EXAM ESSENTIAL CPE (5 TESTS)

FEATURE PROMINENTLY

indicate in a way that is important; to a large extent

• A PROMINENT FEATURE

BE A VEHICLE FOR STH

= BE A MEANS OF STH

BACKGROUND VS CONTEXT

• BACKGROUND = provide the broader, overarching historical or situational framework which provides a general understanding of a subject/situation/event (historical, cultural, social, or biographical information)

• CONTEXT = offer the immediate, specific details and conditions // circumstances surrounding a particular event/statement/situation that clarify meaning and significance (specific time, place, circumstances

DEMAND MONEY WITH MENACES

demand money using threats

HOIST

to lift something heavy, sometimes using ropes or a machine

• BE HOISTED WITH/BY ONE’S OWN PETARD = MAKE A ROD FOR ONE’S OWN BACK

HOIST A FLAG

to raise a flag to the top of a pole using a rope

STRANGE CONTRAPTION

a device or machine that looks awkward or old-fashioned, especially one that you do not know how to use

PROSELYTIZER

a person who tries to persuade other people to accept a particular religious or political belief, idea, or way of life

• PROSELYTE

• DISCIPLE // VOTARY // PROPONENT OF

THREAD (N)

• [of book/discussion/speech] its story or the way that it develops, one part connecting with another

  • LOSE THE THREAD

• a connected group of pieces of writing on the internet, where people are talking about a particular subject

• something continuous that connects different ideas or thoughts together

THREAD (V)

• to put something long and thin such as string or thread through a narrow hole or into a small space

  • THREAD THE NEEDLE

• to move forwards, often changing direction in order to avoid people or things

TENANT

a person who pays rent for the use of land or a building

• TENEMENT

• PRECIPICE // TINDERBOX

CARCASS

• the body of a dead animal, especially a large one that is soon to be cut up as meat or eaten by wild animals

• the frame of an old or broken object, car, ship, etc.

SAGELY

in a wise way, especially as a result of great experience

LEGITIMACY

• the quality of being reasonable and acceptable

• the quality of being legal

QUIP

a humorous and clever remark

= WISECRACK ; ONE-LINER

• REPARTEE ; REJOINDER ; RIPOSTE ; REOTRT

THE FAG END OF STH

the last, and often worst, part of something

BE A FAG TO V

to be boring and tiring to do

PHILOSOPHICALLY

in a way that calmly accepts a difficult situation

SPATTER

to drop small drops of liquid, etc. on a surface, or (of liquid) to fall, especially noisily, in small drops

PERVERSE

strange and not what most people would expect or enjoy

ELDRITCH

strange and frightening

UNCANNY

strange or mysterious, often in a way that is slightly frightening

WRYLY

in a way that shows you find a bad or difficult situation slightly funny

WISTFUL

sad and thinking about something that is impossible or in the past

• WORK // FIGURE out

• ANTOHER // OTHER

• THEREBY

OPEN CLOZE 1

COMPOSE ONE’S FEATURES // THOUGHTS

to try to make yourself look or feel calm after being angry or upset

• GET A GRIP ON ONESELF

• GET AHOLD OF ONESELF

• RECONCILE // RESIGN ONESELF TO

• COME TO TERMS WITH // GET TO GRIPS WITH

• KEEP ONE’S POWDER DRY

• SORT ONESELF OUT

GET TOUGH WITH

severe in limiting what is allowed or in punishing people who do not obey rules or laws

• CLAMP // BEAR DOWN ON

• TAKE A HARD LINE // PASS ON

• DESPITE EVIDENCE // RUMOURS TO THE CONTRARY

POCKMARKED

• marked with pockmarks

  • POCKMARKED FACE

• having a lot of holes or low areas

CRONE

an unpleasant or ugly old woman

• A POTTED VERSION OF

WISP

a small, thin, untidy bunch of hair

FLASH A LOOK/SMILE AT SB

suddenly look at or smile at SB

SWIRL

• to move quickly with a twisting, circular movement, or to make something do this

  • [of stories/ideas about ___] often be heard but may not be based on fact or may not always say the same thing

WHEREBY

by which way or method

THEREBY

as a result of this action

HENCEFORTH

starting from this time

= HEREAFTER

THENCEFORTH

after that; from that time forward

= THEREAFTER

WHEREUPON

immediately after which

THEREUPON

• immediately after something that is mentioned

• on the thing that has been mentioned

ERTSWHILE

= previous ; former

AUTOTELIC

[of work of art // activity] existing for its own purpose and not for any other reason

WHEREFORE

for what reason; why

PROWLER

someone who moves around quietly in a place, trying not to be seen, often before committing a crime

GRISTLY

full of gristle (= a solid white substance in meat that is difficult to eat)

STRAGGLY

growing or spreading out in an untidy way

BESPATTERED WITH STH

covered with spots of liquid

TOUSLE

to make someone's hair untidy, for example by rubbing it, or, of the wind, by blowing it

• UNKEMPT ; DISHEVELLED ; BEDRAGGLED

ESCARPMENT

a steep slope or cliff, such as one that marks the edge of a range of hills

CRAGGY

• quite roughly formed and has loose skin but is also attractive

  • CRAGGY FACE // FEATURES

• = RUGGED

GROOVE ON STH

to like or enjoy something very much

GROOVE TO STH (BEAT)

to dance to a rhythm, especially in quite a slow, smooth way to music such as soul, funk, or jazz

GNARLED

rough and twisted, especially because of old age or no protection from bad weather

WARPED

strange and unpleasant

• WARPED MINDS

WARP

to make a person or their behaviour strange, in an unpleasant or harmful way

REGNANT

having the most influence at the present time or at a particular time

TOUCHPOINT

an influence on the development of something

WHIPSAW

to defeat or affect someone badly, especially in two ways at the same time

LEVERAGE

• to use something that you already have in order to achieve something new or better

• power to influence people and get the results you want

  • = CLOUT

FLECK

a small mark, spot esp. of a different color

• = SPECK // SPECKLE

• SMEAR = refer to marks left by a thick liquid

• SMUDGE = most often used to refer to marks left by dirty hands or fingers

SMEAR VS SMUDGE

MOTE // PARTICLE

something, especially a piece of dust, that is so small it is almost impossible to see

RECKON

• to calculate an amount

• to consider or have the opinion that something is as stated

PEER AT

to look at something very hard, usually because it is difficult to see clearly

WHISK SB OFF

to take someone away or move them there quickly

• BUMP OFF // SHUNT OFF

CROAK

speak with a rough voice because you have a sore or dry throat

ADAGE // AXIOM

a wise saying

TENET

a principle on which a theory or belief is based

ACQUIFER

a layer of rock, sand, or earth that contains water or allows water to pass through it

SENTIMENT

• a thought, opinion, or idea based on a feeling about a situation, or a way of thinking about something

  • SHARE ONE’S SENTIMENTS

  • gentle feelings such as sympathy, love, etc., especially when considered to be silly or not suitable

CONJUNCTURE

a combination of things happening at the same time

• ASSEMBLAGE ; PANOPLY ; MELANGE

POTPOURRI

an unusual or interesting mixture of things

ANTHOLOGY

a collection of artistic works that have a similar form or subject, often those considered to be the best

OMNIBUS

• a book consisting of two or more parts that have already been published separately

• a programme consisting of two or more parts that have already been broadcast separately

GAFFE

= blunder ; solecism

• COMMIT SOCIAL GAFFES

• BREACH OF ETTIQUETE

• AT dawn

• WOULD have V3

• at LEAST

OPEN CLOZE

I WOULDN’T TRUST SB AS FAR AS I COULD THROW THEM

something you say that means you do not trust someone at all

• CATCH SB OUT

• CATCH ONE’S DEATH OF COLD

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL

= It appears to me that