Insight Advanced Unit 7

all in one

all together on one occasion

all the time in the world

a lot of time available

anti-Semitic

showing hatred of Jews or involving unfair treatment of Jews

at a leisurely pace

without hurrying

bark up the wrong tree

to have the wrong idea about how to get or achieve something

bitterly opposed

disagreeing extremely strongly with something and trying to stop it

brisk

quick; busy

brush stroke

a mark made by moving a brush once across a surface

building block

a toy block or a part that forms a larger structure

by the back door

in an unfair or indirect way

call it a day

to decide or agree to stop doing something

canvas

strong, heavy material used for tents or for artists to paint on

captivating

taking all your attention; very attractive and interesting

catchy

pleasing and easily remembered

celebrated

famous for having good qualities

come up against a brick wall

to be unable to make progress because of a difficulty that stops you

comprehensible

that can be understood

diminutive

very small

discordant

not sounding pleasant together

down the line

at some point during an activity or process

drive sb up the wall

make someone crazy or angry

elaborate

very complicated and detailed; carefully prepared and organized

enchanting

attractive and pleasing

enigmatic

mysterious and difficult to understand

enthusiastically welcomed

producing a very positive reaction with excitement and interest

ethereal

extremely delicate and light; seeming to belong to another world

forefront

important or leading position in a group or activity

frenetic

full of energy and activity in a chaotic way

genre

a particular style of literature, art, film, or music

glass ceiling

an invisible barrier preventing women or minorities from advancing to top jobs

highbrow

interested in serious artistic or cultural ideas

highly controversial

causing a great deal of public disagreement

hit the roof

to become very angry

hugely influential

having a great deal of influence

immediately obvious

easy to see or understand without delay

impenetrable

impossible to understand

intellectual

using a person’s ability to think logically and understand things

intensely private

never wanting to share thoughts or feelings with others

intricate

having many parts and small details that fit together

jaunty

lively; showing confidence and self-satisfaction

lavishly decorated

made to look attractive with generous decorations

lay the foundations

to establish the basic idea or principle on which something is built

lilting

rising and falling in a pleasant way

little by little

slowly; gradually

lowbrow

not interested in serious artistic or cultural ideas

majestic

impressive because of size or beauty

measured

slow and careful; showing control

medium

the material or form an artist uses

mellow

soft, rich and pleasant

menacing

seeming likely to cause harm or danger

motif

a repeated design or pattern in art, literature or music

multifarious

of many different kinds; having great variety

offensive

rude or upsetting

once in a blue moon

very rarely

open doors

to provide opportunities for success

overrated

too highly thought of or valued

palette

the range of colours used by an artist

perspective

the effect of depth and distance in a picture

post-industrial

no longer relying on heavy industry

pressed for time

in a hurry

profoundly moving

causing very deep feelings of sadness or sympathy

race against the clock

a situation where you must finish something very fast

raucous

sounding loud and rough

realistic

accepting what is actually possible to do or achieve

repellent

very unpleasant; causing strong dislike

sedate

slow, calm and relaxed

sentimental

connected with emotions rather than reason

silhouette

a dark shape or outline against a light background

soothing

making someone feel calmer

strike the right note

to do or say something suitable for a particular occasion

superstructure

a structure built on top of something else

surging

moving quickly and with force in a particular direction

theme

the main idea in a talk, writing, or artwork

thundering

making a very loud deep noise

tone

a shade of colour

transparent

easy to understand

unconventional

not following traditional ways

vibrant

full of life and energy