Comprehensive English Vocabulary & Idiomatic Expressions

Vocabulary practice flashcards providing definitions for key terms, idioms, collocations, and compound words from the extensive lecture vocabulary index.

abject poverty

A severe state of extreme and demoralizing poverty in which basic human needs for survival are not met.

all the rage

Extremely popular, fashionable, or in widespread demand at a particular time.

as thick as thieves

Extremely close, intimate friends who share confidences and spend a significant amount of time together.

ballpark figure

A rough estimate or general approximation of a numerical value.

besotted (with)

Completely infatuated, enamored, or obsessed with someone or something.

biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal species and ecological life within a particular habitat or globally.

breadline

The threshold of extreme poverty at which a person has barely enough money to purchase essential food and survive.

caesarean (section)

A surgical delivery of a baby through incisions made in the mother's abdominal wall and uterus.

carte blanche

Full discretionary authority or complete freedom to act as one sees fit.

civil disobedience

The deliberate and nonviolent refusal to obey specific laws or governmental directives as a form of protest.

cold calling

The solicitation of prospective clients via phone calls or in-person visits without any prior contact or appointment.

compulsory redundancy

Mandatory termination of employment carried out by an employer due to organizational restructuring or economic downturn.

congestion charge

A fee imposed on motor vehicles entering designated heavily congested urban areas to deter traffic.

couch potato

A sedentary person who spends a substantial amount of time sitting and watching television with very little exercise.

culture vulture

A person who has a voracious passion for the arts, museum visits, literature, and cultural activities.

demographic projections

Forecasts regarding future population size, age distribution, and structural changes based on statistical trends.

designer baby

A baby whose genetic characteristics have been artificially chosen or modified to exclude diseases or ensure desired traits.

doomsday scenario

A hypothetical prediction outlining the worst conceivable catastrophic collapse of civilization or the natural world.

dress code

A set of formal or customary rules regarding permissible or expected attire in a workplace, school, or event.

eradicate poverty

To completely eliminate and wipe out impoverishment and severe economic deprivation across a community or region.

err on the side of caution

To act with excessive care and prudence rather than taking unnecessary or dangerous risks.

facial recognition technology

A computer system capable of analyzing facial geometry and identifying or authenticating an individual from a digital image.

food miles

The distance agricultural produce and food products travel from the point of origin or farm to the end consumer.

gas-guzzler

A motor vehicle with very low fuel efficiency that consumes excessively large amounts of fuel.

get off the beaten track

To travel to places that are remote, unconventional, or rarely visited by mainstream tourists.

glass ceiling

An invisible, unacknowledged systemic barrier that prevents women and minority groups from ascending to higher managerial levels.

hand in glove with

Working in exceedingly close partnership, alignment, or collusion with another person or entity.

hot-desking

The system of sharing desks among multiple employees on a flexible basis rather than assigning dedicated desks.

in vitro fertilisation

A clinical procedure in which an egg is fertilised by sperm in a laboratory container outside the human body.

insider trading

The illicit practice of buying or selling securities using confidential, non-public material information for financial gain.

keyhole surgery

Minimally invasive operative surgery executed through tiny incisions using fiber-optic cameras and micro-instruments.

level playing field

A fair situation in which all competitors operate under the same rules and enjoy equal opportunities to succeed.

loss leader

An item priced below its production or acquisition cost to entice customers into a retail store to buy other profitable products.

make ends meet

To earn just enough income to cover necessary household expenses and daily financial commitments.

media hype

Intensive, exaggerated journalistic coverage or public promotion designed to manufacture excitement around an issue or product.

move the goalposts

To unfairly alter the rules, parameters, or expectations of an activity while it is already underway.

netiquette

The informal code of courteous and appropriate communication and behavior across internet forums, emails, and networks.

off the cuff

Done or said spontaneously without previous preparation, planning, or rehearsal.

pecking order

The established rank, hierarchy, or progression of authority and privilege within a group or organization.

phishing

The deceptive practice of masquerading as a trustworthy entity to swindle individuals into divulging confidential information like passwords.

purchasing power

The capacity of a given amount of money to buy commodities and services at current price levels.

put your foot in it

To inadvertently say something indiscreet, awkward, or insulting that causes embarrassment or hurt feelings.

red tape

Excessive bureaucratic paperwork, administrative formalities, and rigid rules that hamper and slow down decision-making.

rule of thumb

A practical, broadly accurate principle or guide rooted in direct experience rather than scientific calculation.

see eye to eye

To be in complete accord or agreement on a specific perspective, opinion, or plan.

skeleton staff

The bare minimum number of workers required to maintain critical operations in an establishment during holidays or crises.

strapped for cash

Experiencing a severe, short-term shortage of available funds or disposable money.

take something with a pinch of salt

To treat a statement or piece of news with healthy skepticism rather than believing it entirely at face value.

tongue-in-cheek

Expressed ironically, humorously, or not meant to be taken in a strictly serious manner.

zero hours contract

An employment arrangement that does not specify or guarantee any minimum number of working hours for an employee.