Reading Vocabulary Bank: Hollywood, Sky Movie Channels, The Computer as Crook, and Appalachia

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering reading comprehension topics including crime, media, lifestyle, geography, and general English expressions.

bulky (adj)

large and difficult to move

crate (n)

large strong packing box

hijack (v)

take control unlawfully

wipe sth from memory

remove information completely

transaction (n)

act of buying, selling or exchanging

tip off the police

secretly give police information

in custody

being held by the police

conceive (v)

imagine or believe sth possible

milk sb of sth

take money/goods from sb repeatedly

concede (v)

admit sth reluctantly

secret briefing (n)

private explanation or report

loophole (n)

weakness allowing rules to be bypassed

fat fees (n)

very large payments

paramount (adj)

more important than anything else

speak of money/success

indicate wealth or success

scream success (figurative)

show success very obviously

wangle your way into sth

get into a place by clever persuasion

pick at your food

eat very little without interest

delicate (adj)

fine, light or easily damaged

sip (v)

drink in small amounts

mineral water (n)

water containing natural minerals

at your peril

with risk of bad consequences

tacky (adj)

cheap-looking or lacking taste

starry-eyed (adj)

unrealistically hopeful

pour off buses (phr v)

come off buses in large numbers

dribble (v)

let liquid fall in drops

quench (v)

satisfy thirst or stop fire

dab (v)

touch lightly with small movements

dedicated channel (n)

channel intended for one type of content

settle down to do sth

get comfortable and focus on an activity

commercial break (n)

pause for advertisements

movie premiere (n)

first public showing of a film

repeat a film (v)

broadcast a film again

at one sitting

in one continuous period

nod off (phr v)

fall asleep unintentionally

crook (n)

dishonest person or criminal

unsolved crime (n)

crime not yet explained or solved

hail sth as sth

publicly praise or call sth

more often than not

on most occasions

villainy (n)

evil or criminal behaviour

quest (n)

a long search for sth

accomplice (n)

person who helps commit a crime

leave no fingerprints

leave no marks identifying the offender

loot (n)

stolen money or goods

scruples (n)

moral doubts about doing wrong

juggle (v)

manage several things at once

frailty (n)

human weakness

temptation (n)

desire to do sth wrong or unwise

have sticky fingers

be likely to steal

till (n)

cash drawer in a shop

almighty (adj)

all-powerful

vainly (adv)

without success

above suspicion

not considered possibly guilty

small wonder (that)

it is not surprising that

infallibility (n)

quality of never making mistakes

a double-edged sword

sth with both good and bad effects

crooked (adj)

dishonest or illegal

feed sth into a computer

enter data into a computer

impeccably (adv)

without any mistakes or faults

computer fraud (n)

deception using computer systems

defraud sb of sth

get sth from sb by deception

unsuspecting (adj)

unaware of possible danger

tap into a system

gain access to a system

installation contractor (n)

company/person hired to install equipment

illicit (adj)

forbidden by law or rules

dispatch (v)

send goods to a destination

manhole cover (n)

lid over an underground access hole

steep (adj)

rising or falling sharply

alpine meadow (n)

grassy open land in the mountains

cling to sth (v)

hold tightly to a surface

sinuous (adj)

having many curves

spread out (phr v)

extend over a wide area

dusk (n)

the time just before night

be absorbed by/in sth

be completely fascinated by sth

severely impoverished

extremely poor

inexpressibly (adv)

too strongly to describe in words

colonise an area (v)

settle in or take over an area

arresting beauty (n phr)

beauty that attracts attention

dale (n)

a valley, especially in northern England

rusticky (adj, informal)

rustic in a self-conscious way

embrace (v)

hug or surround

stack (v)

put in piles

be immersed in sth

be deeply involved in sth

encamp (v)

set up a temporary camp

overtake (v)

catch up with and pass