Roderick Jones

Front 1

to stonehall

Back 1

obstruct or hinder any discussion; "Nixon stonewalled the Watergate investigation"; "When she doesn't like to face a problem, she simply stonewalls"

engage in delaying tactics or refuse to cooperate; "The President stonewalled when he realized the plot was being uncovered by a journalist"

Front 2

polemic

Back 2

a piece of writing or a speech in which a person strongly attacks or defends a particular opinion, person, idea or set of beliefs

She has published a fierce anti-war polemic.

Front 3

beacon

Back 3

a light or fire on the top of a hill that acts as a warning or signal

As part of the centenary celebrations a chain of beacons was lit across the region.
figurative She was a beacon of hope in troubled times

Front 4

caesura

Back 4

A pause or interruption, as in conversation:

After another weighty caesura the senator resumed speaking.

Front 5

ominous

Back 5

suggesting that something unpleasant is likely to happen

There was an ominous silence when I asked whether my contract was going to be renewed.
The engine had been making an ominous sound all the way from London.
ominous dark clouds

Front 6

linear

Back 6

formal involving a series of events or thoughts in which one follows another one directly

These mental exercises are designed to break linear thinking habits and encourage the creativity that is needed for innovation

Front 7

the linchpin of

Back 7

the most important member of a group or part of a system, that holds together the other members or parts or makes it possible for them to operate as intended

Woodford is the linchpin of the British athletics team.

Front 8

reel off

Back 8

To recite fluently and usually at length:

He reeled off a long list of names and dates.

Front 9

inexorable

Back 9

continuing without any possibility of being stopped

the inexorable progress of science

These events led inexorably to war.

Front 10

rhetorical

Back 10

describes speech or writing which is intended to seem important or influence people

repetition, that tedious rhetorical device

Front 11

to and fro

Back 11

in one direction and then in the opposite direction, a repeated number of times

I was disturbed by all the people walking to and fro outside the office.
She was gazing out the window, rocking rhythmically to and fro.

Front 12

sinuous

Back 12

moving in a twisting, curving or indirect way, or having many curves

He enjoyed watching the sinuous bodies of the dancers.
The walkers followed the sinuous path through the trees

Front 13

juxtapose

Back 13

to put things which are not similar next to each other

The exhibition juxtaposes Picasso's early drawings with some of his later works.

the juxtaposition of two very different cultures

Front 14

intrinsic

Back 14

being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing

works of little intrinsic value/interest
Maths is an intrinsic part of the school curriculum.

Front 15

sanguine

(formal)

Back 15

positive and hopeful

They are less sanguine about the prospects for peace.

Front 16

twofold

Back 16

consisting of two parts

Our aim is twofold.