vocabs

Pronounced

Noticeable or spoken

Ruffle the feathers

Upset, annoy someone (idiom)

Induce

Cause sth to happen, persuade, bring about an effect

Underfoot

Being in the way

Subtext

underlying meaning or message that isn’t stated directly

Unilateral

Done, decided, or undertaken by one person, group, or country without the agreement of others.

Procure

To obtain or acquire something, especially with effort or through official means.

Snappy

Quick and efficient; stylish and attractive; or short and irritable in tone (depending on context).

Defect (noun)

A flaw or imperfection.

Defect (verb)

To abandon one side, country, or organization to join another.

Bandwagon

A popular trend or movement that many people join because it is already successful.

Objective

Not influenced by other people’s opinion.

Shine a light on (something)

To draw attention to or reveal something that was previously overlooked or hidden.

Mirage

An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions; figuratively, something that appears real or attainable but is actually false or illusory.

Contrition

Sincere remorse or guilt for having done something wrong.

Go up someone’s high side

An idiom meaning to angrily criticize, confront, or scold someone.

Dog that caught the car

An idiom describing someone who desperately pursued a goal but, once they achieved it, didn’t know what to do next.

Lather

A foamy substance made by soap; to cover with soap or foam.

Wound up

Emotionally tense.

Hidden in plain sight

Clearly visible but overlooked because no one notices it.

Confide

To share private or personal information with someone you trust.

Spry

Active, energetic, and agile, especially despite old age.

Reprimand

To scold or officially express disapproval; a formal scolding.

Frisk

To pat someone down to search for weapons or contraband.

Conflagration

A large, destructive fire; figuratively, a widespread conflict.

Formidable

Inspiring respect or fear because of great strength, skill, or difficulty.

Incumbent

The current holder of an office, position, or responsibility.

Exonerate

To officially clear someone of blame or guilt.

Ensnare

To trap or entangle someone, physically or figuratively.

Indulge

To allow oneself or someone else to enjoy something, especially excessively.

Theocracy

A system of government ruled by religious leaders or based on religious law.

Ravish

To delight or captivate greatly; (archaic/legal) to rape.

Broach

To introduce or bring up a topic, especially a difficult or sensitive one.

Statesman

A respected and experienced political leader known for wisdom and integrity.

Purgatory

(Christian theology) A state of purification before heaven; figuratively, a state of prolonged suffering or waiting.

Ambush

A surprise attack from a concealed position; to attack or confront unexpectedly.

Brisk

Quick, energetic, and lively; pleasantly cool and fresh; active and busy.

Entice

To attract or tempt someone with something appealing.

Slick

Smooth, polished, or cleverly persuasive (sometimes excessively so).

Malaise

A general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness, or lack of enthusiasm.

Whiff

A slight smell or a small trace of something; also a complete miss.

Slouch

To sit or stand with poor posture; 'no slouch' means someone is quite capable.

Docile

Calm, obedient, and easy to control.

Condemnation

Strong disapproval or criticism.

Premeditated

Planned or thought out in advance.

Hoist

To lift or raise something, especially something heavy.

Pragmatic

Practical and realistic rather than idealistic.

Constitutional

Relating to a constitution or legal system; or relating to one’s physical health.

Take a hike

To tell someone to go away (often rudely).

Efficacy

The ability to produce the intended result.

Collate

To collect, organize, and compare information or documents.

Homicidal

Having the intent or tendency to kill another person.

Pull the rug out from under someone

To suddenly remove support or undermine someone unexpectedly.

Lubricate

To reduce friction; figuratively, to make a process run more smoothly.

Assent

To express agreement or approval.

Eloquent

Fluent, persuasive, and expressive in speaking or writing.

Cognizant (of)

Aware or conscious of something.

Through the roof

Extremely high or increasing dramatically.

Scapegoat

Someone unfairly blamed for the mistakes of others.

Keep out of someone’s hair

To avoid bothering or interfering with someone.

Keep something under your hat

To keep something secret.

Rise to the occasion

To perform well when faced with a challenge.

Rise above it

To behave maturely and not let negativity or insults affect you.

Substantive

Meaningful and important; dealing with the actual issue rather than something superficial.

Ceremonial

Symbolic or formal rather than functional or practical.

Take it up a notch

Increase the level of intensity, quality, or effort.

Hasty

Done too quickly and without enough thought.

Usher in

Introduce or mark the beginning of something new.

Reinvigorate

Give new energy or enthusiasm to something.

Read someone in

Give someone the necessary background information, especially about a confidential matter.

Avert

Successfully avoid sth bad

Thrust someone into

Suddenly force someone into a difficult situation or role.

Impervious to

Unaffected by or not allowing sth to get thru

Incapacitated

Unable to function because of illness or injury.

Stand-up guy

An honest, reliable, and trustworthy man.

Take on a life of its own

Develop independently and become difficult to control.

Liaise (with)

Communicate and coordinate with another person or group.

Belligerent

Hostile and aggressive.

Optics

The way a situation or decision appears to other people.

Misconstrue

Misunderstand or interpret incorrectly.

Debacle

A complete and embarrassing failure.

Corroborate

Confirm or support with additional evidence.

Have legs

Have the potential to continue, succeed, or remain important.

Get a rise out of someone

Deliberately provoke an emotional reaction.

Clandestine

Secret or concealed, especially for an improper purpose.

Unvarnished

Honest and direct, without making something sound better than it is.

In tandem

Together and in coordination.

Renege (on)

Fail to keep a promise or agreement.

Inexplicable

Impossible or very difficult to explain.

Regime

A government or an established system of rules or management.

Ravenous

Extremely hungry.

Relentless

Continuing without stopping or weakening.

Spitballing

Informally suggesting ideas without committing to them.

Fortitude

Courage and strength in dealing with difficulties.

Moratorium

A temporary pause or suspension of an activity or policy.

Bluster

Loud, forceful talk intended to intimidate but often lacking substance.

Strenuous

Requiring great physical or mental effort.

Debilitated

Weakened and unable to function normally.

Scrutiny

Critical observation or examination.

Ubiquitous

Exists everywhere.