Vocabulary from Lecture Notes – Idioms & Key Terms

105 vocabulary flashcards covering idioms, phrasal verbs, and key terms from the provided lecture notes.

To give preference to sb/sth

to treat someone or something as more important than others; to prioritize

Feet of clay

a hidden weakness or flaw in someone who is otherwise admired

The long and short of sth

the summary; the main point

Through thick and thin

in both good and bad times; regardless of difficulties

High and low

everywhere; in all places

Straight and narrow

the morally correct and proper way to live

Diagnose sb with sth

to identify an illness a person has

Beat sb to the punch/draw

to do or obtain something before someone else does

Be impervious to

not affected or influenced by

Gross income

total earnings before taxes or deductions

Net income

earnings after taxes and deductions

Scratch

to cut or mark the surface of something lightly; a slight cut or mark

Scrape

to rub or drag a hard or sharp object across a surface, removing material

Screw

a metal fastener with a helical thread; to fasten with such a device

Shave

to remove hair or a thin layer from a surface with a blade

Paramount importance

of the greatest possible significance

Roam

to move about or travel aimlessly or unsystematically

Scatter

to throw or spread things over a wide area

Hit the deadlines

to become very important or prominent (idiomatic use in notes)

Unknown quantity

a person or thing whose abilities or influence are not yet known

Second in command

the person ranking just below the leader or commander

Have sb on

to deceive or trick someone

Lay waste

to devastate or destroy completely

Work one's fingers to the bone

to work extremely hard

Break the mold

to do something in a completely new or different way

Argue the toss

to dispute or complain about a decision already made

Pour scorn on sb/sth

to mock or express contempt for someone or something

Look like something the cat dragged in

to appear very untidy, dirty, or exhausted

A teacher's pet

a student favored by the teacher

A sitting duck

an easy target; someone vulnerable to attack

An eager beaver

a very enthusiastic and hard-working person

Bite one's head off

to speak angrily to someone without good reason

Dig one's heels in

to refuse to change one’s opinion or actions

Keep one's chin up

to remain cheerful and optimistic in difficult times

Stick one's neck out

to take a risk for someone or speak up boldly

Give sb the third degree

to question someone thoroughly and aggressively

Pull the wool over one's eyes

to deceive or trick someone

Be abhorrent to

to be repugnant or disgusting to someone

Could surely/well

is very likely to; has a high possibility of

Be liable to

to be likely to experience or suffer from something

Be prone to

to have a tendency to do or suffer from something

Be due to

to be expected or scheduled to happen

Properly appreciate

to value or enjoy something in the correct manner

Against all the odds

despite great difficulties or unlikelihood

Run out of steam

to lose energy or enthusiasm

Budding

beginning to develop or show promise

Come in for criticism

to receive blame or disapproval

Set one's sights on

to decide to achieve a particular goal

Explicitly

clearly and directly, leaving no room for doubt

Credibly

in a way that can be believed; convincingly

Mildly

to a slight or moderate extent; gently

Decently

in a respectable or proper manner

Converge

to come together at a point; to meet

Grope

to move or feel about blindly with the hands

Strive

to make great efforts; to struggle toward a goal

Wrench

to pull or twist suddenly and violently

Drastic

severe or radical in effect

Preclude

to prevent something from happening; to make impossible

Bewilder

to confuse or puzzle completely

Divert

to change the direction of; to turn aside

Facets/Aspects of life

different sides or elements of human existence

Autonomy

independence or self-governance

Dignity

the quality of being worthy of honor and respect

In the context of

within the setting or circumstances of

Adhere to

to stick to or follow faithfully

Cling to

to hold tightly; to refuse to let go of

Hit the roof

to become very angry

See pink elephants

to experience hallucinations, often from drunkenness

Make my blood boil

to make me extremely angry

Bring the house down

to receive loud applause or laughter from an audience

Endow

to provide with a quality, ability, or financial gift

Make oneself understood

to communicate so others comprehend

Dilute

to make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding another substance

Dissipate

to disperse or scatter; to fade or vanish

Abolish

to formally put an end to

A heavy heart

a feeling of deep sadness or sorrow

Cut corners

to do something quickly and carelessly to save time or money

Cut it fine

to allow very little time for something; to be almost late

Cut short

to stop or interrupt something before its natural end

Cut me dead

to ignore someone deliberately

Gloom and doom

a feeling or attitude of pessimism and despair

High and dry

left without help or resources; stranded

Ups and downs

periods of good and bad fortune

Hue and cry

loud public outcry or protest

Get too much on one's plate

to have too many tasks or responsibilities

Abundantly clear

extremely obvious; unmistakable

All the more

even greater or stronger than before

Let off

to excuse or not punish someone

On the spot

immediately; at once

Under the misapprehension that

believing something that is not true

Atone

to make amends for wrongdoing

Grasp one's attention

to capture or hold someone’s interest

Resort to sth/doing sth

to turn to something as a final option

Eminent

famous and respected within a profession

Imminent

about to happen very soon

Any means possible

by every possible method

Tap into

to make use of; to draw from a resource

Hit on

to suddenly think of an idea

Line up

to arrange or organize people or things in order

Track down

to find after searching