English_set 3

condone

to forgive or overlook an offense

uphill battle

a difficult fight

dependency ratio

comparing the working to the non-working parts of the population

reproach

to find fault with, blame

be out of the loop

not know something that a select group of people knows (v.s. in the loop)

irreparable

(adj.) incapable of being repaired or rectified

on the flipside

opposite

multifarious

having great variety; numerous and diverse

spawn

to give rise to; to produce in large numbers

gladiator

A person trained to fight another person to the death for public entertainment

gild

cover with a thin layer of gold

graffito

An ancient drawing or writing scratched on stone, plaster or other hard surface

frescoes

Paintings made on wet plaster walls

flatly

without emotion

emulate

to imitate

didactic

intended to teach

ingenious

clever; resourceful

envisage

to form a mental picture

hard-nosed

realistic and determined; tough-minded(informal)

acumen(n.)

keen insight 敏銳

gauntlet

an armored or protective glove; a challenge

gamesmanship

The use of dubious methods, that are not strictly illegal, to gain an advantage

adept at

skilled at

litany

lengthy recitation; repetitive chant

falter

start to lose strength or momentum

pivotal

(adj.) vitally important, essential

hinge on

to depend on

maverick

one who is independent and resists adherence to a group

rafter

A wooden beam that supports a roof

foal

baby horse

nestle

to settle down comfortably; to hold lovingly

enmity

hostility

hearken

to listen attentively

tidings

news, information

heed

to pay attention to something, especially advice or a warning

unscathed

wholly unharmed, not injured

flank

the side or edge of a military formation

superannuated

retired because of age or infirmity

cockerel

young male chicken

contemptuous

scornful

rheumy

moist, damp, wet (especially of air)

inebriate

to intoxicate(v.)/ someone who has drunk too much alcohol(n.)

taciturn

(adj.) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

incumbent

(adj.) obligatory, required; (n.) one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of

subsist

(v.) to remain alive, manage to make a living or maintain life; to persist or continue

contend with

deal with a difficult situation

bon mot

a witty remark or saying

poignant

evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

geriatric

Pertaining to the treatment of the aged

demented

mentally ill; insane

rascal

a mischievous person or animal

ornery

bad-tempered and combative

loony bin

institution for mentally ill people

foundry

a workshop or factory for casting metal

gnash one's teeth

to express a strong emotion, usually rage

sermon

A speech intended to provide religious instruction

exhort

(v.) to urge strongly, advise earnestly

weld

to join one piece of metal to another by heating them until the edges melt together

bout

match; short period of great activity; Ex. wrestling bout; bout of drinking/flu

a bout of/with

a short period of illness or involvement in an activity

expletive

an interjection to lend emphasis; sometimes, a profanity

scraggy

lean or thin; scrawny

posthumous

after death

monotheistic

believing in one god

importune

(v.) to trouble with demands; to beg for insistently

progeny

children or descendants

paddock

a small field or enclosure where horses are kept or exercised

earshot

the range or distance over which one can hear or be heard

steeple

a tall tower rising from the roof of a building

in the vicinity of

surrounding area

traipse [in/around/through]

o walk from one place to another, often feeling tired or bored

unnerving

causing anxiety or nervousness

vestige

a trace or evidence of something that once existed

spittle

saliva

disconcerting

causing one to feel unsettled

subdue

to bring under control

to vie for sth

to compete with sb for sth

astringent

substance that shrinks tissues and checks flow of blood

indelible

not able to be erased or removed; memorable

appease

(v.) to make calm, soothe; to relieve, satisfy; to yield to

quizzical

(adj.) puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal

thwart

(v.) to oppose successfully; to prevent, frustrate

codger

an elderly man, especially one who is old-fashioned or eccentric

stammer

to stutter

bugger

an offensive word for someone who is very annoying or unpleasant (Australian)

bairn

(Scottish) child

ostensible

stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so

slat

thin strip of wood

turnkey

a program or product that the vendor executes without further involvement from the client

in lieu of

instead of

chagrin

(n.) irritation or humiliation caused by disappointment or frustration; (v.) to cause such a feeling

beckon

to signal or summon, as by nodding or waving/ it is likely to happen e.g. economic advantages beckoned.

sojourn

a temporary stay

caveat emptor

Latin term for "buyer beware"

burgeoning

expanding or growing rapidly

red-herring

something that draws attention away from the main issue

anesthesia

loss of sensation

sticking point

is a point in a discussion on which it is not possible to reach an agreement

bulimia

an eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating, usually of high-calorie foods, followed by vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise

dreary

depressing and boring