Vocabulary 6

to leave a place quickly, especially because you do not want to be caught

skedaddle (spoken) /skɪˈdædl/

When she comes back, I’m gonna have to skedaddle

an area of interest or activity

realm /relm/

Her interests are in the realm of practical politics.

the economic/political realm

the realm of art/literature/music

a rank or level of authority in an organization, business etc, or the people at that level

echelon /ˈeʃəlɒn $ -lɑːn/

upper/higher/lower echelons the upper echelons of government 

Their clients are drawn from the highest echelons of society.

not operating correctly or looking right

out of whack

The printer’s out of whack again.

It throws the whole list out of whack and we start over with a clean slate.

Their priorities are seriously out of whack.

the respect and admiration that someone or something gets because of their success or important position in society

prestige /preˈstiːʒ/

the prestige of having your work shown at a top London gallery 

The king wanted to enhance his prestige through war. 

This little-known British firm has now gained considerable prestige.

a small factory where workers are paid very little and work many hours in very bad conditions

sweatshop

sweatshop labor/conditions/products/workers The report claims many toy companies only worry about sweatshop conditions during periods of bad publicity.

something or someone that is pathetic is so useless, unsuccessful, or weak that they annoy you

pathetic

You’re pathetic! Here, let me do it.

I know it sounds pathetic now, but at the time I was frightened.

official orders or laws stopping trade, communication etc with another country, as a way of forcing its leaders to make political changes

sanctions [plural] cấm vận

sanctions against US sanctions against Cuba 

a resolution to impose sanctions (=start using sanctions) on North Korea

if an unpleasant feeling engulfs you, you feel it very strongly 

engulf /ɪnˈɡʌlf/

despair so great it threatened to engulf him

to completely surround or cover something

engulf /ɪnˈɡʌlf/

The building was engulfed in flames.

a formal discussion that takes place among a group of people in front of an audience, for example on television

panel discussion: buổi toạ đàm

Moderator (điều phối) - Panelists (diễn giả) - audience (khán giả)

The three-day conference included a craft fair, panel discussions, and a keynote address/speech.

củng cố trí nhớ

memory consolidation

Memory consolidation may be one function of sleep

not treating a patient enough or quickly enough for a disease, injury, or condition

Undertreatment

The undertreatment of chronic pain conditions remainsa major concern.

to make it more difficult for something to happen or more difficult for someone to do something

impede

Although he's shy, it certainly hasn't impeded his careerin any way.

Storms at sea impeded our progress.

a medical condition that makes someone stop breathing for a short time, especially when they are sleeping

Sleep apnea

a treatment for pain and disease that involves pushing special needles into parts of the body 

acupuncture /ˈæk.jə.pʌŋk.tʃər/

Acupuncture originated in China.

easy to understand or be certain about

clear-cut = definite (a) rõ ràng, dứt khoát

There is not always a clear-cut distinction between right and wrong.

an action or event that causes difficulty or sadness for someone

blow

Joe resigned, which was a severe blow because we needed him desperately. 

His mother’s death was a shattering blow. 

The election result dealt a further blow to the party. 

The factory closures came as a blow to the local economy. 

The final blow for many firms was the government’s abolition of import duties

a situation in which you have a lot of problems that seem to be caused by bad luck

adversity

his courage in the face of adversity

a hard hit with someone’s hand, a tool, or a weapon

blow

She died from a heavy blow to the head. 

He struck a blow (tung 1 cú đánh) which threw her to the floor. 

Martin received a blow on the nose.

to delay something until a later date

defer

defer st until/to st

Further discussion on the proposal will be deferred until April. 

The committee deferred their decision.

a terrible and unexpected event that causes a lot of damage or suffering

calamity /kəˈlæməti/ SYN disaster 

It will be a calamity for farmers if the crops fail again.

something/somebody that is difficult to deal with, and that is worrying or annoying, troublesome, irritating

trial

be a trial (to/for somebody) 

My brothers and I were always a real trial to my parents. 

the trials and tribulations of running a business

very bad luck, or something that happens to you as a result of bad luck

misfortune /mɪsˈfɔːtʃən/

It seems the banks always profit from farmers’ misfortunes.

have the misfortune to do/of doing something: The French soldiers had the misfortune to be caught in the crossfire.

a small accident or mistake that does not have very serious results 

mishap

I had a slight mishap with one of the glasses. 

a series of mishaps

The fire began because of a mishap in the kitchen.

a process of testing to find out whether something works effectively and is safe 

trial

a new drug that is undergoing clinical trials (thử nghiệm lâm sàng)

a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant impairment in intellectual and adaptive functioning

intellectually disabled - Intellectual disability: thiểu năng trí tuệ

to think about one particular thing and nothing else

one-track mind - have a one-track mind

And no, Bill, I wasn't talking about sex - you have a one-track mind

to change TV stations quickly to see what is on TV or to search for a good show to watch

flip through the channels

But sometimes you'll be flipping through the channels and come across something really interesting.

a gentle movement of your hand over something (vuốt)

stroke

I gave her hair a gentle stroke

When you had high expectations for something, but it disappointed you

letdown

Is it just me, or was that a bit of a letdown?

That's a real letdown.

the physical process of transporting commercial products and merchandise goods and cargo.

freight transport = freight forwarding

a playful way to talk about beauty products and cosmetics.

Lotions and potions

After washing my face, I have a couple of lotions and potions

a person who does things without considering the possible dangers or problems first

impulsive

Rosa was impulsive and sometimes regretted things she’d done. 

In a burst of impulsive generosity, I offered to pay.

happening or done in a way that is not planned or organized

haphazard (a) /ˌhæpˈhæzəd/

The student's purpose is specific, yet his method could be described as haphazard.

I continued my studies in a rather haphazard way.

công trình công cộng, nhà sinh hoạt cộng đồng (parks, library, nhà rông…)

communal buildings

converge

to make a group of people or animals have to leave the place where they normally live 

displace

Fifty thousand people have been displaced by the fighting.

to take the place or position of something or someone

displace = replace 

Coal has been displaced by natural gas as a major source of energy. 

immigrants who displace US workers in the job market

to lose something for a short time by putting it in the wrong place

misplace = mislay 

Oh dear, I seem to have misplaced the letter.

ăn cay

do spice

I don’t really do spice

something you say which appears as if you are complaining or embarrassed, but is really a way of telling people about something that you are very proud of

humblebrag (n) - humblebrag (v)

do a humble brag

She posted a classic humblebrag about spending$2,000 on a handbag "because I'm so terrible with money".

rắn hổ mang

cobra

to let food become cold, usually in the fridge

chill

The cookie dough is chilling in the fridge

so damaged that it can’t be fixed

beyond repair

hard physical effort, especially when cleaning or doing manual work

elbow grease

I’m using some elbow grease here

to give someone the official right to do or have something

entitle

be entitled to (do) st: Full-time employees are entitled to receive health insurance.

entitle sb to st: Membership entitles you to the monthly journal.

completely stupid or unreasonable

absurd = ridiculous

quite/slightly/completely etc absurd It seems quite absurd to expect anyone to drive for 3 hours just for a 20-minute meeting.

It seems an absurd idea.

strange, unfamiliar, or a little surprising 

peculiar

There was a peculiar smell in the kitchen. 

Something peculiar is going on. 

It seems very peculiar that no one noticed Kay had gone.

the weight or number of cases and bags that you are allowed to take onto an aircraft without paying extra

baggage allowance: hành lý miễn cước

an extra payment on top of your regular salary—often a legal requirement or standard benefit—designed to cover vacation expenses

holiday allowance = holiday pay

What is the company's policy on holiday allowance?

Do you offer a holiday allowance on top of the base salary?

an idea, memory etc that is hazy is not clear or exact

hazy = vague 

My memories of the holiday are rather hazy.

She was a little hazy about the details.

air that is hazy is not clear because there is a lot of smoke, dust, or mist in it

hazy

Sunny but hazy weather is predicted for the weekend.

The view to the west was hazy.

a situation that is unusual or amusing because something strange happens, or the opposite of what is expected happens or is true 

irony

Life is full of little ironies.

tragic/cruel/bitter etc irony The tragic irony is that the drug was supposed to save lives.

rich and successful 

prosperous = wealthy

a prosperous landowner

to think about a difficult decision very carefully and with a lot of effort

agonize over/about 

All the way home she agonized about what she should do.

(formal) a process in which you do something that has been carefully planned

execution = implementation

the fact of finding interesting or valuable things by chance

serendipity /ˌserənˈdɪpəti/

Part of this process is serendipity: allowing for chance finds, and accepting that what is found is not necessarily what was being looked for.

a reason for doing something, especially something that you will get as a result

inducement (n) Sự thúc đẩy, động lực, sự khuyến khích

inducement to do st: Businesses were offered inducements to move to the area.

the ability to understand a situation only after it has happened

Hindsight /ˈhaɪndsaɪt/ (n) Sự nhận thức muộn, sự nhìn nhận lại sau khi sự việc đã xảy ra.

With hindsight, I should have seen the warning signs.

formal the events that happen during a period of time, which often lead to a particular aim or result 

trajectory /trəˈdʒektəri/ quỹ đạo

The decision was certain to affect the trajectory of French politics for some time to come.

the curved path of an object that has been fired or thrown through the air

trajectory /trəˈdʒektəri/ quỹ đạo

reviewing, updating, or relearning information you already know but may have partially forgotten

refresh one’s knowledge

Mandating yearly examinations could momentarily refresh drivers' knowledge, yet its nationwide execution would inevitably trigger a logistical nightmare.

a situation where the day-to-day operations, decision-making processes, or policy implementations of an organization or government stall completely

administrative gridlock: tê liệt hành chính

If millions of motorists are legally required to re-sit their exams every twelve months, public administrative systems will rapidly plunge into an administrative gridlock.

rust out happens when there isn’t enough challenge to motivate you to keep going in your job

rust out # burnout

You might be suffering from rust out

continually checking to see if it is time to stop work yet

clock-watching/clockwatcher

you often find yourself clock-watching at work, willing the time to pass

having no feelings or interest towards something

apathetic

Starting to feel apathetic and disengaged towards your job is a clear sign you might be suffering from rust out

having little interest in something that you are doing

disengaged

giving too much attention to small details that are not important in a way that annoys other people

persnickety /pəˈsnɪk.ə.ti/ = nitpicking

He's real persnickety about his shirts.

someone or something that has become very popular with a particular group of people

cult (n)

the cult of celebrity

the cult of convenience

to settle into a warm comfortable position

snuggle

snuggle up/down/against etc She snuggled up in Lea's lap to listen to the story.

A series of courses or classes that provide a pathway for students to meet specific educational requirements

bridge program

The bridge program helps students meet language requirements.

laws or by-laws that seek to limit the amount of noise in a given area.

noise ordinances

What are the noise ordinances in my area?

not working, not active, or doing nothing

idle (C1)

stand idle Half these factories now stand idle.

sit idle It's crazy to have £7,000 sitting idle in the bank.

The machines are standing idle because there are no spare parts.

noticing or realizing something

conscious = aware

conscious of (doing) st: I became conscious of someone watching me. 

conscious of the fact that: I was very conscious of the fact that I had to make a good impression

without any particular purpose

idle (C2)

idle chatter/gossip/speculation

This is no idle threat.

lazy and not willing to work

idle (C2)

bone idle He's a very able student, he's just bone idle (= very lazy).

conversation about people's private lives that is probably not true and not based on any facts

idle gossip (disapproving)

I don't like all this idle gossip.

The rumors turn out to be nothing more than idle gossip invented by bored employees

disorganized and forgetful (all wrapped into one)

scatterbrained

Olin's so scatterbrained, he left his keys in the fridge this morning.

unfriendly and keep their distance to others

standoffish

He came across as quite standoffish at first, but he's actually really lovely!

someone isn’t just keeping their distance but they are downright rude; not polite or friendly

churlish

My neighbor is so churlish. He never says hello and slams the door when anyone walks past.

someone who can’t make up their mind about anything

wishy-washy

Stop being so wishy-washy and just pick a restaurant already!

You're so wishy-washy.

Please stop being so wishy-washy.

awake and able to understand what is happening around you

conscious # unconscious

The driver was still conscious when the ambulance arrived.

thinking a lot about or concerned about something

politically/environmentally/socially conscious environmentally conscious consumers

health-conscious/fashion-conscious: Many employers are becoming more safety-conscious.

conscious of She was very conscious of security.

cá cơm

anchovy /ˈæntʃəvi/ (anchovies)

cá thu

mackerel /ˈmæk.rəl/

cải thìa

bok choi/choy /ˌbɒk ˈtʃɔɪ/

rau má

pennywort

rau muống

water spinach

rau diếp cá

fish mint

đậu bắp

okra

xà lách xoong

watercress

If you get something out of your system, you get rid of a wish or emotion, especially a negative one, by allowing yourself to express it

get st out of your system

I went and bought that dress I was thinking about all day - I had to get it out of my system!

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