newsvocab
Terms
-
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.
< - 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