Word list - Modern Family

poacher

noun someone who catches and kills animals illegally

provoke

verb to cause a reaction, especially a negative one

hick

noun a person from the countryside who is considered to be stupid and without experience

discern

verb to see, recognize, or understand something that is not clear

snob

noun a person who respects and likes only people who are of a high social class, and/or a person who has extremely high standards who is not satisfied by the things that ordinary people like

diaper

noun a square of thick soft paper or cloth that is fastened around a baby's bottom and between its legs to absorb its urine and solid waste

typo

noun a small mistake in a text made when it was typed or printed

thrust

verb to push suddenly and strongly

airfoil

noun an object or shape with a curved surface designed to give the most possible lift (= the force on the wing of a bird or aircraft that keeps it in the air as it moves forward) with the least possible drag (= the force that acts against the forward movement of something that is passing through the air), used for example as part of an aircraft

trail

noun a path through a countryside, mountain, or forest area, often made or used for a particular purpose

jerk

noun a stupid person, usually a man

curb

noun a raised edge along the side of a street, often forming part of a path for people to walk on

hold that thought

idiom used for telling someone to remember an idea or thought that has just been mentioned, especially because it will be useful later

horsey

adjective looking like a horse, usually in a way that is not attractive

beneath

preposition in or to a lower position than someone or something, under someone or something

eye candy

noun someone or something that is attractive but not very interesting or useful

arrangement

noun an agreement between two people or groups about how something happens or will happen

screwdriver

noun a tool for turning screws, consisting of a handle joined to a metal rod shaped at one end to fit in the cut in the top of the screw

calloused

adjective If feet or hands are calloused, they are covered with hard areas of skin

lotion

noun a liquid that you put on your skin in order to protect it, improve its condition, or make it smell pleasant

tamp down

phrasal verb to reduce the amount, level, size, or importance of something

scoot

verb to go quickly

grab

verb to take hold of something or someone suddenly and roughly

grill

verb to cook food over fire or hot coals, usually on a metal frame

tone something down

phrasal verb to make something less forceful or offensive, usually a piece of writing or a speech

slightly

adverb a little

flake

noun a small, thin piece of something, especially if it has come from a surface covered with a layer of something

heed

verb to pay attention to something, especially advice or a warning

burro

noun a Spanish word meaning "donkey" (= an animal like a small horse with long ears), used in the US to mean a feral donkey (= one that is living wild but was previously kept by people) in the western US, or a small donkey used as a working animal for carrying things

noose

noun one end of a rope tied to form a circle that can be tightened round something such as a person's neck to hang (= kill) them

labor

noun practical work, esp. work that involves physical effort

grounded

adjective Someone who is grounded makes good decisions and does not say or do stupid things

hot tub

noun a large, usually wooden, container full of hot water in which more than one person can sit

rub someone up the wrong way

idiom to annoy someone without intending to

fishnet

noun a type of material that looks like net

toddler

noun a young child, especially one who is learning or has recently learned to walk

put your foot down

idiom to use your authority to stop something happening

loudmouth

noun a person who talks a lot, especially in an offensive or stupid way

spill

noun an amount of something that has come out of a container

mogul

noun an important person who is very rich or powerful

creepy

adjective strange or unnatural and making you feel frightened

cottage

noun a small, simple house, typically in the countryside

patience

noun the ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties, or to suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed

bind

verb to tie something or someone tightly or to fasten something

pot sticker

noun a type of Chinese dumpling (= a small piece of pastry filled with meat or vegetables), cooked in steam, then fried, and served with sauces

uptight

adjective worried or nervous and not able to relax

though

conjunction despite the fact that

longing

noun a feeling of wanting something or someone very much

shoot

verb to try to score points for yourself or your team, in sports involving a ball, by kicking, hitting, or throwing the ball towards the goal

over

preposition during something, or while doing something

boob

noun a woman's breast

pleasure

noun enjoyment, happiness, or satisfaction, or something that gives this

bejewelled

adjective wearing a lot of jewellery or decorated with precious stones

exhale

verb to send air out of your lungs

straight out

phrase If you tell someone something straight out, you say it directly and honestly, without trying to make what you are saying more pleasant

spirit

noun a particular way of thinking, feeling, or behaving, especially a way that is typical of a particular group of people, an activity, a time, or a place

in someone's pocket

idiom in a situation where someone has power or control over you

underneath

preposition, adverb under or below

just

adverb exactly or equally

soak

verb to make something very wet, or (of liquid) to be absorbed in large amounts

frosting

noun a sweet food used to cover or fill cakes, made from sugar and water or sugar and butter

pretzel

noun a hard salty biscuit that has been baked in a stick or knot shape

stammer

verb to speak or say something with unusual pauses or repeated sounds, either because of speech problems or because of fear or nervousness

goose

noun a large water bird similar to a duck but larger, or the meat from this bird

gloomy

adjective unhappy and without hope

ripped

adjective having strong, well-developed muscles that can be seen through the skin

jackass

noun a person who behaves in a silly way

bullfighter

noun a person who fights and sometimes kills a bull in a bullfight (= a form of public entertainment)

confrontation

noun a fight or argument

senior

noun a student in their final year of high school or university

avoid

verb to prevent something from happening or to not allow yourself to do something

relieve

verb to make an unpleasant feeling, such as pain or worry, less strong

joyful

adjective very happy

point something out

phrasal verb to tell someone about some information, often because you believe they do not know it or have forgotten it

pepper

verb to direct something suddenly and repeatedly at someone, as if attacking the person

tear

verb to move very quickly

reassuring

adjective making you feel less worried

nutrient

noun any substance that plants or animals need in order to live and grow

retain

verb to keep or continue to have something

maternal

adjective behaving or feeling in the way that a mother does towards her child, especially in a kind, loving way

nest

noun a structure built by birds or insects to leave their eggs in to develop, and by some other animals to give birth or live in

awake

adjective not sleeping

wide

adjective used when describing how long the distance between the two sides of something is or when asking for this information

barely

adverb by the smallest amount

passionate

adjective having, showing, or involving strong sexual feelings

flagpole

noun a long pole that a flag is fastened to

swing

verb to move easily and without interruption backwards and forwards or from one side to the other, especially from a fixed point, or to cause something or someone to do this

silk

noun a delicate, soft type of cloth made from a thread produced by silkworms, or the thread itself

for goodness' sake

idiom I am surprised or annoyed by this

blow up

phrasal verb to suddenly become very angry

staring

adjective looking at something for a long time with the eyes wide open, especially when surprised, frightened, or thinking

afterwards

adverb after the time mentioned

follow (something) through

phrasal verb to do what needs to be done to complete something

uncool

adjective embarrassing and not fashionable

camcorder

noun a small video camera that can be held easily in one hand

bound

adjective certain or extremely likely to happen

hang on/upon something

phrasal verb to give careful attention to something, especially something that someone says

embarrass

verb to cause someone to feel nervous, worried, or uncomfortable

as well

idiom also; too

headset

noun a set of headphones, especially one with a microphone attached to it