For an eternity

Interactive flashcards for learning vocabulary

Englishhardby Zera_1152

Flashcards: 11965 / 5

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length and breadth

She traveled the length and breadth of the country to learn about its culture.

rushed off your feet

After the holiday season, the shopkeepers were rushed off their feet trying to serve all the customers.

out of condition

After a long winter, I feel out of condition and need to start exercising again.

out of practice

I used to play the piano every day, but now I'm out of practice.

establish yourself

After moving to the city, it took her a few months to establish herself in the local art community.

open and shut

The evidence in this case is open and shut; there’s no doubt about what happened.

take pains

She took pains to ensure that every detail of the project was perfect.

find fault

She always finds fault with my cooking, even when I try my best.

tall story

When he said he caught a fish as big as a car, I knew it was just a tall story.

detour

We had to take a detour because the main road was closed.

of late

Of late, there have been many changes in the school.

tearing hurry

She left the house in a tearing hurry, forgetting her keys on the table.

overalls

He loves to wear overalls because they are comfortable and practical.

ransom

The kidnappers demanded a large ransom for the safe return of the child.

fall into disuse

The old telephone booth fell into disuse as everyone started using mobile phones.

stamp on

The child accidentally stamped on the toy, breaking it into pieces. She felt like she had to stamp on her feelings to stay strong.

picket outside

They decided to picket outside the school to demand better facilities.

discipline

/ˈdɪsəplɪn/. She chose to study the discipline of psychology.

warts and all

I love my friend warts and all, even though she can be a bit messy sometimes.

all hands on deck

During the school event, the teacher said it was all hands on deck to set up the decorations.

blind drunk

After the party, he was so blind drunk that he couldn't find his way home.

fraught with

Her decision was fraught with uncertainty and risk.

closely guarded secret

The magician's tricks are closely guarded secrets that only a few people know.

make a stand

She decided to make a stand against bullying in her school. During the meeting, he made a stand for the environment and urged everyone to recycle. They made a stand for their rights during the protest.

undermine

The constant criticism can undermine a person's confidence.

hamper

The heavy rain will hamper our outdoor activities.

no end

He showed no end of kindness to his friends.

exuberant

Her exuberant personality makes her the life of the party.

thick skinned

Even though he received a lot of criticism, he remained thick skinned and continued to pursue his dreams.

go a long way

A little kindness can go a long way in making someone's day better.

hand in hand

Success and hard work go hand in hand.

pathologize

Some people believe that society tends to pathologize normal behaviors, making them seem like disorders.

circumcise

Many families choose to circumcise their sons for cultural reasons.

chaf

/tʃæf/ He applied lotion to prevent his skin from chafing during the marathon.

support group

She joined a support group for people dealing with anxiety.

nectar

She described the fruit juice as the nectar of the gods.

limp

After the injury, he had to limp for a few weeks.

have something at your fingertips

With the internet, you have a wealth of information at your fingertips.

money is a good servant but a bad master

She always remembers that money is a good servant but a bad master when making her budget.

once bitten twice shy

After losing money in a bad investment, she became very careful with her finances; once bitten, twice shy.

it's an ill bird that fouls its own nest

After he stole from his own team, everyone agreed that it's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

make the mare go

To finish the project on time, we must make the mare go and work harder.

beauty is only skin deep

He may be handsome, but remember, beauty is only skin deep; his attitude is what really matters.

good egg

My friend Sarah is such a good egg; she always helps me with my homework.

blow out of the water

The new movie really blew the competition out of the water with its amazing special effects.

drop a brick

During the party, she dropped a brick when she mentioned his ex-girlfriend.

over the worst

After weeks of illness, I finally feel like I'm over the worst.

suffice

/səˈfaɪs/. The food we have should suffice for the party.

rectitude

Her rectitude in handling the situation earned her the respect of her peers.

puff

The dragon let out a puff of smoke from its nose.

pomposity

The speaker's pomposity made it hard for the audience to connect with his message.

genesis

The genesis of Genesect is first thought of after MewTwo was born

impudent

He was punished for his impudent behavior at the family gathering.

secure job

After years of searching, she finally found a secure job with great benefits.

big break

After years of auditions, she finally got her big break in a popular TV show.

on the home stretch

After weeks of studying, I am finally on the home stretch before the big exam.

across the board

The new policy will increase salaries across the board.

down to the wire

The race was down to the wire, with both runners finishing just seconds apart.

horses for courses

In a team project, we need to remember that horses for courses; each member has unique skills.

in a fog

After staying up all night studying, I felt like I was in a fog during the exam.

storm is brewing

After the meeting, it was clear that a storm was brewing among the staff.

make heavy weather of

She made heavy weather of the math problem, even though it was quite simple.

lightning fast

The delivery service promises lightning fast shipping for all orders.

adultery

Many people believe that adultery can destroy a marriage.

dietitian

The dietitian recommended more fruits and vegetables in my meals.

by virtue of

She was promoted by virtue of her hard work and dedication.

go off the idea

After thinking it over, I decided to go off the idea of traveling this summer.

bland uniformity

The city was filled with bland uniformity, as all the buildings looked exactly the same.

cost the earth

We wanted to go on vacation, but the flights cost the earth this year.

bigoted

/ˈbɪɡətɪd/. She realized that her bigoted views were harming her friendships.

bitchy

She made a bitchy comment about my outfit at the party.

nasty

He said some nasty things to her.

tetchy

After a long day at work, she became quite tetchy and snapped at her friends.

snarky

He has a snarky sense of humor that can be entertaining but sometimes goes too far.

feisty

<feistiness> She is a feisty little girl who always stands up for herself.

unadulterated

The juice was made from unadulterated fruit, with no added sugars or preservatives.

beseech

She beseeched her friend to stay with her during the difficult times.

expedite

The manager asked us to expedite the project to meet the deadline.

sweet nothings

During their date, he whispered sweet nothings in her ear, making her smile.

heal the rift

The community leaders worked hard to heal the rift caused by the recent conflict.

get underway

We need to get the project underway before the deadline.

no end in sight

With so many tasks to complete, my work feels like it has no end in sight.

gain on

She is gaining on her studies and is now getting better grades.

on the receiving end

In a team project, sometimes one person ends up on the receiving end of all the work.

make someone's hair stand on end

When I heard the loud crash in the dark, it made my hair stand on end.

get the show on the road

Let's get the show on the road and start planning the party!

a breath of fresh air

The new teacher is a breath of fresh air; she makes learning fun and exciting.

fresh blood

The sports team needed fresh blood to improve their performance this season.

make a clean break

To improve her health, she made a clean break from junk food and started eating healthier meals.

petty crime

The police are focusing on reducing petty crime in the neighborhood.

at one time

There was a beautiful park at one time where the school now stands.

betide

He wondered what fate would betide him after making such a bold decision.

curdle

The milk will curdle if it is left out of the fridge for too long. His harsh words seemed to curdle the friendly atmosphere in the room.

rote learning

Rote learning can help with memorizing vocabulary, but it may not help with speaking skills.

bury yourself in your books

During the summer, I like to bury myself in my books and explore new worlds.

intensively

The team worked intensively to complete the project on time.

mnemonics

To remember the order of operations in math, we use the mnemonic "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.

cloak and dagger

The spy novel was full of cloak and dagger moments that kept the readers on the edge of their seats.

hush hush

She told him to keep it hush hush until they had more information.

powerhouse

The company has become a powerhouse in technology, leading the market with innovative products.

recapitulate

At the end of the meeting, the manager decided to recapitulate the main points discussed.

semantic

The semantic difference between "big" and "huge" is important in this context.

heavyweight

She is a heavyweight in the world of technology, known for her innovative ideas.

dynamo

/ˈdaɪ.nə.moʊ/ She is a dynamo in the classroom, always keeping the students engaged.

underdog

The small team was seen as the underdog in the championship game, but they played with great heart.

basket case

She was a basket case before her big presentation, but she did great in the end.

the first lady of

She is considered the first lady of modern dance for her innovative contributions.

does exactly what it says on the tin

The new phone does exactly what it says on the tin; it takes amazing photos and has a long battery life.

it doesn't float my boat

She suggested going to the concert, but that kind of music doesn't float my boat.

nailing jelly to a wall

Trying to get my dog to stop barking at the mailman feels like nailing jelly to a wall.

big time

He was nervous big time before his first performance.

comprehensive.

The school offers a comprehensive curriculum for its students.

league table

After the exams, the school published a league table of the students' scores.

elitism

Many people criticize elitism in politics, believing that everyone should have a voice.

two-tier

In the two-tier education system, students can choose between vocational training and academic studies.

well-edowed

She is well-endowed with talent, making her a star in the school play.

get rich quick

Many people fall for get rich quick schemes that promise easy money.

not short of a bob or two

He drives a fancy car, so he’s not short of a bob or two.

excel yourself

She has always excelled in sports. She decided to take extra classes to excel herself in math

bursary

The university offered a bursary to help students from low-income families.

mature student

As a mature student, she brought a lot of life experience to the classroom.

one to one

The coach provides one to one training sessions to help athletes improve their skills.

student loan

I applied for a student loan to help pay for my college tuition.

monochrome

She wore a beautiful monochrome outfit that was all in shades of gray.

efface

Time can efface painful memories, making them easier to bear. She used a cloth to efface the smudges on the window.

efface yourself

During the ceremony, she chose to efface herself rather than take centre stage.

indoorsy

During the winter, I feel more indoorsy and enjoy baking cookies in the kitchen.

strike out

She decided to strike out the last sentence from her essay. But, you strike out, you resign.

mouth off

Don't mouth off to your teacher; it's not respectful.

consortium

I find myself in possession of not merely a singular paradigm of optimal companionship but rather a carefully created consortium of approximately three to four extraordinarily distinguished interpersonal relationships of the highest caliber.

caliber

Ultimately, the standard of a country's workforce is defined by the calibre of its graduates, whether from vocational or academic institutions".

heretofore

The company has heretofore maintained a strong position in the market.

take five

After working for an hour, let's take five before we continue.

synergy

"In the modern workplace, teams that foster genuine synergy often outperform those where individuals operate independently, as the combined effort unlocks creative solutions that no single person could achieve alone.

reciprocate

I helped her with her homework, and she reciprocated by helping me with my project.

report to

He will report directly to the chief executive.

post

She's held the post for 69 years.

benefits package

Meaning: collection of various benefits that an employer offers to employees in addition to their salary. Ex: The company offers a great benefits package that includes health insurance and a retirement plan.

team player

Being a team player means putting the team's needs before your own.

dear sir or madam

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to inquire about your services.

dry as a bone

The ground was dry as a bone after weeks without rain.

as dry as dust

After reading the book, I found the story to be as dry as dust.

as silent as the grave

The library was as silent as the grave, allowing everyone to focus on their studies.

a cloud on the horizon

The company is doing well, but there is a cloud on the horizon with the new regulations coming next year.

worship at the altar of

In the world of fashion, some designers worship at the altar of creativity and innovation.

saddled with

After the project failed, she felt saddled with the blame.

the bottom falls out of the market

When the pandemic hit, the bottom fell out of the market for travel and tourism.

sky high

Prices of oil were sky high in Japan when The USA imposed an embargo.

blow it high sky

In Hollywood movies, helicopters are 98% of the time, blown high sky.

nosedive

The company's profits took a nosedive after the scandal.

windfall

The company received a windfall when they secured a big contract.

rein in

To improve his health, he decided to rein in his eating habits.

heads will roll

After the scandal, the CEO announced that heads will roll to restore trust in the company.

gardening leave

After he resigned, he was put on gardening leave for two months.

fall into line

The new students quickly fell into line with the school's rules and traditions.

fundamentally

The two theories are fundamentally different.

flatly contradict

The scientist flatly contradicted the previous research findings with new evidence.

economy drive

The company launched an economy drive to reduce expenses and increase profits.

play the stock market

He decided to play the stock market after reading a few investment books.

ripe old age

They celebrated her birthday, marking her transition into ripe old age with a big party.

broad accent

She has a broad accent that makes it clear she is from the countryside.

bring to the table

During the meeting, she brought her marketing experience to the table.

tick all the boxes

Her resume ticks all the boxes, making her a strong candidate for the job.

the gloves are off

When the final whistle blew, the coach said, "Now the gloves are off; we need to win this match!

blue-sky

She has a blue-sky approach to problem-solving, always thinking outside the box and pushing the envelope in terms of novel concepts.

push the envelope

The team decided to push the envelope by creating a new app that uses virtual reality.

joined-up

We need a joined-up strategy to tackle the problem effectively.

suck it and see

He wasn’t sure if the new game would be fun, but I told him to suck it and see.

quids in

He invested in the stock market and now he's quids in!

be laughing all the way to the bank

He invested in that company early, and now he is laughing all the way to the bank.

take you to the cleaner's

Did Scar take Mufasa to the cleaner's? I dunno, perhaps he was the betrayed one or something.

penny pinching

She decided to stop penny pinching and treat herself to a nice dinner.

no expense is spared

The wedding was beautiful; no expense is spared to make it perfect.

opposite number

The CEO of our company met with his opposite number from the rival firm to discuss a partnership.

rapport

She has a great rapport with her students.

hot desking

Our company has adopted hot desking to promote teamwork and creativity.

mechanical

She performed the task with a mechanical precision. He gave me a mechanical shrug while wool gathring, what a spunky dick.

go in with

She decided to go in with her friends to start a new club at school.

start-up

Many young entrepreneurs dream of launching their own start-up.

antisocial

He is quite antisocial and prefers to stay home on weekends.

mind numbing

After hours of mind numbing paperwork, I needed a break.

draw up

After the meeting, she will draw up a report to share with the team.

snippet

The article included a snippet from the author's new book.

bone idle

My brother is bone idle; he spends all day playing video games instead of helping around the house.

idle

The car has been idle in the garage for weeks.

all's fair in love and war

During the competition, he used every trick he could think of, believing that all's fair in love and war.

first come first served

At the concert, tickets were sold on a first come, first served basis.

ambidextrous

The ambidextrous artist can paint with both hands, creating beautiful artwork.

antiquarian

She visited an antiquarian shop to find unique decorations for her home The antiquarian spent years searching for rare books to add to his collection.

artiste

He is known as an artiste who brings unique ideas to his paintings.

castaway

The movie tells the story of a castaway who learns to survive on a deserted island.

compere

The compere welcomed everyone to the annual talent show.

despot

Many people fled the nation to escape the despot's harsh laws.

fugitive

She lived as a fugitive for many years, always looking over her shoulder.

teetotaller

My uncle is a teetotaller, so he always orders soda at family gatherings.

luscious

The garden was filled with luscious fruits and flowers, making it a beautiful sight.

second class

The hotel offered second class service, which was disappointing.

grassroots

The grassroots campaign for environmental protection gained a lot of support from local residents.

banausic

The artist felt that his work had become banausic, focusing only on commercial success rather than true creativity.

spurious

Many spurious claims about health benefits can be found on the internet.

to a turn

The square meal was cooked to a turn, juicy and full of flavor, although he slept on it.

go out like a light

The square meal done to a turn, but he slept on it, by that I mean he literally went out like a light while making it.

lose sleep over

I seriously don't want to lose sleep over the trepidation of being bested, I just want people to recognize my travail.

not knowing whether you are coming or going

He woke up with the square meal done to a turn, not knowing whether he was coming or going.

on the hoof

She grabbed a sandwich on the hoof before heading to her next meeting.

bad hair day

She laughed and said it was just a bad hair day, even though she looked great.

take each day as it comes

After losing his job, he decided to take each day as it comes and not worry too much about finding a new one.

pending

Her promotion is pending a final review by the board. He will get promoted, pending the interview panel's response.

lissome

The dancer moved with a lissome grace that captivated the audience.

simultaneous translation

She is trained in simultaneous translation and works at international meetings, which is a developmental milestone in her career.

busker

The busker played beautiful music on the corner of the street.

trundle

The children loved to trundle their toy cars down the hill to the busker.

novelty value

The novelty value of the new smartphone attracted many customers to the store.

sentimental value

Even though the painting is not worth much money, it has great sentimental value to me.

causeway

During high tide, the causeway was partially submerged, so we had to wait for the water to go down.

get ahold of

Can you help me get ahold of that book from the library?

job satisfaction

Many employees report high levels of job satisfaction when they feel valued by their managers. least/most___

fast moving

In the fast-moving world of technology, new innovations emerge daily.

dynamic

The dynamic changes in technology affect our daily lives.

looking to

She is looking to find a new job.

holiday entitlement

Employees are entitled to 20 days of holiday entitlement each year.

leave entitlement

The company policy states that each employee has a leave entitlement of 20 days per year.

increment

The company plans to give a salary and pay increment to all employees this year.

performance-related

However, rewarding students for results may also lead to **performance-related anxiety**, as the pressure to succeed becomes overwhelming.

voluntary redundancy

The company offered voluntary redundancy to reduce costs during the economic downturn.

skeleton staff

The company decided to operate with a skeleton staff during the holiday season.

interview panel

During the interview, I felt nervous in front of the interview panel.

not long for this world

"Why are short people disappearing?" "Because they're not long for this world"

spend a penny

Excuse me, I need to spend a penny before we continue our walk.

powder my nose

Excuse me, I need to powder my nose before we continue with dinner.

effing and blinding

When he lost the game, he started effing and blinding in frustration.

in your birthday suit

It's not a romantic Korean film without the boy and girl seeing each other im their birthday suit by accidence.

in the altogether

She joked that she forgot her swimsuit and would have to swim in the altogether.

make the ultimate sacrifice

The soldier made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his comrades during the battle.

friendly fire

During the game, a player accidentally hit his teammate, which everyone jokingly called friendly fire.

four-letter word

He was upset and shouted a four-letter word.

pardon my french

When he accidentally dropped the box, he exclaimed, 'Oh, damn it! Pardon my French.

a bit on the side

They were happy together, but he still had a bit on the side that he never mentioned.

my number is up

When the storm hit, she felt like her number was up.

big c

My friend is fighting the big c, and we are all supporting her.

put to sleep

The vet had to put the sick dog to sleep to end its suffering.

comfort break

Let's take a comfort break before we continue with the presentation.

cold calling

Many companies rely on cold calling to find new clients.

never look back

After graduating, she decided to never look back and focus on her new career.

purchasing power

The rise in prices has decreased the purchasing power of many families.

stocked

The store is fully stocked for the holiday season.

trade up

After saving for a few months, I decided to trade up my old phone for the latest model.

brand loyalty

Many companies invest in advertising to build brand loyalty among their customers.

loss leader

The supermarket used milk as a loss leader to draw in customers for other groceries.

niche market

Our company has found success in a niche market for eco-friendly products.

come under the hammer

The antique vase will come under the hammer at the auction tomorrow.

hammer out

After several meetings, they finally managed to reach a compromise and hammer out a deal that satisfied everyone.

swallow up

The new technology will swallow up a lot of our time if we don't manage it well.

capital asset

The company invested in new machinery, which is considered a capital asset.

letting

Online holiday property letting agency.

amalgamation

The amalgamation of the two companies created a stronger business entity.

probe

The detective decided to probe deeper into the case.

not have the foggiest idea

I asked him about the new game, but he said he didn't have the foggiest idea.

bore someone silly

His stories about fishing always bore everyone silly.

takeover bid

After the takeover bid was accepted, the two companies began to merge their operations.

run a temperature

After playing outside in the cold, she started to run a temperature.

write out

Please write out the instructions so everyone can understand them.

elevated

She felt an elevated sense of happiness after receiving the good news. elevated temperature/prices

methodical

The scientist took a methodical approach to his experiments, ensuring every step was carefully planned. She is very methodical in her studies, making sure to review her notes every day.

obliging

The obliging waiter brought us extra napkins without us asking.

superficial

His comments were superficial and did not address the real issues.

insecure

She feels insecure about her appearance.

tactless

His tactless comments about her dress made her feel embarrassed.

grounded

She is very grounded and always makes wise decisions, not intuitive like some of her exes, no wonder she ditched all of them.

placid

She has a placid demeanor that puts everyone at ease.

magnetic personality

Everyone loves to be around Sarah because she has a magnetic personality.

sharp-tongued

Her sharp-tongued comments often hurt people's feelings.

unstinting

The volunteers showed unstinting dedication to helping the community.

irresolute

The leader was irresolute about the next steps to take, causing confusion among the team.

dogmatic

The teacher was dogmatic about her teaching methods, refusing to try new approaches.

pithy

Her pithy remarks during the meeting kept everyone engaged.

shoulder the blame

After the project failed, the manager decided to shoulder the blame instead of blaming the team for not being head and shoulders...

weighty tome

The professor assigned a weighty tome on ancient history for the class.

fat chance

“She said she would help us with the project, but fat chance she will actually show up.”

walk into a job

He was so confident that he would walk straight into a job right after graduation.

lanky

He was a lanky teenager who grew taller every summer.

gangly

The gangly teenager tripped over his own feet while trying to run.

bulk up

He wants to bulk up before the summer to look good at the beach.

wiry

She had a wiry frame, which made her an excellent dancer.

scowl

The teacher scowled at the students for talking during the lesson.

twitch

He couldn't help but twitch when he heard the loud noise.

tap your fingers

She started to tap her fingers on the table while waiting for her food.

deeply offended

He felt deeply offended when his ideas were ignored in the meeting.

spotlessly clean

She always keeps her room spotlessly clean, with everything in its place.

thoroughly ashamed

He was thoroughly ashamed of his behavior at the party last night.

wildly inaccurate

The report was wildly inaccurate, leading to many misunderstandings.

wildly exaggerated

Her claims about winning the race were wildly exaggerated; she didn't even finish in the top ten.

mildly surprised

She was mildly surprised by the news, but it didn't change her plans.

greatly appreciate

She said she would greatly appreciate any advice you can give her.

cut and run

When the storm started, the campers decided to cut and run before it got worse.

thoroughly enjoy

She thoroughly enjoys playing soccer with her friends.

busman's holiday

Even on her vacation, Sarah couldn't help but check her emails; it felt like a busman's holiday.

check in desk

I went to the check in desk to get my boarding pass for the flight.

get away from it all

She decided to take a weekend trip to the mountains to get away from it all.

somehow or other

Somehow or other, we ended up at the same restaurant without planning it.

impetuous

Her impetuous decision to quit her job surprised everyone.

effusive

Her effusive compliments made him blush, as he wasn't used to such praise.

excitable

She is an excitable person who gets thrilled about every little thing.

pushy

She was so pushy at the store, insisting that I buy the most expensive item.

well balanced

The gymnast performed a well balanced routine that impressed the judges.

percipient

The percipient student quickly grasped the complex concepts in class.

inward looking

After a long day, she preferred to spend her evenings in an inward looking way, journaling her thoughts.

diffident

Even though he had great ideas, his diffident demeanor held him back from sharing them.

insular

The insular community had little contact with the outside world.

disdain to do something

She disdained to answer the silly question from her classmates.

disdainful

The critic was disdainful of the movie, calling it a waste of time.

unapproachable

The new teacher seemed unapproachable, making the students nervous to ask questions.

pigheaded

Despite all the evidence, he remained pigheaded about his decision.

a pig in a blanket

The pigheaded pig was made into a pig in the blanket.

turn a profit

The new restaurant was able to turn a profit within its first year of operation.

tell your fortune

During the party, a guest offered to tell everyone's fortune with tarot cards, whatever they are.

properly speaking

Properly speaking, we should refer to it as a "bicycle" and not a "bike.(so pendantic)

talk business

During the meeting, we will talk business and plan our next steps.

profess

She kept professing ignorance of the affair, but I think she was being economical with the truth.

protest innocence

After being accused of cheating, she decided to protest her innocence in front of the school board.

divulge

The journalist decided to divulge the details of the investigation to the public. During the meeting, he chose not to divulge any information and about the upcoming project as well as the sources of it.

break the news

Jonathan had to break the news to her friends that Jane fell off that mortal coil fighting off the big C.

only have eyes for

She only has eyes for him, ignoring everyone else at the party.

tip-off

The police acted on the tip-off, and caught the thief red-handed.

file for

She decided to file for divorce after many years of marriage in a broken home with the dickless alcoholic, A.K.A her fiance.

come down on

The teacher came heavily down on the students for not doing their so-called homework, even though they were on their summer vacation, like..wtf?

soak up

During our vacation, we wanted to soak up the atmosphere on the summit of the tallest mountain in the world, Everest.

free up

I will free up my schedule this weekend to help you move. Can you free up some time this weekend? I wanna go to a hotel with you ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

keep up

He studied every day to keep up his grades in school. I'll have a foolproof plan to keep up my english even after the exams are all over.

dip into

She decided to dip into her savings to buy a new bike. I like to dip into a few chapters of this book before bed.

two-faced

She was so two-faced; she smiled at me but talked behind my back. I don't consider her a true friend of mine so fuck her.

rival

She has always been my arch rival in tennis.( The challengers reference??)

sworn enemy

In the movie, the hero finally confronts his sworn enemy after years of conflict.

scrupulously honest

She is scrupulously honest in her business dealings, always ensuring that her clients know the truth.

unswerving

He showed unswerving loyalty to his friends, always standing by them in tough times.

staunch ally

The Soviet's staunch ally is the winter.

highly critical

The teacher gave a highly critical review of the student's project, pointing out many areas for improvement.

bumpy

She lives in a broken home, with bumpy relationships with others, oh my... goodness...

the cat's whiskers

Her new bike is the cat's whiskers; I wish I had one like it!

a dog's life

After losing his job, he felt like he was living a dog's life, and he hasn't got a cat in hell's chance to escape this life....

dog in the manger

She didn't want the toy, but she wouldn't let her brother play with it; she's such a dog in the manger.

bombastic

The politician's bombastic speech was filled with big words but said very little.

offhand

He made an offhand comment about the movie, not really thinking about how it might hurt someone's feelings.

in vitro

In vitro fertilization is a process where an egg is combined with sperm outside the body.

go into labour

She started to feel contractions and knew she was about to go into labour.

doddery

She found it endearing how her doddery grandmother would tell the same stories over and over.

crematorium

After the ceremony, the ashes were taken to the crematorium for cremation.

condolence

/kənˈdəʊləns/ Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss.

fatalities

The report indicated a high number of fatalities due to the storm.

intestate

After her grandfather passed away intestate, the family had to navigate the legal process to determine who would inherit his estate.

industrial action

The workers decided to go on industrial action to demand better wages.

professional misconduct

The doctor faced serious consequences for his professional misconduct during the surgery.

circulate

We need to circulate the documents to all team members.

relieve of

He was relieved of his duties after the project was completed.

wrongful dismissal

Many workers are unaware of their rights regarding wrongful dismissal.

lose livelihood

If the factory closes, several families will lose their livelihood.

work unsocial hours

Many healthcare workers have to work unsocial hours to provide care for patients, and they often have menial jobs like eating corpses or unaliving zombies inside the 27 mortuaries.

living wage

The company decided to pay all its employees a living wage to help them support their families.

throw a sickie

He decided to throw a sickie because he wanted to go to the concert instead of working.

stay the course

The annual turnover of staff in the company is high, so it's hard for him to stay the course and get the living wage, he even once tried working unsocial hours but...

take the long view

She decided to take the long view and focus on her education instead of rushing into a job.

poor judgement

He showed poor judgement by investing all his money in a risky business.

against your better judgement

I went to the party against my better judgement, even though I had a big exam the next day.

error of judgement

The coach admitted that his error of judgement cost the team the championship.

fertile

She has a fertile imagination that helps her write amazing stories.

lateral thinking

Her lateral thinking helped the team find a unique solution to the problem.

nagging doubt

She felt a nagging doubt about whether her nagging pain was caused by accident.

wrestle with

She had to wrestle with her feelings before making a decision.

turn heads

The magician's incredible tricks always turn heads and leave the audience amazed.

lock away

She decided to lock away her feelings to avoid getting hurt.

go off something

I used to love playing soccer, but I have gone off it lately.

get up to

He usually gets up to some fun activities during the summer.

in one fell swoop

He completed all his assignments in one fell swoop.

eat out of house and home

If you keep inviting your friends over for dinner, they will eat you out of house and home.

lay it on a bit thick

During the presentation, she laid it on a bit thick with the compliments for her boss.

star-crossed

Romeo and Juliet are often described as star-crossed lovers in Shakespeare's play.

pound of flesh

After the argument, he wanted his pound of flesh, insisting that she pay him back every cent.

send someone packing

After the argument, she told him to leave and sent him packing.

focus group

The company organized a focus group to learn what customers think about their new product.

consumer behavior

Understanding consumer behavior helps companies create better products.

buying habit

Many companies study buying habits and customer behavior to improve their marketing strategies.

marketing campaign

Our marketing campaign includes social media ads and email newsletters.

target audience

The advertisement was designed specifically for the target audience of young adults. Pre-school children are the target audience for the show.

advertising agency

The advertising agency created a catchy slogan for the new product.

brand identity

The company updated its brand identity to attract a younger audience.

demographic profile

The company created a demographic profile to better understand its target audience.

customer relationship management

Effective customer relationship management can lead to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

product development

The company is focusing on product development to meet customer needs.

market segmentation

By applying market segmentation, the brand was able to create products that appealed to different age groups.

market share

Market share is an important indicator of a company's success in its field.

product placement

The movie featured a lot of product placement, showcasing popular drinks and snacks throughout the scenes.

guerilla marketing

The company used guerilla marketing to create buzz around their new product by organizing a flash mob in the city center.

brand awareness

High brand awareness can lead to increased sales. Manufacturers see the Internet as a way to promote brand awareness.

coverage

The news coverage of the event was extensive. There was very little media coverage of the event. The case has attracted a huge amount of press coverage. Live coverage showed the team celebrating after the game.

celebrity endorsement

The new sports drink is popular because of its celebrity endorsement by a famous athlete.

customer-focused

The company is very customer-orientated, always asking for feedback to improve their products.

customer retention

They implemented a new program aimed at increasing customer retention rates.

market leader

The company became a global market leader by offering the best quality products throughout the world.

flagship

The flagship store in New York attracts many tourists and locals alike.

product life cycle

Understanding the product life cycle can help businesses plan for future changes in the market.

midriff

She wore a beautiful dress that showed off her midriff.

see-through

He installed see-through curtains to let in more light while maintaining some privacy, but she decided to wear see-through fabrics.

frumpy

She wore a frumpy dress that looked like it was from the 1980s.

dress-down day

Everyone is excited for dress-down day this Friday! We can wear see-through, frumpy or clingy clothes, boys will be lusted.

clingy

My little brother can be really clingy when he wants to play with me.

smart casual

For the wedding reception, the invitation said to dress in smart casual attire. You should try it, see-through and frumpy clothes companies are market leaders nowadays.

dolled up

To increase customer retention, the company develop a new type of attire that will dole people up smart-casually, it is really customer-orientated. This can increase brand awareness substantially. What a guerilla marketing campaign.

designer clothes

Even in dress-down days, she still wears designer labels, dolled up in see-through overalls that are not frumpy.

on the high street

I love shopping on the high street because there are so many stores to choose from.

made-to-measure

The tailor created a made-to-measure suit for the wedding.

the latest fashion

She always knows how to dress in the latest fashion.

height of fashion

Her dress was the height of fashion at the gala last night.

set a new trend

The trend-setter set a new trend with her colorful and unique clothing line, it's on trend at the moment.

a slave to fashion

She is such a slave to fashion that she buys new clothes every week.

hand in glove

The teacher and the parents worked hand in glove to support the students' learning.

an iron hand in a velvet glove

Though he seemed friendly, his decisions showed he ruled with an iron hand in a velvet glove.

straitjacket

She felt like her job was a straitjacket, preventing her from expressing her true creativity. I think they actually clipped her wings on purpose.

no frills

The airline offers a no frills service, so you only pay for your seat and nothing else.

hem in

She felt hemmed in by all the rules at school and wanted more freedom.

burst at the seams

After the holiday season, the store was bursting at the seams with customers looking for sales.

feather in your cap

Winning the science fair was a real feather in her cap.

aladdin's cave

The antique shop was like Aladdin's Cave, filled with beautiful furniture and rare collectibles.

Man Friday

After years of working together, John became my Man Friday, always ready to help with any project.

jekyll and hyde

Sometimes, he acts like a Jekyll and Hyde, being nice one moment and angry the next.

prince charming

She always dreamed of meeting her Prince Charming one day.

an albatross around your neck

After losing his job, the debt felt like an albatross around his neck.

like ships that pass in the night

They met at the party, but they were like ships that pass in the night, never to see each other again.

ivory tower

The professor spent so much time in his ivory tower that he forgot what his students really needed.

good value for money

The new smartphone is a good value for money because it has many features at a low price.

make a complaint

I need to make a complaint about the service I received at the restaurant.

offer a discount

The store decided to offer a discount on winter clothes to attract more customers.

place an order

I would like to place an order for a pizza.

place bets

Many people like to place bets on their favorite sports teams during the season.

place an advertisement

She decided to place an advertisement for her tutoring services online.

regular customer

She is a regular customer at the coffee shop and always orders the same drink, and she's also a satisfied customer .

healthy competition

The students enjoyed healthy competition during the science fair, which motivated them to work harder on their projects.

prompt service

The restaurant is known for its prompt service, making it a favorite among locals.

next-day

We offer next-day delivery for all online orders. She scheduled a next-day appointment with the doctor.

top quality

The restaurant is known for its top quality food and service.

put you on hold

Thank you for your patience; I had to put you on hold to find the right department. I'm placing bets about him, he'll put you on hold as usual, you should kick up a fuss about that.

kick up a fuss

When the teacher changed the schedule, some students kicked up a fuss about it.

full refund

The store offered a full refund for the shoes that didn't fit.

put someone on a pedestal

She put her favorite singer on a pedestal, thinking he could do no wrong.

knock someone off their pedestal

After the scandal, the celebrity was knocked off their pedestal and faced criticism from fans.

grounds for complaint

The customer had valid grounds for complaint after receiving the wrong order so he made a complaint, which is justifiable.

honour

The company has failed to honour its commitments.

do the honours

When it was time to cut the cake, the host said, "Please, do the honours!

come up to

His performance in the game came up to our expectations.

handle complaints

It is important to handle complaints quickly to keep customers happy.

enclose

We therefore will enclose the requested refund and trust that you'll continue to shop with us and will never again have grounds for complaint about our goods.

mental agility

Her mental agility helped her solve the puzzle in just a few minutes.

win a scholarship

She worked hard to win a scholarship for her college education.

attend school

Every day, I attend school to learn new things.

apply to

She decided to apply to several different jobs and universities.

straight a

Being a straight A student can open many doors for college applications.

set texts

In our literature class, we will be discussing the set texts for this semester.

distinguished

She is a distinguished scientist in the field of biology.

leading authority

The university invited a leading authority in artificial intelligence to give a guest lecture.

formal education

He's got no formal education, but he won a scholarship and now is a distinguised leading authority after attending to several universities, what a Straight-A student.

I want to sign up for the art class next week. He signed for some Ielts courses to improve his English.

meet requirements

The student worked hard to meet the requirements for the entry test, no matter if they were straight-A students or not, or even who attended school regularly or not because they'd honor their promise to pass the test. I'm placing bets on that.

marked

The marked difference in her performance surprised everyone. He had a marked talent for drawing from a young age. There was a marked improvement in the team's results this season.

natural talent

She has a natural talent for painting, creating beautiful artwork effortlessly and got full marks in every single test, her attention does wander sometimes though.

quick learner

The teacher praised him for being a quick learner during the math lessons and got full marks, his concentration does waver sometimes though.

demonstrate your ability

During the interview, the candidate was asked to clearly demonstrate their ability to solve complex problems.

proven ability

He clearly demonstrated a proven ability to have think outside the box, showing lots of initiative, He does play truant sometimes though.

hovel

The old man lived in a hovel at the edge of the village and it was fucking run down.

penthouse

They bought a beautiful penthouse with a stunning view of the city.

social housing

The city is planning to build more social housing to help families in need.

council estate

Many families live in a council estate because it offers affordable rent.

high-rise

The city skyline is filled with high-rise buildings that touch the clouds.

granny flat

He lived in a hovel after moving out from a council estate of social housings, dreaming about high-rises with penthouses of his own, with furnished granny flats for old people that helped him.

household name

After years of hard work, she became a household name in the music industry.

hit home

The full horror of the war only hit home when we started seeing the television pictures of it in our living rooms.

sheltered

The children grew up leading a sheltered life away from the troubles of the world

house of cards

The company's financial plan was a house of cards, and it collapsed when the market changed.

stag party

We are planning a big stag party for Tom next month.

hen night

We are planning a surprise hen night for Sarah next weekend.

fancy dress party

I'm excited to go to the fancy dress party this weekend! Do you like it or dress-down partties?

wedding reception

The wedding reception will be held at the grand hotel downtown.

black tie

The invitation clearly stated that the event was black tie, so everyone dressed in their best formal attire.

launch party

We are excited to invite you to our book launch party next Friday.

leaving do

We are organizing a leaving do for HMH, NCC, etc next week.

do lunch

Let's do lunch tomorrow and catch up on everything.

hobnob

She loves to hobnob with celebrities at film festivals.

mixed bag

Her performance in the competition was a mixed bag; she did well in some events but struggled in others.

rub shoulders

At the charity gala, I had the chance to rub shoulders with famous actors and musicians.

networking

Effective career networking is crucial for individuals to access new job opportunities and gain valuable insights within their industries". She attended the conference for networking opportunities with other professionals.

knock around

After school, we like to knock around the park and play games.

party animal

My friend is such a party animal; she goes out every weekend! It's really easy to knock around with him.

cliquey

The new students felt left out because the popular kids were so cliquey.

an item

They are an item, usually knocking around with each other like pary animals, they are also straight-A students who always get full marks.

stand you up

He honoured his promise to meet me in the hovel in the council estate and didn't stand me up nor put me on hold, which really came up to my expectations.

dignitary

The mayor stood the dignitary up.

disjointed

The presentation was disjointed, making it hard for the audience to follow the main points.

garbled

The message was garbled, and I couldn't understand what they were trying to say.

risque

The comedian's jokes were a bit risque, making the audience laugh and gasp at the same time.

gripping

This movie is so gripping that I couldn't take my eyes off the screen.

harrowing

The documentary about the war was so harrowing that many people cried while watching it.

up and coming

The up and coming artist is gaining a lot of attention for her unique style.

typecast

After playing the villain in several movies, he was worried he would always be typecast as a bad guy.

pan

Peter Pan was panned by people because of his risque speech.

slate

The Peter PAN was slated and panned.

be the bomb

This pizza is the bomb!

booed

The crowd booed the referee for making a bad call during the game.

total flop

The movie was a total flop at the box office, earning less than expected.

miscast

Many critics said the movie was disappointing because the main actor was miscast.

audition

She has an audition for the lead role in the play.

critique

His critique of the film was very insightful and in-depth.

fade into the background

After the new project started, her contributions seemed to fade into the background.

vigorous

He is known for his vigorous approach to problem-solving.

formulate

Scientists need to formulate a new theory to explain the results.

the thrust

Her argument had a strong thrust that convinced everyone in the room.

when you were a twinkle in your father's eye

When you were a twinkle in your father's eye, your parents were dreaming about having sex to give birth to you.

go back a long way

My grandparents go back a long way; they have been friends since childhood.

tower of strength

During her tough times, her best friend was a true tower of strength.

I thought as much

When she said she was late because of traffic, I replied, "I thought as much.

my heart sank

When I heard that my best friend was moving away, my heart sank.

hard pressed

She was hard pressed to finish her homework before the deadline not to get slated and panned by my teacher.

get out of bed on the wrong side

She must have gotten out of bed on the wrong side today; she snapped at everyone.

sore point

Bringing up his childhood can be a sore point for him. And I did, and really put my foot in it.

put on a brave face

Even though she was nervous about the exam, she put on a brave face and smiled at her friends.

nose something out

She was able to nose out the truth behind the rumors at school.

subject matter

The subject matter of the presentation was very interesting and informative.

visual literacy

Students improve their visual literacy by analyzing different types of artwork.

inured

After years of working in a noisy environment, she became inured to the sound of machinery.

pedestrian

Her books, with few exceptions, are workmanlike but pedestrian. His speech was long and pedestrian.

earthbound

Her books, with few exceptions, are workmanlike but pedestrian and earthbound His speech was long and pedestrian, it was also prosaic and earthbound.

spring a surprise

We decided to spring a surprise party for her birthday.

social whirl

After moving to the city, she found herself caught up in a social whirl of parties and events.

throw a party

We are going to throw a party for Sarah's birthday this weekend to celebrate her boufriend, a man of many parts.

sketchy

The plan for the project was a bit sketchy, so we need to add more details. He's a bit sketchy, but his exes are even sketchier.

peerless

The whizz kid's peerless performance in the competition earned him a gold medal, he ate all his opponents for breakfast.

play host

First lemme thank you for playing host to welcome reception for out colleagues and for makin' us so welcome at the hall last week

find time

I'm grateful you can find time to pay us a flying visit at our meeting, where we heard you intend to join the festivities at the ceremory of the festival.

festivities

The town is preparing for the annual festivities that celebrate the harvest.

attend a function

I will attend a function at the school this weekend where I can meet John, a mine of information of history, a true whizz kid with more than one string to his bow.

convivial atmosphere

The restaurant had a convivial atmosphere, making it perfect for family gatherings.

explore all avenues

Before making a decision, we should explore all avenues to ensure we choose the best option. By doing so, you can become a whizz kid.

a mine of information

My teacher is a mine of information about history.

a man of many parts

John is truly a whizz kid of many parts; he can play the guitar, paint, and even cook gourmet meals. So we can count on that mine of information.

whizz kid

My little brother is a financial whizz kid; he can create games all by himself. Let's throw a surprise party for him.

get-up-and-go

That whizz kid's got plenty of get-up-and-go.

have more than one string to your bow

She has more than one string to her bow; she can sing, dance, and act.

a glutton for punishment

Even after failing the exam twice, she decided to take the same course again; she's such a glutton for punishment.

play the fool

Don't play the fool with your sketchy boss, I know you're inured to criticism, but how'd you have the get-up-and-go to be a glutton for punishment?

squall

He had spent years painstakingly restoring the ancient text, only to have his work nearly ruined by a sudden, violent squall; a final,

eponymous

In the eponymous song, the artist shares their personal experiences.

juicy

She told me a juicy story about her vacation that I couldn't stop laughing at.

rumours flying around

There are rumours flying around about a new student joining our class.

open your heart

During the therapy session, the counselor encouraged her to open her heart and share her fears.

drawn into

She was drawn into the conversation about the new project.

hold a conversation

During the meeting, we will hold a conversation about the new project.

bombard

During the meeting, she was bombarded with questions from her colleagues.

broad generalization

It is a broad generalization to say that all teenagers are irresponsible.

drop the subject

After arguing about the movie, she decided to drop the subject and talk about something else.

foul language

He was so angry that he started using foul language.

opening gambit

Her opening gambit was to ask about his favorite movie, which got the conversation flowing.

empty promise

He said he would help me with my homework, but it turned out to be an empty promise.

tough question

During the interview, the candidate was asked a tough question about their weaknesses.

anti-aging

The spa offers a variety of anti-aging treatments, supplements and propertoes that help improve skin elasticity.

wrinkles

So... this card is sponsored by the clinically proven anti-aging property SKINY, helping to banish all wrinkles and fine lines. Get this luxury cream right now for a flawless complexion, It's on sales now!!

peckish

Are you peckish? I have some cookies we can share.

unrivalled

This restaurant is known for its unrivalled service and delicious food.

glossy magazine

I love flipping through a glossy magazine while waiting at the doctor's office.

hugely popular

The new superhero movie is hugely popular among kids and adults alike.

excruciatingly

The dentist's drill made the experience excruciatingly painful She waited excruciatingly long for the results of her exam He felt excruciatingly embarrassed when he tripped in front of everyone

rival theory

In physics, Newtonian mechanics vs. Einstein’s theory of relativity → Einstein’s became dominant, but Newton’s is still useful in many contexts. In psychology, different theories about memory (e.g., multi-store model vs. levels of processing theory)

stare someone in the face

The answer has been staring us in the face all along! A rise in interest rates is staring us in the face. With all his debts piling up, bankruptcy and even death were staring him in the face.

vegetation

During our hike, we saw beautiful vegetation along the trail.

standby

The flight is on standby, so we might have to wait for a seat.

roasting

"a roasting day in Miami"

waterline

The captain checked the waterline to ensure the ship was not overloaded.

braided

She wore her hair in a beautiful braided style for the party.

unsung

The unsung heroes of the community worked hard to help others without seeking any recognition.

heraldic

The museum has a collection of heraldic shields from the medieval period.

valedictorian

She worked very hard all year and was proud to be named valedictorian of her class.

crease

Called the Miura-ori, this rigid fold is made of mountain and valley creases; it’s essentially a pattern of closely packed parallelograms.

inimical

Pollution can have inimical effects on the environment and wildlife.

make an offer

I would like to make an offer on the house we visited last week.

wade

We decided to wade through the river to reach the other side.

change places

During the game, the teacher asked us to change places with our partners.

payroll

The company needs to update its payroll system to include new employees.

conniving

The conniving villain plotted to steal the treasure from the unsuspecting heroes.

fracas

The fracas in the street drew the attention of everyone nearby.

poncho

The poncho kept him warm while he was camping in the mountains.

shifty

Her shifty answers made me doubt her honesty about the situation.

carrot and stick

The teacher used a carrot and stick approach to encourage students to complete their homework on time.

Liquidate

After the bankruptcy, they had to liquidate the inventory at a discount.

in my experience

In my experience, it's best to start studying early for exams.

conifer

Many conifers are used for making furniture because of their strong wood.

bluff your way

I didn't stuudy but manhaed to bluff my eay througj the ecam by pretending tonlook cool and eruditr and good and handsome

spat

After their spat, they quickly made up and were friends again.

absolutely essential

The instructions are absolutely essential for completing the project correctly.

horse sense

Even though she didn't go to college, her horse sense helped her run the family business successfully.

towaway zone

If you park here, your car might be taken away because it's a towaway zone.

perturbation

Her perturbation was clear when she heard the unexpected news.

root out

Eliminate Eradicate Remove Get rid of Exterminate The teacher wanted to root out the cheating in her classroom.

high gear

After the holiday break, the students returned to school in high gear, ready to learn.

formulation

The scientist worked on the formulation of a new medicine.

pastoral

The pastoral landscape was filled with green fields and grazing sheep.

limbic system

The limbic system is responsible for our feelings of happiness and sadness.

breaking point

The situation reached breaking point when his son crashed the family car. Her nerves were at breaking point.

expansive

His expansive personality makes it easy for him to make new friends.

substrate

they demonstrated how light compression on a stiff, thin skin that’s supported by a soft, thick substrate can prompt the skin to settle into a Miura-ori like pattern, akin to how compression of the Earth’s cou-

in contention

The team is still in contention for the championship title. This loss puts them out of contention for the playoffs this year. Her weak performance on the parallel bars put her out of contention for a medal.

be built on sand

The project was built on sand so it failed.

flotsam

The beach was covered in flotsam after the storm, making it look messy.

dig up dirt

The journalist tried to dig up dirt on the politician to write a scandalous article.

sweat the small stuff

Don't sweat the small stuff; just enjoy your vacation!

full fathom five

The diver explored the ocean floor, reaching full fathom five to see the colorful fish.

get in gear

After a long vacation, it took me a few days to get in gear and catch up on my studies. I need to get my brain in gear before the big exam

xenophobia

Many organizations work to combat xenophobia and promote understanding between different cultures.

pelt (n)

The hunter brought back the pelt of a deer.

interrelated

The economy and the environment are interrelated; changes in one can affect the other.

pull up short

Seeing her picture in the paper pulled me up short.

hang tough

Even though the exam was hard, I told my friend to hang tough and do her best.

rusty

After years without playing, my guitar skills are a bit rusty.

paucity

The paucity of resources made it difficult for the team to complete the project.

pall on

The party started off fun, but it began to pall on everyone after a few hours.

what a drag

I wanted to go to the concert, but it got canceled. What a drag!

recreational

The park has many recreational facilities, like playgrounds and sports fields.

sweeping change

The new law brought about sweeping change in the education system.

major in

I decided to major in biology because I love science.

peg away

He has been pegging away at his studies to prepare for the big exam.

keel over

When she heard the surprising news, she nearly keels over in shock.

equivocate

The politician tended to equivocate when asked about his plans for the future.

non-aligned

Although there have been reports that the eight non-aligned delegations intend to put forward new proposals, they have not so far done so.

rickety

The old rickety bridge swayed in the wind, making everyone nervous.

lead up the garden path

It seems as if we've been led up the garden path about the position of our hotel - it's miles from the beach!

hold your own

During the debate, he held his own and presented strong arguments.

half measures

We can't afford to take half measures if we want to succeed in this project.

forward facing

The car seat is forward facing, which is safer for older children.

under orders

The soldiers were under orders to remain silent during the mission.

lark

The lark sang beautifully at dawn, filling the air with its sweet melody.

eugenics

The eugenics movement in the early 20th century aimed to improve the human race through selective breeding, coined by Sir Francis Galton.

deskill

As software becomes more user-friendly, it tends to deskill the work of graphic designers.

bandwidth

During peak hours, the bandwidth may decrease, causing slower download speeds.

take the fifth

When asked about his involvement in the incident, he decided to take the fifth.

pitiable

After losing his job, he found himself in a pitiable state, struggling to make ends meet.

persiflage

The friends engaged in light persiflage, making jokes about each other's outfits.

nerve racking

Waiting for the results of the competition was a nerve racking experience.

rsvp

The wedding invitation included an RSVP card for guests to fill out.

logging

The logging industry is important for providing materials for building homes.

conviction

She spoke with conviction about her beliefs.

contiguity

The north wing of the house is in immediate contiguity to the kitchen.

record label

The singer signed a contract with a new record label.

yob

That yob was shouting and causing a scene at the pub last night.

meld

The two companies will meld their resources to improve their services.

osmosis

In the classroom, learning happens through osmosis when students share ideas and knowledge with each other.

shaman (n)

The shaman performed a ritual to bring good luck to the village.

piecemeal

She prefers to learn new skills piecemeal rather than all at once.

pegged

She pegged the price of the product to ensure it remained affordable for everyone.

no particular

There is no particular reason for my decision.

quotation

We decided to go with the lowest quotation.

sit on your hands

Instead of sitting on your hands, why not volunteer to help with the project?

stubbed

I stubbed my toe on the table leg.

freight (n)

The freight for shipping the boxes was very high.

concatenate

The programmer decided to concatenate the two strings to create a complete sentence.

bodywork

After the accident, the bodywork on my car needed extensive repairs.

monday blues

After a relaxing weekend, I always get the Monday blues when I have to go back to work.

mulligan

She considered her first attempt at baking a disaster, so she decided to take a mulligan and start over.

equable

The equable climate of the region makes it a great place for growing crops.

metabolize

Exercise can help your body metabolize fat more efficiently.

bifocal

My grandmother wears bifocal glasses to read and watch TV.

hillock

A rabbit was hiding behind the hillock in the garden.

hop off

When we reach the station, let's hop off and grab some food.

superlative (adj)

The annual Great Migration of millions of wildebeest and zebras across the plains of the Serengeti is one of the world’s superlative natural events — but finding it isn’t always easy.

power play

In the meeting, she made a power play by interrupting others to push her agenda.

dupe

The con artist managed to dupe many people out of their money.

the heavens open

Just as we got to the park, the heavens opened.

securities

The company issued new securities to raise money for expansion.

drive home

After the meeting, he decided to drive home his main point again.

sizzling

The movie was a sizzling hit, attracting many viewers.

imperturbable

Even during the storm, she remained imperturbable, reassuring everyone around her.

cosine

To find the length of the adjacent side, you can use the cosine function.

spill out

She couldn't hold back her feelings, and they spilled out during the conversation.

supremacism

Many activists work against racial supremacism to promote equality for all people.

gain a foothold

After months of training, she finally gained a foothold in the competitive world of gymnastics.

blind spot

She has a blind spot when it comes to recognizing her own mistakes.

thick and fast

The ideas came thick and fast during the brainstorming session.

daylight robbery

Charging $10 for a bottle of water at the stadium is just daylight robbery.

degenerative

Degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's can affect memory and daily activities.

tied up

He got tied up in a meeting and couldn't answer his phone.

relative poverty

The government is working on programs to reduce relative poverty in urban areas.

cast light on

The documentary cast light on the importance of protecting endangered species.

low-maintenance

She prefers low-maintenance pets, so she chose a fish instead of a dog.

take the shine off

When he canceled at the last minute, it took the shine off the whole party.

more than one way to skin a cat

When fixing a bike, remember there’s more than one way to skin a cat; you can use different tools to get the job done.

inglenook

She decorated the inglenook with soft cushions and warm blankets.

kennels

The kennels were clean and well-maintained, making it a safe place for the dogs.

jump start

We need to jump start our project to meet the deadline.

scrape together

They managed to scrape together some old furniture for their new apartment.

anemone

We saw a colorful anemone while snorkeling in the ocean.

throw the fight

The boxer was accused of throwing the fight to help his friend win the championship.

phoneme

In the word "bat," the phonemes are /b/, /æ/, and /t/.

pickings

The farmer was happy with the pickings from his orchard this year.

happy camper

Even though it rained during the trip, he was still a happy camper because he was with his friends.

vegetate

Sometimes, it's nice to vegetate and not worry about anything for a day.

in all fairness

In all fairness, we should consider his reasons for being late.

Precious stone

The ring was adorned with a sparkling precious stone.

Earing

She wore beautiful gold earrings to the party.

Tiepin

She received a beautiful tiepin as a gift for her birthday.

spoonerism

Instead of saying "You have hissed all my mystery lectures," you might say "You have missed all my history lectures.

on standby

The rescue team is on standby in case of an emergency.

paycheck

I received my paycheck yesterday.

know best

"a mother always knows best where her children are concerned.

pan out

After a lot of hard work, the project finally panned out as we expected.

relation

My relations are similar to me. Genetics I guess.

in glowing terms

The teacher spoke of her student's achievements in glowing terms, highlighting his hard work and dedication.

antenna (n)

The radio antenna is broken.

rollback

The software update caused problems, so we decided to perform a rollback to the previous version.

suction

The doctor used a suction device to remove fluid from the patient's wound.

reputedly

The restaurant is reputedly the best in town.

steep learning curve

Starting a new job can have a steep learning curve, especially if you are learning new software.

pulmonary

The doctor diagnosed her with a pulmonary condition that affects her breathing.

appraise

Before selling the house, they decided to appraise its market value.

when the chips are down

When the chips are down, you can always count on your true friends to support you.

cower

The dog began to cower when it heard the loud thunder.

bill

She watched the pelican catch fish with its large bill.

interchange

The teacher asked the students to interchange their books for a fun activity.

pioneer

The company is a pioneer in developing renewable energy technologies.

collect your thoughts

Before answering the question, she needed to collect her thoughts.

give in

He didn't want to go to the party, but he gave in when his friends insisted.

credential

His credentials include a master's degree and several years of experience.

creditable

Her creditable efforts in the project earned her a special award.

fly economy

I decided to fly economy to save money for my vacation.

zoological

The zoological garden has many different species of animals.

lyrical

The singer's lyrical voice captivated the audience. She wrote a lyrical poem about the beauty of nature. The lyrical style of the novel made it a joy to read.

downturn

The company faced a significant downturn in sales last year.

on the fly

She made changes to the presentation on the fly as the meeting was happening.

on the run

The thief was on the run after stealing the money.

weak-kneed

She was weak-kneed with excitement when she received the good news.

long-awaited

After years of planning, the long-awaited festival is set to begin this weekend.

arcade

We spent the afternoon at the arcade playing all our favorite games.

demographics

Understanding the demographics can help businesses target their products better.

keep the lid on

We need to keep the lid on our excitement until the surprise party starts.

take my fancy

The colorful painting really takes my fancy.

engineering

Left-wing groups engineered a coup against the military government. I'm trying to engineer a meeting between them.

derivative

This movie is a derivative of a famous novel.

threshold (N)

I have a low/high boredom threshold (= I do/don't feel bored easily). He earns £400 a month, well below the threshold for paying tax.

coquette

The coquette enjoyed the attention she received from her admirers.

come into focus

After discussing the project, our goals began to come into focus.

pastel

The walls of her room were painted in pastel shades of pink and blue.

corset

She wore a beautiful corset under her dress for the party.

puff sleeve

The designer showcased a collection featuring colorful puff sleeves.

original

This painting is an original by the artist.

purist

As a language purist, she believed that slang should not be used in formal writing. a person who believes in maintaining the original or traditional form of something, often resisting changes or modern influences

gag me with a spoon

I can't believe she wore that outfit to the party. Gag me with a spoon!

peddling

She was peddling homemade cookies at the local market.

suss out

I need to suss out what happened at the meeting before I make a decision.

jurisdictions

Different jurisdictions may have different laws regarding traffic violations.

bleed into

Her sadness began to bleed into her work, affecting her creativity.

on the move

The children were on the move, running to catch the bus.

provided that

We will go on the trip, provided that the weather is nice.

analog

Her feelings for him were analog to the way she felt about her best friend.

turntable

I love listening to my favorite albums on my turntable.

shuffle (v)

She decided to shuffle the songs on her phone.

grounding

Practicing mindfulness can provide a grounding effect during stressful times. The teacher emphasized the importance of grounding students in basic math skills before moving on to advanced topics.

candle wick

The candle wick needs to be trimmed before lighting for a better flame.

spirits

He enjoys trying different spirits at the bar on weekends.

landmark decision

The judge's landmark decision regarding voting rights sparked a nationwide discussion about fairness in elections.

landslip

The landslip made it dangerous for hikers to continue on the trail.

rope off

During the festival, they roped off the main stage to control the crowd.

bottle bank

I always take my empty bottles to the bottle bank to help the planet.

by all means

By all means, take your time to finish the project.

even-handed

In the meeting, the manager took an even-handed approach to resolve the conflict between the two teams.

shortness

The shortness of the meeting surprised everyone.

anthology

The school library has an anthology of famous children's stories.

foresight

She showed great foresight by saving money for emergencies.

unbundling

The company is unbundling its software packages to give customers more choices.

a win

Our team celebrated a win after the championship game.

at a time

I can only help one person at a time.

from hand to mouth

Many families in the city are struggling, making it hard to provide for their children and living from hand to mouth.

paperboard

She used paperboard to create a model of a house for her school project.

liner

The cake pan has a silicone liner to prevent the cake from sticking.

compost

Many gardeners prefer to use compost, the mixture of decayed organic matter, such as food scraps and yard waste, that is used to improve soil for gardening and farming instead of chemical fertilizers.

onsite

The company provides onsite training for new employees.

in dispute

The two companies are in dispute over the terms of the contract.

setting

The setting of the story is a small village in the mountains.

have an ear for

My sister has an ear for accents; she can imitate them perfectly.

identify with

I really identify with the main character in the book because we have similar struggles.

against the odds

He started his own business and succeeded against the odds, even when many said it was impossible.

fat trimmings

Before cooking the steak, make sure to cut off any fat trimmings.

admit to

They admitted to making a mistake in the project.

join forces

In order to tackle the environmental issues, the community groups joined forces.

bring to life

It's always been an interesting period in history and this film really brought it to life. The novel brings to life a complex man who was not always understood in his lifetime.

cost implications

The manager explained the cost implications of the new project to the team.

make a killing

They opened a new restaurant and made a killing during the summer season.

even steven

"the race was an even-steven affair" "I split the money with my wife even-steven"

bossyboots

She always acts like a bossyboots when we play games.

have your fair share of

We certainly have our share of problems at the moment. She's had her fair share of tragedies in her life.

blab

Don't blab about our plans to anyone!

wing it

She didn't study for the test, but she decided to wing it anyway.

nice work if you can get it

the princess was on her way to some lavish dinner—nice work if you can get it, I thought"

toxicological

Scientists conducted a toxicological study to understand the effects of the new pesticide.

do a number on

After the argument, it seemed like the stress did a number on her health.

split hairs

During the meeting, we spent too much time splitting hairs instead of making a decision.

fatalism

In highly corrupt environments, messages like “everyone pays bribes” do not mobilize resistance — they induce fatalism.

amiable

The amiable host made everyone feel welcome at the party.

romanticize

In movies, filmmakers often romanticize the idea of adventure, making it seem more exciting than it really is.

crash and burn

He thought he could start a new business without a plan, but it crashed and burned within a few months.

oozing

She was oozing confidence as she walked onto the stage.

raddled

After the long journey, she felt raddled and just wanted to rest.

filled with dread

He felt filled with dread when he heard the loud thunder outside.

temperamental

This old car is quite temperamental; it starts perfectly one day and refuses to start the next.

motherlode

After years of searching, she finally found the motherlode of rare coins in her grandmother's attic.

embolden

The teacher's praise helped to embolden the shy student to share her ideas.

space-age

Scientists are developing space-age technology to help us travel to Mars.

champagne taste on a beer budget

"He dreams of owning a luxury sports car, but his salary only allows for a used economy car, so he has champagne taste on a beer budget".

holdover

The old rules were a holdover from the previous management.

in the region of

The project will cost in the region of $10,000.

aggro

He got really aggro when he lost the game. There was some aggro between rival fans at the station.

feed into

likely to raise the issue again, observers said, as he seeks to feed into Trump’s desire to play peacemaker in international conflicts around the world.

martinet

The coach was a martinet, pushing the team to follow every rule without exception.

top brass

The top brass decided to implement new policies to improve employee satisfaction.

dawn breaks

As dawn broke, he started his nuclear mission.

renal

The doctor explained that the patient had renal failure, which means the kidneys were not working properly.

have (got) the hots for someone

She's got the hots for this guy in her office.

plodding

She had a plodding approach to her studies, but she always got good grades.

rube

When he moved to the city, everyone called him a rube because he didn't know how to use the subway.

shan't

I shan't be attending the party this weekend.

deduct

I will deduct the expenses from my total income.

tear-jerking

My sister is very emotional. I would rather watch a comedy with her than a tear-jerking movie!

risk taker

He is known as a risk taker among his friends because he often tries new things.

sequester

The jury was sequestered to ensure they would not be influenced by outside information.

acquiesce (v)

"Sara acquiesced in his decision"

heuristic

The teacher used a heuristic approach to help students understand complex math problems.

wake up and smell the coffee

After failing the test again, she really needs to wake up and smell the coffee about her study habits.

gainsay

It is hard to gainsay the importance of education in a person's life.

take it lying down

After being scolded by his boss, he decided not to take it lying down and spoke up about his concerns.

designer baby

There are ongoing debates about the ethical implications of creating designer babies.

wearable

She bought a new wearable fitness tracker to monitor her daily steps.

make no odds

I don't mind whether you come or not - it makes no odds to me.

espousal

The espousal of new technologies can lead to significant changes in the industry.

do business

Our company wants to do business with international partners.

get your money's worth

I always check reviews before buying a new phone to make sure I get my money's worth.

riposte

After being teased about his new haircut, he had a clever riposte ready that made everyone laugh.

mumble

He mumbled his answer, and the teacher couldn't hear him.

doom-laden

Her doom-laden predictions about the future worried the entire community.

The skunk at the picnic

He acted as the proverbial "skunk at the picnic" by making a rude comment that killed the festive mood at the party.

sequencing

First, we will gather all the materials needed for the project.Next, we will start building the model step by step.Finally, we will present our project to the class.

indiscriminately

The company hired workers indiscriminately, without checking their qualifications.

goldbrick

He always tries to goldbrick during group projects, leaving the hard work to others.

not all there

he's not all there—give him a couple of days to readjust"

fame and fortune

Many people dream of achieving fame and fortune through their talents.

bail out

The government decided to bail out the struggling bank to prevent a financial crisis.

materialism

In a world filled with materialism, it's important to remember the value of friendship and love.

chin music

After the meeting, we enjoyed some chin music over coffee.

make much of

She always makes much of her achievements, even the small ones.

flea market

I love going to the flea market on weekends to find hidden treasures.

straighten out

Can you help me straighten out this misunderstanding?

pharmacist

The pharmacist gave me advice on how to take my medication.

exurb

Many people are choosing to live in exurbs to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life.

do the trick

He tried several methods, but this one finally did the trick.

adieu

As she boarded the train, she waved and said, "Adieu, my friend!

air your dirty laundry

It's not polite to air your dirty laundry in front of strangers.

energy-efficient

Our school is installing energy-efficient windows to keep the building warm in winter.

to tank

The movie was expected to be a hit, but it really tanked at the box office.

bring about

The new law will bring about significant changes in the education system.

decant

The waiter will decant the wine to enhance its flavor.

forester

Every summer, the forester leads a group of volunteers to plant new trees.

discounting

She is discounting his opinion because he has not done enough research.

stepping stone

Getting an internship was a stepping stone to my dream job.

squabble .

The siblings had a squabble over who would get the last piece of cake.

indoctrination

Many people believe that indoctrination can happen in schools if critical thinking is not encouraged.

pullover

I wore my favorite pullover because it was chilly outside.

information overload

After reading so many articles for my project, I felt a sense of information overload.

make a pass at

At the party, he made a pass at her, but she wasn't interested.

five-a-side

We organized a five-a-side match at the local park this weekend.

out in left field

When she suggested we should all wear costumes to the meeting, I thought she was out in left field.

indolent

The indolent cat lay on the couch all day, refusing to play.

in the time-honored fashion

Factories deal with the problem in in the time-honored fashion, by burying the waste in landfill sites..

left holding the bag

The other investors pulled out of the project and we were left holding the bag.

wall of silence

The investigation hit a wall of silence when witnesses refused to talk.

synopsis

The movie's synopsis on the poster gave a glimpse of the story.

blowhard

At the party, he was such a blowhard, telling everyone about his big promotion.

fibrosis

The doctor explained that fibrosis in the lungs can make it hard to breathe.

clubfoot

Many children born with clubfoot can lead normal lives after receiving proper treatment.

internally displaced

go to the trouble to

She really went to the trouble to bake a cake for my birthday.

loose tongue

His loose tongue got him into trouble when he accidentally revealed the surprise party plans.

laud

The teacher lauded the students for their hard work on the project.

offer sacrifices

Many people offer sacrifices during the festival to show their devotion.

soliloquy

The actor delivered a powerful soliloquy that captured the audience's attention.

larking

We spent the afternoon larking about at the beach, building sandcastles.

crochet

I love to crochet blankets for my friends and family.

obstuse

The teacher explained the concept again because some students were being obtuse about it.

fender bender

She was late to work because she got into a fender bender on the way.

squiggly

The squiggly lines on the paper made it look like a doodle.

seaside

The seaside town was filled with colorful shops and delicious seafood restaurants.

groovy

She wore a groovy outfit that everyone admired.

along the lines

We are thinking of a project along the lines of last year's successful event.

graft (n)

There were allegations of graft in the local government, leading to an investigation.

paydirt

After months of searching, they finally found paydirt in the old mine.

cotton swab

I used a cotton swab to clean the small corners of my phone.

integrative

The integrative approach in education helps students learn better. We need an integrative strategy to solve this problem. Her integrative skills make her a great team leader.

ethos

In her speech, she emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong community ethos.

laryngologist

After losing my voice, I decided to visit a laryngologist for help.

feel your presence

I always feel your presence when I walk into the room.

dutch uncle

Sometimes, you need a Dutch uncle to help you see the truth about your work.

rev up

The driver revved up the engine before the race started.

permanent resident

He applied for permanent resident status after living in the country for several years.

every bit as

The movie was every bit as exciting as I expected.

have one foot in the grave

After his last visit to the doctor, he joked that he has one foot in the grave.

aide

The teacher had an aide to help with the classroom activities.

snot

The little boy laughed when he saw the snot on his friend's face.

listen out for

Make sure to listen out for any announcements at the airport.

play gooseberry

She didn't want to play gooseberry on their date, so she decided to stay home.

offerings

The church received many offerings during the holiday season.

gutter

He felt like he was living in the gutter after losing his job.

jockeying

The candidates were jockeying for position in the polls as the election approached.

lurch

We lurch from one crisis to the next".

know it all

Every time we have a discussion, Sarah acts like a know it all, interrupting everyone with her opinions.

refractory

The refractory student refused to follow the teacher's instructions.

orthographic

The spelling bee winner demonstrated exceptional orthographic skill, correctly spelling dozens of challenging words."

mollusk

Many people enjoy eating mollusks like clams and mussels.

paddle your own canoe

After college, I decided it was time to paddle my own canoe and find a job.

ontogeny

The study of ontogeny helps scientists understand how different species develop over time.

set out for

They set out for the mountains to enjoy a weekend hike.

heresy

The scientist's theory was considered heresy by many in the academic community.

cider

We made a delicious apple pie with fresh cider.

fully present

During meditation, practitioners aim to be deeply engrossed in the present moment, releasing all worries about the past or future.

extramural

Many students participate in extramural sports teams to compete against other schools.

temerity

His temerity in challenging the teacher's authority surprised everyone in the class.

blow over

Don't worry about the bad news; it will blow over in a few days.

wee hours

They returned home in the wee hours after the party ended.

fluke

It was just a fluke that I found the lost wallet.

out of left field

When he started talking about aliens, it felt like it was out of left field.

payload

The truck was loaded with a heavy payload of goods for delivery.

heavenward

The bird flew heavenward, soaring high above the trees.

deep satisfaction

He experienced deep satisfaction when he helped his friend succeed.

wrinkle up your nose

She wrinkled up her nose at the strange smell coming from the kitchen. Amy wrinkled her nose in disapproval. "I don't fancy it," she said, wrinkling up her nose. "No, thanks," he replied, wrinkling his nose.

climb down

After a long argument, he had to climb down and accept her point of view.

turn out in force

Many fans turned out in force to support their team during the championship game.

take out

Take out an insurance plan

commute

President Trump commutes the prison sentence of George Santos

overhang

The tree's branches overhang the path, making it a bit tricky to walk through.

counteroffensive

The army launched a counteroffensive to reclaim the territory lost in the previous battle.

geoglyph

The Nazca Lines in Peru are famous geoglyphs that depict various animals and shapes.

narcolepsy (n)

My friend has narcolepsy, so he sometimes falls asleep in class.

cusp

She felt she was on the cusp of a new adventure.

bank statement

The bank sent me my monthly bank statement in the mail.

ribcage

The doctor explained how the ribcage protects the heart and lungs.

winsome

Her winsome smile lit up the room and made everyone feel welcome.

cheap shot

During the debate, one candidate took a cheap shot at the other’s personal life.

cauterize

After the surgery, the surgeon decided to cauterize the area to prevent infection. Years of silence cauterized their feelings about the war but these wounds have now reopened.

breadcrumbing

After months of breadcrumbing, he finally admitted he wasn't ready for a serious relationship.

masticate

It is important to masticate your food well to aid digestion.

outpouring

The community showed an outpouring of support for the family in need. After the news, there was an outpouring of inconsolable grief from the fans.

fecund

The fecund soil in the valley allowed farmers to grow a variety of crops each season.

conducive

Good communication is conducive to a healthy relationship.

menagerie

During the festival, a traveling menagerie came to town, showcasing lions and elephants.

press home your advantage

After scoring, the football team pressed their advantage by aggressively attacking the opponent's weaknesses, leading to another goal.

accounter

The accounter prepared the financial statements for the company.

tongue tied

During the presentation, he felt tongue tied and forgot what he wanted to say.

desirous

The children were desirous of ice cream on a hot summer day.

compare notes

After the class, we decided to compare notes to see if we understood the lesson the same way.

allergen

Many people carry an epinephrine auto-injector in case they encounter an allergen.

wayside

The children found wildflowers growing at the wayside.

clap of thunder

As the storm approached, we heard a loud clap of thunder in the distance.

vindication

After years of hard work, her success was a vindication of her efforts.

latex

The doctor wore latex gloves to ensure safety during the examination.

hoodwink

The magician managed to hoodwink the audience with his amazing tricks.

resonate

His words resonate in my mind long after the conversation. The building resonates with historic significance. The significance of those great stories resonates down the centuries.

eat crow

She had to eat crow after claiming she would never need help, but then asked for assistance.

lynchpin

The manager is the lynchpin of our team, ensuring everyone works well together.

undivided attention

The research team maintained an exclusive focus on finding a solution, which ultimately led to their breakthrough.

swan song

The musician's new album is his swan song, marking the end of his career.

synapse

During the experiment, they observed changes in the synapse between the two neurons.

you snooze you lose

If you want to get the best seats for the concert, remember: you snooze, you lose!

my dogs are barking

During the long shopping trip, I told my friend, "I need to sit down; my dogs are barking!

sleepwear

Many people choose colorful sleepwear to feel cheerful before bed.

socialization

Socialization helps individuals develop their communication skills.

you complete me

In the movie, the main character tells his partner, "Without you, I feel lost. You complete me.

marijuana

In informal language, "a joint" often refers to a rolled cigarette containing marijuana.

pathos

The movie used pathos to make the audience feel the character's pain and struggles.

fifth wheel

Sometimes I look down the line of guitar players and think that I am just the fifth wheel here, that these guys don't need me in this band.

fray around the edges

After months of stress, I could feel my patience fraying around the edges.

asymptomatic

During the health check, she learned that she was asymptomatic despite her concerns.

keep hold

Keep hold of the rope while climbing the hill.

vacuole

In animal cells, vacuoles are smaller and often involved in transporting materials.

aerial tram

Many tourists enjoy riding the aerial tram for a unique view of the city.

inanimate

Inanimate things like stones cannot feel pain.

ball and chain

She felt like her job was a ball and chain, keeping her from pursuing her dreams.

pagination

The pagination of the book made it easy to find specific chapters.

Indomitable

Her indomitable spirit inspired everyone around her to keep fighting.

gendered

For women especially, these practices are often the only way to access public goods in a deeply gendered landscape.

transfer student

She became a transfer student when her family moved to another state.

convert (n)

a Christian/Buddhist convert convert to I'm a recent convert to vegetarianism/organic gardening, and I need some advice.

a name to conjure with

In the world of technology, Apple is a name to conjure with.

progenitor (n)

The scientist studied the progenitor of modern birds to understand their evolution.

invoice

The company sent me an invoice for the services provided last month.

cinch

Getting to the park is a cinch; it's just down the street.

saintly

He spoke with a saintly calmness that put everyone at ease.

shift gears

After the meeting, we decided to shift gears and focus on the new project.

off the table

The proposal for a new playground is off the table after the budget cuts.

glue gun

I used a glue gun to fix my broken toy.

paint can

I opened the paint can to start my new art project.

birdhouse

Every spring, we check the birdhouse to see if any birds have made it their home.

glitter

She wore a dress that glittered under the lights.

handiwork

He took pride in his handiwork when he finished building the birdhouse.

dally

She likes to dally with her friends at the park after school.

clunky

The new app is great, but the interface is a bit clunky.

resolve to

I resolve to exercise more this year.

mason

The mason carefully placed each brick to ensure the wall was strong.

lop

The gardener decided to lop the overgrown branches to let in more sunlight.

lopsided

The lopsided table wobbled every time someone leaned on it.

upcycling

Upcycling is a fun way to create unique gifts from things you no longer need.

endeavors

She put a lot of time and energy into her endeavors to learn the piano.

camaraderie

During the camping trip, we developed a strong sense of camaraderie.

fiasco

The party turned into a fiasco when the cake fell on the floor.

gluey

Her gluey explanation left everyone confused about the project.

fervor

She spoke with fervor about her love for painting and how it makes her feel alive.

suffuse (v)

The warm sunlight began to suffuse the room, creating a cozy atmosphere.

yen

I have a yen for adventure and want to travel the world.

ephemera

She collected ephemera from her travels, like maps and brochures, to remember her adventures.

gatherings

Community gatherings help us connect with our neighbors.

catalyze

The new policy will catalyze improvements in the education system.

eclectic (adj)

Her eclectic taste in music includes everything from classical to hip-hop.

peddling (v)

She was peddling homemade cookies at the local market.

bespoke (adj)

He ordered a bespoke suit for his wedding.

pivot to

The company decided to pivot to online sales to reach more customers.

coaster

I placed my glass on the coaster to avoid leaving a ring on the table.

agendas

The teacher handed out the agendas for the class meeting.

finesse

She handled the difficult conversation with great finesse.

maelstrom

The ship was caught in a dangerous maelstrom, spinning wildly in the water.

splatter

When the car drove through the puddle, water splattered onto the sidewalk.

sequins

She added sequins to her costume to make it more eye-catching for the performance.

veritable

The garden was a veritable paradise, filled with colorful flowers and lush greenery.

buzz with

The café was buzzing with customers on Saturday morning.

overflow

Her joy overflowed when she received the good news.

non-complaining

She is a non-complaining team member who always helps others without fuss.

desuetude

The old traditions fell into desuetude as the younger generation embraced modern practices.

hold with

I hold with the idea that everyone should be treated equally.

legible

The teacher asked the students to write in a legible manner so everyone could read their work.

tolerable

The weather today is tolerable, so we can still go for a walk.

lose the thread

She was explaining her story, but I lost the thread when she started talking about different characters.

struggle against

They are struggling against climate change to protect the environment.

intrusion

The intrusion of the media into her private life was overwhelming.

relaxation technique

Many people find that practicing a relaxation technique before bed helps them sleep better.

cruising

The car was cruising smoothly on the highway.

express concern

The teacher expressed concern about the student's grades.

get hold of

It took me a while to get hold of the instructions for the game.

periscope

The submarine used a periscope to look above the water's surface.

syncope

The patient experienced syncope after standing up too quickly.

call into question

The scientist's findings were called into question by other researchers.

predictive

The predictive model helped the company understand future sales trends.

illuminating

The teacher gave an illuminating lecture that helped us understand the topic better.

equitably

The teacher distributed the candies equitably among all the students.

puckish

He played a puckish prank on his friends, hiding their shoes before they left for school.

nibble

During the movie, we nibbled on popcorn and candy.

inoperative

Due to a power outage, the computer system is inoperative.

radial

In the map, the roads are arranged in a radial layout, leading out from the city center.

neglect (n)

The garden fell into neglect after no one watered the plants.

horndog

Ever since he started dating, he's been acting like a total horndog.

skeeve

Seeing that old food in the fridge really skeeved me out.

heartstring

Her story about helping the homeless pulled at my heartstrings.

alumnus

As an alumnus of the school, he often returns to give motivational talks to current students.

nay

The king raised his hand and declared, "Nay, we shall not go to war.

prologue

The prologue of the novel gave us a glimpse into the main character's past.

in my stead

He sent his assistant in his stead to handle the negotiations.

ragtag

She wore a ragtag outfit that included mismatched socks and a colorful hat.

short fuse

She lost her job because her short fuse made it hard to work with others.

rally the troops

During the meeting, the manager rallied the troops to work harder on the upcoming project.

weal

The community worked together to ensure the weal of all its members.

stick in the mud []

My friend is such a stick in the mud; he never wants to go out and try new restaurants.

profundity

The professor's lecture was filled with such profundity that it left the students in deep thought.

one of those things

Sometimes you lose your keys, and it's just one of those things.

play into your hands

"they accused him of playing into the hands of the enemy"

play chicken

In the game, the players had to play chicken by standing on the edge of the cliff and seeing who would jump first.

vestibular

The vestibular system helps us keep our balance when we move.

docked

The ship docked at the harbor early in the morning.

backpedal

She decided to backpedal on her plans after hearing her friends' concerns.

boots on the ground

The government decided to send boots on the ground to help stabilize the region.

loose end

We need to tie up all the loose ends before the project deadline.

lewd

The comedian's lewd jokes made some audience members uncomfortable.

lustful

The story explored the lustful desires of the characters.

tit for tat

In the game, if one player cheats, the other often responds with a tit for tat move.

going rate

The going rate for a babysitter in our neighborhood is about $15 per hour.

tinker

He likes to tinker with old cars in his garage.

big business

Big business often has the resources to influence government policies.

please yourself

If you want to go to the party, please yourself, but I’m staying home.

many moons ago

We used to play in the park together, but that was many moons ago.

neck of the woods

There are some great restaurants in my neck of the woods that you should try.

fighting fit

The coach said the team was fighting fit and ready to win the championship.

imprimatur

The article was published with the imprimatur of the leading scientific journal.

block out

She used thick curtains to block out the bright sunlight in her room.

motley (N)

"a motley crew of discontents and zealots"

true crime

She read a fascinating true crime book about a famous detective.

elitist

The elitist club only accepted members from wealthy families.

foie gras

During the holiday season, foie gras is a popular dish at festive dinners.

wholesome

Regular exercise is a wholesome habit for a healthy life.

little alternative

Left with little alternative, he resorted to arpartheid.

from the get go

The team worked well together from the get go, which helped them win the championship.

gooey

The chocolate cake was warm and gooey in the middle.

a lick and a promise

she would give a lick and a promise to her parlor, and sit down to await the American gentleman"

build up savings

It’s important to build up savings for unexpected expenses.

not soil your hands

He always tries to stay out of office politics; he prefers not to soil his hands.

to the point

The teacher asked us to keep our essays to the point.

quack

He was called a quack because he was giving medical advice without a license.

polled

The school polled the students to find out their favorite subjects.

stint

She had a short stint as a teacher before becoming a writer.

stinting

He was stinting on the supplies, which made the project difficult to complete.

diversions

Reading books is one of my favorite diversions after a long day at school.

come again?

Person A: "I saw a huge hyena and three prides of lions at the park! Person B: "Come again? What the fuck'd you just say?"

have a sting in its tail

The book started off as a fun adventure, but it had a sting in its tail that made me cry at the end.

lothario

Why ain't we so close Ain't a lothario Dreams of a rose That you hold with me

bear the hallmarks

This explosion bears all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack. All these threats bear the hallmark of security service activity. It has all the hallmarks of a successful movie.

train in

highly trained in The company offers programs to train in leadership skills for new managers.

cover over

The gardener decided to cover over the plants to protect them from the frost.

pop over

I'm going to pop over to Sarah's house for a quick chat.

fall down on

She fell down on her math test because she didn't study enough.

level with

I need to level with you about what happened at the party.

chance encounter

The author wrote about a chance encounter that changed her life forever.

diamond in the rough

The young artist is a diamond in the rough; with more practice, she will become amazing.

come down the pike

We heard that some exciting changes are coming down the pike for our school.

raw dog

She was nervous about raw dogging the presentation without any notes.

quash (v)

The judge decided to quash the previous ruling because it was based on incorrect information.

build up

He is trying to build up his confidence before the big presentation.

irascible

Her irascible nature made it difficult for her to keep friends.

outlying

We decided to explore the outlying areas of the national park.

tapestry

The artist's work is like a tapestry of different cultures and ideas.

in stark contrast

Her cheerful attitude was in stark contrast to his gloomy mood.

kick to the curb

After their argument, she decided to kick him to the curb.

concealment

She was accused of concealment when she didn't tell her parents about the broken vase.

beehive

The beekeeper checked the beehive for honey production.

tick over

During the winter, the business just ticked over with a few customers.

reserve the right

The company reserves the right to change its policies at any time.

dislodge

They are enforced not by police, but by peers, families, supervisors or elders — making them powerful and hard to dislodge.

seditious

The government took action against the seditious pamphlets that were being distributed in the city.

disclaimer

The website included a disclaimer stating that the information is for educational purposes only.

cluck

She clucked her tongue in disapproval when he forgot his homework.

deposition (n)

The lawyer prepared for the deposition of the witness to gather important information for the case.

payable

Please make your check payable to WWF.

adversary

The lawyer faced a tough adversary in court.

snarf

He snarfed his soda and made a funny noise while drinking it.

sourcing

Last year, the company centralized its sourcing of raw materials.

preclude

His lack of experience may preclude him from getting the job.

unruffled

Despite the chaos around her, she remained unruffled and continued to work efficiently.

queer the pitch

“Jack was just getting into his call to action when someone in the audience started shouting in an attempt to queer the pitch.”

ford

The travelers found a safe ford to cross the river.

rise through the ranks

He started as an intern and quickly rose through the ranks to become a team leader.

mark time

The team had to mark time until the project was approved.

cringeworthy

Watching that old video of my dance performance was so cringeworthy.

per se

The movie wasn't bad, per se, but it could have been better.

mojo

After winning the game, she felt like she had her mojo back.

litany

The teacher listened to the student's litany of reasons for being late to class.

on your best behavior

''I'd just met his parents for the first time so I was on my best behavior.''

paddy wagon

I was in a paddy wagon when the president was assiniorated.

consign (v)

She decided to consign her old clothes to a charity shop.

enclave

The bodies of 28 hostages who are presumed dead are still in the enclave.

in living memory

The invention of the internet is one of the most significant changes in living memory.

southpaw

As a southpaw, she found it challenging to use tools designed for right-handed people.

extravaganza

The annual music festival was an extravaganza of talent and creativity.

timorous

Her timorous voice barely reached the audience during her speech.

highly skilled

She is a highly skilled musician who plays several instruments.

maunder

She tends to maunder when she is nervous, making it hard for others to follow her thoughts.

ride on a wave

The new president is riding (on) a wave of popularity.

angle for

She was angling for a promotion by working extra hours.

browned off

I'm really browned off with all the homework we have to do this week.

alluvium

Geologists study alluvium to understand how rivers shape the landscape over time.

at a push

I can finish the project by tomorrow, but only at a push.

intent (n)

Her intent was to help the community by volunteering.

me time

This weekend, I plan to have some me time to read my favorite book.

fair game

During the debate, the politician said that his opponent was fair game for tough questions.

driver

Technology is a major driver of change. We have a vision of an internet that is free and open and is a driver of innovation.

preclude (V)

The heavy rain precluded us from going to the park.

anomaly (n)

The scientist discovered an anomaly in the experiment results.

regimentation

The regimentation of the army ensures that everyone follows the same rules and procedures.

find a place in

He is trying to find a place in the team after moving to a new city.

quarrelsome

Her quarrelsome nature made it hard for her to keep friends.

deterrent

The high fines act as a deterrent to speeding.

molest

The teacher was fired for allegedly trying to molest a student.

effect an entrance

He practiced his speech to effect an entrance that would leave the audience in awe.

high sign

When I saw my friend across the street, I gave her a high sign to say hello.

Party pooper

We wanted to go to the amusement park, but he said it was too hot. What a party pooper!

goldbrick (v)

He always tries to goldbrick during group projects, leaving the hard work to others.

transmit sounds

Animals use their voices to transmit sounds to each other.

fubar

The project was fubar after the team missed all the deadlines.

computer literacy

Having good computer literacy is essential for finding a job in today's world.

pack heat

He always feels safer when he decides to pack heat during his night walks.

blue chip

The company is a blue chip stock, making it a safe choice for investors.

freight train

people do not see the freight train of fiscal chaos coming"

have a few irons in the fire

If that job application doesn't work out I've got a couple more irons in the fire.If that job application doesn't work out I've got a couple more irons in the fire.

labyrinth

She felt like she was in a labyrinth trying to solve the mystery.

fitting

He made a fitting speech at the ceremony.

pop your cork

, "My mother popped her cork when her clone popped its clogs

offender

The police are looking for the offender who stole the car.

servings

We need to prepare enough servings for all the guests at the party.

whizz

The car whizzed past us on the highway.

in print

Many important studies are now in print, making it easier for researchers to find reliable information.

plaster

I need to put a plaster on my cut. /ˈplɑː.stər/

lay into

When I forgot to do my homework, my teacher laid into me in front of the whole class.

check over

I need to check over my homework before I turn it in.

try-outs

Many students showed up for the try-outs, hoping to make the soccer team.

How does it work?

Learning with DuoCards

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