21. Exam preparation: weather

prophesy [ˈprɒfəsaɪ]

to prophesy war/bad weather

She prophesied that she would win a gold medal.

The event was prophesied in the Old Testament (ветхий завет).

‘It will end in disaster,’ he prophesied.

​to say what will happen in the future (done in the past using religious or magic powers)

tomfool [ˌtɒmˈfuːl]

His tomfoolishness was annoying.

Such a tomfool you are!

(old-fashioned) ​a silly person

set-fair

The weather was set-fair yesterday.

to be clear and dry and not changing or expected to change

rheumatism [ˈruːmətɪzəm]

The pills help to relieve my rheumatism.

​a disease that makes the muscles and joints painful, stiff and swollen (= larger than normal)

peg [peɡ]

He took off his coat/hat and hung it on the peg

They decided to use the anniversary as the peg for/a peg on which to hang a TV documentary

Hammer the (tent) pegs firmly into the ground

a short piece of wood, metal or plastic used for holding things together, hanging things on, marking a position, etc

a reason for discussing something further

simoom [sɪˈmuːm]

They were caught in a simoom

a strong, hot, dry, dusty wind

portent [ˈpɔːtent]

The event proved to be a portent of the disaster that was to come.

We shall try to reach an agreement but the portents are not good.

a sign or warning of something that is going to happen in the future, especially when it is something unpleasant

blood-curdling [ˈblʌd kɜːdlɪŋ]

a blood-curdling scream/story

​(of a sound or a story) filling you with horror; extremely frightening

oblique [əˈbliːk]

an oblique reference/approach/comment

​not expressed or done in a direct way

spring up

Play areas for children are springing up all over the place.

Opposition groups are springing up like mushrooms.

The first leaves sprung up.

​to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly