UNIT 2: THINKING AND LEARNING VOCABULARY

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering nouns, verbs, adjectives, phrasal verbs, idioms, and collocations from the Unit 2: Thinking and Learning lecture notes.

assess (v)

to make a judgement about the nature or quality of somebody/something

assume (v)

to think or accept that something is true but without having proof of it

baffle (v)

to confuse somebody completely; to be too difficult or strange for somebody to understand or explain

biased (adj)

tending to show favour towards or against one group of people or one opinion for personal reasons; making unfair judgements

contemplate (v)

to think about whether you should do something, or how you should do something for a long period of time

cynical (adj)

believing that people only do things to help themselves rather than for good or honest reasons

deduce (v)

to form an opinion about something based on the information or evidence that is available; to infer

deliberate (adj)

done on purpose rather than by accident; intentional or planned

dilemma (n)

a situation that makes problems, often one in which you have to make a very difficult choice between things of equal importance

dubious (adj)

doubtful about something or suspicious

estimate (v/n)

to form an idea of the cost, size, or value of something without calculating it exactly

genius (n)

a person who is unusually intelligent or artistic, or who has a very high level of skill, especially in one area

guesswork (n)

the process of trying to find an answer by guessing when you do not have enough information to be sure

hunch (n)

a feeling that something is true even though you do not have any evidence to prove it

ideology (n)

a set of ideas that an economic or political system is based on

ingenious (adj)

a person being very intelligent and skilful, or a thing being skilfully made or planned involving new ideas and methods

intuition (n)

the ability to know something by using your feelings rather than considering the facts

notion (n)

an idea, a belief or an understanding of something

paradox (n)

a situation or statement that seems impossible or difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics

plausible (adj)

reasonable and likely to be true

ponder (v)

to think about something carefully for a period of time; to consider

query (v/n)

a question asking for information or expressing a doubt; the act of asking a question

speculate (v)

to form an opinion about something without knowing all the details or facts

academic (adj/n)

connected with education in schools and universities, or a person who teaches and does research at a university

conscientious (adj)

taking care to do things carefully and correctly

cram (v)

to learn a lot of things in a short time in preparation for an exam; to swot

curriculum (n)

the subjects that are included in a course of study or taught in a school or college

plagiarise (v)

to copy another person’s ideas, words, or work and pretend that they are your own

brush up (on)

to improve your knowledge of something already learned but partly forgotten

come a(round) to

to change your opinion of something, often influenced by another person's opinion

hit upon

to think of an idea when you didn't expect or intend to, especially one that solves a problem

mull over

to spend time thinking carefully about a plan or proposal; to consider

puzzle out

to find the answer to a difficult or confusing problem by thinking carefully; to work out

swot up (on)

to study a particular subject very hard, especially in order to prepare for an exam

go to your head

something that makes a person think they are very important and makes them a less pleasant person

have/keep your wits about you

to be able to think quickly and make sensible decisions

not have a leg to stand on

to be in a situation in which you cannot prove something

not see the wood for the trees

to be unable to get a general understanding of a situation because you are too worried about the details

quick/slow on the uptake

to understand things easily or with difficulty

round the bend

mentally confused or unable to act in a reasonable way; to become crazy

take stock (of)

to think carefully about a situation or event and form an opinion about it so you can decide what to do

take into account

to consider or remember something when judging a situation; to take into consideration

by all accounts

according to what other people say or information gathered

hang in the balance

if it is not certain what will happen to something

pick one's brain

to ask someone's advice about a subject the person knows a lot about

foregone conclusion

a result that is obvious to everyone even before it happens

beyond your wildest dreams

to a degree or in a way you had never thought possible

make a mental note

to make a special effort to remember something

have/bear in mind

to remember to consider something when thinking about or doing something else

in two minds about

unable to make a decision or being hesitant

slip one's mind

to forget something

put into perspective

to compare something to other things so that it can be accurately and fairly judged

out of the question

an event that cannot possibly happen

set/put the record straight

to write or say something in order to make the true facts known

unassuming (adj)

modest

conceivable (adj)

possible

decisive (adj)

showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively; resolute

judicious (adj)

careful, wise, and showing good judgement

opinionated (adj)

clinging to one's own opinions; stubborn or obstinate

rationalise (v)

to find a logical reason to explain something that is difficult to understand