Weather, Idioms, and Academic Vocabulary

Fill-in-the-blank practice cards covering weather vocabulary, meteorological idioms, and academic life terms from the lecture.

muggy

Humid air is described as __________.

hazy

Air that contains very fine solid and/or liquid particles so it is opalescent in appearance and subdues colours is called __________.

nippy

An informal word meaning chilly is __________.

to spit

An informal term meaning to drizzle is __________.

deluge

A severe flood or an overwhelming amount of rain is known as a __________.

driving rain

Rain that is falling very hard (and usually blows you sideways) is called __________.

gale

A very strong wind, often used in nautical contexts, is a __________.

sweltering

Conditions that are uncomfortably hot and humid are described as __________.

unrelenting heat

Continuous and intense heat without relief is called __________.

stifling heat

Heat that is oppressively hot is described as __________.

parched

A place or thirsty person that is extremely dry due to lack of rain/water is __________.

sunny spells

Periods of sunshine that occur between periods of overcast skies or rain are called __________.

scattered showers

Occasional light rain in different areas is referred to as __________.

a blast of icy wind

A sudden influx of extremely cold air is called __________.

howling winds

Strong winds producing a loud noise are called __________.

to engulf

To completely cover or surround something, often with water or lava, is __________

to wreak havoc

To cause widespread damage or chaos is __________.

to bear the brunt

To suffer the worst part of something is __________.

battered

Something that is severely damaged or worn down by wind, rain, or storms is __________.

inundate

To overwhelm or flood with water or problems is to __________.

crippling drought

A drought so severe it prevents normal life or activity is called a __________.

unprecedented flooding

Flooding greater than ever known before is described as __________.

dire warnings

Serious and urgent alerts about danger are known as __________.

to sweep away

When water or a strong force carries things or people off, it is __________.

to subside

To become less intense, violent, or severe is __________.

snowed under

An idiom meaning very busy with too much work is __________.

to weather the storm

An idiom meaning to survive a difficult situation is __________.

bolt from the blue

A sudden and unexpected event is idiomatically described as a __________.

in the eye of the storm

Being at the center of a difficult situation is being __________.

it never rains but it pours

The British English idiom meaning problems always happen together is __________.

when it rains it pours

The American English idiom meaning problems always happen together is __________.

dean

The head of a faculty or department at a university is called a __________.

faculty

Academic staff or a group of university departments concerned with related disciples is called __________.

dorms

Student housing on or near a university campus where students live during the academic year, especially in the US, is referred to as __________.

hall of residence

A university building providing accommodation for students, especially in the UK, is called a __________.

to undertake

To begin or carry out a task, project, or responsibility is __________.

to thrive

To develop successfully or be very successful in a particular environment is __________.

to flourish

To grow or develop successfully and be healthy or productive is __________.

to enroll on

In British English, to officially register for a course or program at an educational institution is __________.

to enrol in

In American English, to officially register for a course or program at an educational institution is __________.

to pore over

To read or study something carefully for a long period of time is __________.

to fall behind

To fail to make as much progress as others or as expected is __________.

to understand the gist

To comprehend the general meaning of something without focusing on details is __________.

gain insight into

A deep or accurate understanding of a person, situation, or concept is gained when you __________.

word length/word count

The number of words required or allowed in an essay or written task is the __________.

to flunk a test

To fail an exam or test is informally called __________.

to cut class

To deliberately miss a class, especially informally, is __________.

to be swamped

To be extremely busy or overwhelmed with work can be phrased as __________.

to burn the candle at both ends

To work or be active from early morning until late at night, exhausting oneself, is __________.

to brush up on

To improve or refresh one’s knowledge of something already learned is __________.

to cram for a test

To study intensively just before an exam is __________.

to ace a test/exam

To do extremely well on a test or exam is __________.