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98 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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mum
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keep --- to say nothing about a subject>It's not official yet so keep ---.
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roster
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a list of people's names, often with the jobs they have been given to do>If you look on the duty -----, you'll see when you're working.
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presage
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to show or suggest that something, often something unpleasant, will happen>But still the economy is not showing signs of any of the excesses that normally ------ a recession.
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malignant
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describes a disease or a diseased growth that is likely to get uncontrollably worse and lead to death>Is the tumour --------- or benign?
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benign
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describes a growth that is not likely to cause death>a ------ tumour
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oncology
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the study and treatment of tumours (= masses of diseased cells) in the body
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biopsy
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the removal and examination of tissue from an ill person, in order to discover more about their illness>a tissue ------
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whirlwind, twister
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a tall column of spinning air which moves across the surface of the land or sea
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hangar
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a large building in which aircraft are kept
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long-haul
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travelling a long distance>a --------- flight
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capsize
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to (cause a boat or ship to) turn upside down accidentally while on water>A huge wave -------ed the yacht.
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convoy
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a group of vehicles or ships which travel together, especially for protection>A ----- of trucks containing supplies was sent to the famine area.
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walkout
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the act of leaving an official meeting as a group in order to show disapproval, or of leaving a place of work to start a strike>Senior union workers staged (= had) a ------- this afternoon at the annual conference over the proposed changes in funding.
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bewilder
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to confuse someone>The instructions completely --------ed me.
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lug
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to carry or pull something with effort or difficulty because it is heavy>I'm exhausted after ----ing these suitcases all the way across London.
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picket
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a worker or group of workers who protest outside a building to prevent other workers from going inside, especially because they have a disagreement with their employers>There were -----s outside the factory gates.
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flier, flyer
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a small piece of paper with information on it about a product or event
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hut
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a small, simple building, usually consisting of one room>a mountain ---
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snatch
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to take something or someone away by force>She had her purse ------ed (= stolen) while she was in town.
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the bush
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(especially in Australia and Africa) an area of land covered with bushes and trees which has never been farmed and where there are very few people
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ransom
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a large sum of money which is demanded in exchange for someone who has been taken prisoner, or sometimes for an animal>The gang held the racehorse to/for -----.
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afflict
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If a problem or illness ------s a person or thing, they suffer from it>It is an illness which -------s women more than men.
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contentious
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causing or likely to cause disagreement>She has some rather -------- views on education.
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inception
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the establishment of an organization or official activity>Since its ------- in 1968, the company has been at the forefront of computer development.
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in the wake of
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If something happens -- --- ---- -- something else, it happens after and often because of it>Airport security was extra tight -- --- ---- -- yesterday's bomb attacks.
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rout
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defeat>The battle/election was a complete and utter ----.
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envisage, envision
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to imagine or expect as a likely or desirable possibility in the future>train fare increases of 5% are ------ed for the next year.
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prognosis
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a statement of what is judged likely to happen in the future, especially in connection with a particular situation>I was reading a gloomy economic -------- in the paper this morning.
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bleak
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If a situation is bleak, there is little or no hope for the future>The economic outlook is -----.
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reconcile
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to find a way in which two situations or beliefs that are opposed to each other can agree and exist together>It is sometimes difficult to -------- science and religion.
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fend off
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to avoid dealing with something that is unpleasant or difficult to deal with>Somehow she managed to ---- --- the awkward questions.
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spiral
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If costs, prices, etc. ------, they increase faster and faster>-------ing costs have squeezed profits.
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foot(informal)
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to pay an amount of money>His parents ----ed the bill for his course fees.
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stringent
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having a very severe effect, or being extremely limiting>We need to introduce more -------- security measures such as identity cards.
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amputee
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a person who has had an arm or leg cut off
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consensual
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with the willing agreement of all the people involved>The woman alleged rape, but Reeves insisted it was --------.
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trump
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to beat someone or something by doing or producing something better>Their million-pound bid for the company was -----ed at the last moment by an offer for almost twice as much from their main competitor.
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nefarious
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(especially of activities) evil or immoral>The director of the company seems to have been involved in some -------- practices/activities.
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hatch
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to make a plan, especially a secret plan>It was in August of 1978 that the Bolton brothers -----ed their plot to kill their parents.
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irony
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a situation in which something which was intended to have a particular result has the opposite or a very different result>The ----- (of it) is that the new tax system will burden those it was intended to help.
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escort
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someone, often a young woman, who is paid to go out to social events with another person>He hired an ----- girl to go to the dinner with him.
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hypocrisy
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when someone pretends to believe something that they do not really believe or that is the opposite of what they do or say at another time>There's one rule for her and another rule for everyone else and it's sheer -------.
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seclusion
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when someone is alone, away from other people>He's been living in ------- since he retired from acting.
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racket
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a dishonest or illegal activity that makes money>They were jailed for running a protection/prostitution -----.
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entangle
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involved with something or someone in a way that makes it difficult to escape>He went to the shop to buy bread, and got -------- in/with a carnival parade.
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patronise
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to speak to or behave towards someone as if they are stupid or unimportant>Stop -------ing me - I understand the play as well as you do.
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come clean
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to tell the truth about something that you have been keeping secret>I thought it was time to ---- ----- (with everybody) about what I'd been doing.
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pitch
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a speech or act which attempts to persuade someone to buy or do something>She made a ----- for the job but she didn't get it.
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preach
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(especially of a priest in a church) to give a religious speech>Father Martin -----ed to the assembled mourners.
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purport
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to pretend to be or to do something, especially in a way that is not easy to believe>The tape recording ------s to be of a conversation between the princess and a secret admirer.
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treble
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three times greater in amount, number or size>He earns almost ------ the amount that I do.
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baron
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an extremely powerful person in a particular area of business>media/press -----s
a drug ----- |
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cartel
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a group of similar independent companies who join together to control prices and limit competition>an oil -----
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dismantle
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to take a machine apart or to come apart into separate pieces>She -------ed the washing machine to see what the problem was, but couldn't put it back together again.
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negotiate
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to manage to travel along a difficult route>The only way to -------- the muddy hillside is on foot.
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sparse
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small in numbers or amount, often scattered over a large area>a -----population/audience
------- vegetation/woodland |
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outlast
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to live or exist, or to stay energetic and determined, longer than another person or thing>The queen ------ed all her children.
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assuage
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to make unpleasant feelings less strong>The government has tried to ------- the public's fears.
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comatose
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in a coma
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snowflakes
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a small piece of snow
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lewd
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(of behaviour, speech, dress, etc.) sexual in an obvious and rude way>Ignore him - he's being ----.
a ---- suggestion |
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gluten
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a protein which is contained in wheat and some other grains>a -------free diet
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tsar, czar
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a person who has been given special powers by the government to deal with a particular matter>The government has appointed a drugs ---- to co-ordinate the fight against drug abuse.
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culprit
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someone who has done something wrong>Police hope the public will help them to find the ------s.
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crumble
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to break, or cause something to break, into small pieces>She nervously -----ed the bread between her fingers.
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preferential
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describes something you are given which is better than what other people receive>Inmates claimed that some prisoners had received --------- treatment.
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rug
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a piece of thick heavy cloth smaller than a carpet, used for covering the floor or for decoration>My dog loves lying on the --- in front of the fire.
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murky
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describes a situation that is complicated and unpleasant, and about which many facts are unclear>He became involved in the ----- world of international drug-dealing.
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pluralism
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the existence of different types of people, who have different beliefs and opinions, within the same society>fter years of state control, the country is now moving towards political/religious/cultural --------.
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rupture
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to (cause to) burst, break or tear>His appendix ------ed and he had to be rushed to hospital.
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sweltering
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extremely and uncomfortably hot>In the summer, it's --------- in the smaller classrooms.
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stipend
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a fixed regular income>an annual ------
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invoke
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to request or use a power outside yourself, especially a law or a god, to help you when you want to improve a situation>Police can ------ the law of trespass to regulate access to these places.
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placard
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a large piece of card, paper, etc. with a message written or printed on it, often carried in public places by people who are complaining about something>Demonstrators marched past holding/waving -------s that said, 'Send food, not missiles'.
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frail
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weak or unhealthy, or easily damaged, broken or harmed>a ----- old lady
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reparation
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payment for harm or damage>The company had to make --------- to those who suffered ill health as a result of chemical pollution.
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blight
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something which spoils or has a very bad effect on something, often for a long time>His arrival cast a ----- on the wedding day.
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derisory
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describes an amount that is so small it is ridiculous>We were awarded a ------- sum.
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unease
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anxiety>Growing ----- at the prospect of an election is causing fierce arguments within the party.
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menace
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If someone or something ------s a person or thing, they threaten seriously to harm it>Hurricane Hugo -----ed the US coast for a week.
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errant
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behaving wrongly in some way, especially by leaving home>an ----- husband
----- children |
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astray
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away from the correct path or correct way of doing something>The letter must have gone ----- in the post.
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sabotage
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to damage or destroy equipment, weapons or buildings in order to prevent the success of an enemy or competitor>The rebels had tried to ------- the oil pipeline.
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prelate
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an official of high rank in the Christian religion, such as a bishop or an abbot
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exquisite
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very beautiful; delicate>an -------- piece of china
Look at this ------ painting |
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gait
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a particular way of walking>He walked with a slow stiff ----.
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brazen
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obvious, without any attempt to be hidden>There were instances of ------ cheating in the exams.
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repression
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when people are controlled severely, especially by force>The political --------- in this country is enforced by terror.
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flagrant
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(of a bad action, situation, person, etc.) shocking because of being so obvious>a ------- misuse of funds/privilege
a ------- breach of trust |
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bellicose
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wishing to fight or start a war>The general made some --------- statements about his country's military strength.
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antics
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amusing, silly or strange behaviour>The crowds were once again entertained by the number one tennis player's ----- on and off the court.
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iron-clad
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very certain and unlikely to be changed>-------- rules
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demure
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(especially of women and children) quiet and well behaved>She gave him a ------- smile.
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cull
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When people ---- animals, they kill them, especially the weaker members of a particular group of them, in order to reduce or limit their number>The plan to ---- large numbers of baby seals has angered environmental groups.
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pyre
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a large pile of wood on which a dead body is burnt in some parts of the world>A traditional Indian custom used to involve widows burning themselves alive on their husbands' funeral ----s.
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comb
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to search a place or an area very carefully in order to find something>The police ----ed the whole area for evidence.
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gnarled
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rough and twisted, especially because of old age or a lack of protection from bad weather>a ------ tree trunk
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interstate
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a fast wide road which goes between states and connects important cities in the United States
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