were visible above the clouds.

pinnacle

the short hair which grows on a man's face if he has not cut the hair for a few days

 

With the back of his hand, he rubbed the ------ on his chin.

stubble

DISAPPROVING a person with little education who has no interest in art and culture

 

How can you call those ---------s your friends?

barbarian

making you feel very excited and happy

 

an ----------- walk in the mountains

exhailarating

to cause someone to experience something, usually an emotion or a pain, less strongly than before

 

Seeing too much violence on television can -------- people to

desensitize

to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true

 

"Well okay, perhaps I was a little hard on her, " he -------ed.

concede

always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger

 

Following the bomb scare at the airport, the staff have been warned to be extra --------.

vigilant

to try to discover information or opinions by asking people

 

The survey ----------ed reaction to a wide range of popular games.

canvass

to become pregnant, or to cause a baby to begin to form

The baby was --------ed in March, so will be born in December.

conceive

extremely pleased

I was -------- that so many people turned up to the party.

thrilled

to (cause someone or something to) move or fall suddenly and often a long way forward, down or into something

We ran down to the beach and -------ed into the sea.

plunge

not strong or clear; slight

a ----- sound/noise/smell
The lamp gave out a ------ glow.

faint

possible to imagine or to believe

It's just --------- (= possible although difficult to imagine) (that) the

conceivable

to be uncertain what to do or to change frequently between two opinions

The government can't afford to ------ on this issue.

wobble

to become independent of a country or area of government

There is likely to be civil war if the region tries to ----- from the south.

secede

to destroy something completely

Whole villages were -----ed ---- in the fighting.

wipe out

a small piece or amount of something that is left from a larger original piece or amount

the -------s of last night's meal

remnant

a short visit, especially with a known purpose

I made a quick ----- into town before lunch to get my sister a present.

foray
in the US, a meeting held to decide which candidate a political group will support in an election
caucus

speech or writing which is intended to be effective and persuasive

How far the president will be able to translate his campaign ------- into action remains to be seen.
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rhetoric

describes a tendency to use someone's feelings or emotions to your own advantage

It is ------ to declare that the war is lost because you believe it gives you political advantage

cynical
when someone insults someone else by calling them rude names
name-calling

smooth and shiny

She has wonderfully ------ hair.
a dog with a ----- coat
 

glossy
(of) a pale creamy brown colour
beige

happening irregularly; not regular or continuous

More than 100 people have been killed this year in ------- outbursts of ethnic violence.

sporadic

fierce and violent

She's got a -------- (= very bad) temper.

ferocious

to be satisfied with your achievements and not to make an effort to do anything else

Just because you've got your degree doesn't mean you can ----- -- your ------.

rest on your laurels

to move or gather together in large numbers

Hundreds of people -----ed to the football match.

flock

a very large number of something

And now ------s of bars and hotels are opening up along the coast.

myriad
one of the main characters in a story or a play
protagonist

to avoid making a decision or expressing an opinion because you are uncertain or frightened about doing so

Stop -------ing around/about and tell me what you really t

pussyfoot

to think about something carefully and for a long time

I began to ---- about/on the possibility of starting my own business.

muse

(of weather conditions or the conditions in a room) extremely cold

Few plants can grow in such a ------ environment.

frigid

any animal which has a soft body, no spine and is often covered with a shell. Many molluscs live in water

Oysters are ------s, as are snails and cuttlefish.

mollusk

to go down a very steep slope by holding on to a rope which is fastened to the top of the slope

She ------ed down the rock face.

rappel

If the ground or sea is -----------, it is extremely dangerous, especially because of bad weather conditions

Snow and ice have left many roads ----------, and motorists are warned to

treacherous

(of sea, lakes or rivers) with lots of small, rough waves caused by the wind

----- waters 

choppy

a hormone produced by the body when you are frightened, angry or excited, which makes the heart beat faster and prepares the body to react to danger

These arguments always get
adrenaline

to express sadness and regret about

My grandmother, as usual, -------ed the decline in moral standards in today's society.

lament

to happen many times or to happen again

The theme of freedom -----s throughout her writing.

recur

to interest someone a lot, especially by being strange, unusual or mysterious

Throughout history, people have been ------ed by the question of whether there is intelligent life elsew

intrigue

to eat something eagerly and in large amounts so that nothing is left

The young cubs hungrily ------ed the deer.

devour

a sudden or serious loss

The higher salaries paid overseas have caused a ------------ of talent from this country.

haemorrhage

a man, often one who is considered to be ordinary

He's a funny (sort of) -----.

bloke

an energetic and often not well organized effort, activity, fight or disagreement

With a third country about to enter (= take part in)<

the fray
a usually illegal drug made from the dried leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, which produces a feeling of pleasant relaxation if smoked or eaten
marijuana
a thick heavy stick used as a weapon by police officers
baton, nightstick

illegal drug such as heroin or cocaine

He faces three years in jail for selling -------.

narcotics

to speak or say very quietly

He was --------ing to himself.

murmur

to make something more beautiful or interesting by adding something to it

The ceiling was --------ed with flowers and leaves.

embellish

no longer having a position, especially in a college or university, but keeping the title of the position

She became -------- Professor of Linguistics when she retired.

emeritus

a strong feeling of anger and dislike for a person who you feel has treated you badly, which often lasts for a long time

I don't bear any ------- against

grudge

a cheap simple food made especially in the past by boiling oats with water or milk

 

gruel

extremely tiring and difficult, and demanding great effort and determination

Junior doctors often have to work a -------- 100-hour week.

grueling

If something is hard-won, it was only achieved after a lot of effort

a ------- battle

hard-won

easily and continually changing;variable

the ------- talents of this comedian

protean

to fail to keep a promise or an agreement, etc

If you ------- on the deal now, I'll fight you in the courts.

renege

to feel very angry but to be unable or unwilling to express it clearly

The class positively -------ed with indignation when Julia won the award.

seethe

angry because of something which is wrong or not fair

She wrote an ------- letter to the paper complaining about the council's action.

indignant

something good that has happened that is the result of chance instead of skill or planning

The first goal was just a ------.

fluke

part of a piece of clothing which can be pulled up to cover the top and back of the head

The coat has a detachable -----.
 

hood

If a liquid splashes or if you splash a liquid, it falls on or hits something or someone

She --------ed her face with cold water.

splash

used to tell someone to be quiet

------! I want to listen to the news.
 

shush

a person who is mentally ill or who behaves in a very foolish or stupid or strange way

What kind of --- would leave a car on a railway track?

nut

a sudden short period of noise, confusion or excited movement

His arrival caused quite a ---------.

commotion

to go somewhere secretly, or to take someone or something somewhere secretly

He said my dad was gonna ----- into my room naked one night and beat me up.

sneak

If a group of people mill around, they move about with no particular purpose or in no fixed direction, sometimes while waiting for someone

In the village square, people were -----ing

mill around(about)

a pair, especially of singers, musicians or other performers

the comedy ---- Laurel and Hardy
 

duo

INFORMAL very bad

I'm afraid our situation is ----.

dire

annoyed

He's becoming increasingly exasperated with the situation.

exasperated

to state and explain a plan or principle clearly or formally

In the speech, the leader --------ed his party's proposals for tax reform.

enunciate

describes someone who is kind and gives emotional support to others

I've always thought of Jo as a very ------ person.

caring

a device for making a loud warning noise

In big cities you hear police sirens all the time.

siren

to make a low rough sound, usually in anger

The dog ------ed at her and snapped at her ankles.

growl

to raise your shoulders and then lower them in order to express a lack of knowledge or interest

"Where's Dad?" "How should I know?" replied my brother, ------

shrug

describes comedy performed by a single person telling jokes

--------- comedy

stand-up

the part of your body where your legs join at the top, or the part of trousers or underwear which covers this area

 

crotch

to understand someone and be able to have a friendly relationship with them

Many parents find it hard to -------- -- their children when they are teenagers.

relate to

to like or understand something

You --- my meaning, man?

dig

a very short time

Hold on/Hang on a ---- - I'm not quite ready

tick

a mouth

Oh, shut your ---- (= stop talking) - I'm bored of listening to you!

trap

(of a plan or idea) not certain or agreed, or (of a suggestion or action) said or done in a careful but uncertain way because you do not know if you are right

I have made ------- pla

tentative
the edge of a raised path nearest the road
kerb, curb

a very large expensive house

The street is lined with enormous -------s where the rich and famous live.
 

mansion

to call someone in order to attract their attention

Shall we ---- a taxi?

hail
a small pool of liquid on the ground, especially from rain
puddle

to do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any other way of achieving something

I'm sorry I ------ed to calling you jackass just now, but I'm very upset!

resort