vocab lesson 18

gape

to open wide (ex: mouth)

gawk (at)

to gape or stare at stupidly

rubberneck

to turn head to stare (at something) in a foolish manner

ogle

offensively stare at in a sexual manner

garble

reproduce (a message/ sound) in a confused and distorted way

mangle

severely mutilate, disfigure, or damage

mutilate

inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on

butcher

slaughter/kill brutally

gloat

dwell on one's own success or another's misfortune with smugness or pleasure

revel (in)

to enjoy (something) very much

relish

to enjoy

crow (over)

take pleasure in someone else’s defeat

lord it over

assert authority/dominance over (something or someone)

goad

annoy/provoke to get a reaction (out of someone)

prod

to poke (someone)

spur

to encourage/motivate action (EX: growth)

inducement

a thing that persuades or influences someone to do something

gadfly

annoying person that provokes others with criticism

impel

force/urge (someone) to do something

incite

urge/persuade someone to act (usually in a violent way)

curb

restrain, keep in check

needle someone

deliberately annoy somebody (especially with criticism)

graphic

a. drawn representation

b. giving a clear picture; vivid

picturesque

visually attractive

anemic

person suffering from anemia (condition where person lacks red blood cells → dizziness, shortness of breath)

pallid

(of a person's face) pale, typically because of poor health

gratuitous

a. done for free

b. uncalled for

unsolicited 

not asked for; done voluntarily

unwarranted

not justified or authorized

unfounded

not based on facts

groundless

not based on any good reason or fact

gregarious

a. sociable; outgoing

b. tending to move in groups/herds

extroverted

outgoing, sociable

affable

friendly; easy to talk to

antisocial

not sociable

aloof

cool and distant; not friendly

introverted

shy, reserved

grimace

facial expression showing pain, disgust/disapproval

scowl

an angry or bad-tempered expression

glower

angry or __sullen__ look

grin like a Cheshire cat (allusion)

to smile broadly; self-satisfied smile (allusion to alice in wonderland)

grope

to feel around uncertainly/blindly

grueling

extremely demanding/exhausting

taxing

physical or mentally draining/exhausting

arduous

difficult, tiring, requiring a lot of effort

gruesome

causing shock and/or horror

grisly

causing horror or disgust

ghastly

causing great horror or fear

macabre

disturbing, horrifying (involving death or injury)

lurid

causing shock or disgust

gullible

easily deceived

credulous

willing to believe; gullible

naive

lacking wisdom, experience, or judgement

ingenuous

innocent and unsuspecting

unwary

not cautious

green

new and inexperienced

dubious

not to be believed; doubtful

born yesterday

inexperienced

still wet behind the ears

lacking experience

caveat emptor

buyer should beware (buyer should be cautious of condition of purchased products → its their responsibility)

haggard

exhausted/unwell appearance from fatigue or sickness

careworn

fatigued by worry

drawn

looking strained from illness, exhaustion, anxiety, or pain

cadaverous

resembling a corpse; pale, thin, tired

pinched

tense and pale from cold, worry, or hunger

florid

having a red/flushed complexion; tinged with red 

ruddy

(of a person's face) having a healthy red color

rubicund

having a healthy red color

harangue

long, aggressive, emotional speech

tirade

long, angry speech of criticism or accusation

diatribe

forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something

pontificate

to express one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly cocky/grand

get up on a soapbox

to express your opinions forcefully

harbinger

something that foreshadows an event

precursor

foreshadow; one that goes before or announces the coming of another

portent

a sign or warning that something is likely to happen

presage

a sign or warning that (typically something bad) will happen

augur

a sign of a good or bad outcome

a mausoleum

a large tomb

chimerical

unreal, imaginary

hector someone

talk to (someone) in a bullying way

a nestor

one who is a leader in a field

caught between Scylla & Charybdis

be caught between two equally bad choices

a thespian

actor/actress; relating to drama/theater

open a Pandora’s box

to cause many problems/troubles

pander to

indulge in an immoral desire

stentorian

(of a person's voice) loud and powerful

a platonic relationship

close friendships without romantic or sexual features

leave no stone unturned

try every possible course of action in order to achieve something

hit pay dirt

to find something that results in money or success

in the limelight

center of public attention or notice

out of kilter

out of harmony or balance

the pecking order

a hierarchy of status (can be for both people and animals)

a backhanded compliment

a compliment that implies that it isn’t a compliment

wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve\*\*\*\*

make one's feelings transparent; openly expressive

swallow one’s pride

to do something despite it being embarrassing/humiliating

jump the gun

start something before you should

reach for the moon

to try to do or get something that is very difficult

open a can of worms

to create a complicated situation by trying to solve it

a bull in a china shop

clumsy; a person who breaks things often or causes many damaging mistakes