Vocabulary Scrap Book
Vocabulary Scrap Book
Words and phrases on this page are constantly added up.
Please use 'search' feature('ctrl'+'f') in order to look for words.
This page contains definitions and exemplars, including phonetic symbols for some words that are not easy for English learners to guess how to pronounce correctly.
A (as in Alpha)
acclimate/ˈakləˌmāt/: become accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions.
- I have likewise acclimated poorly to my new role of digital warder.
- People are remarkably adaptable. Lock us in our homes and at first, we will protest and cry. But over time we will acclimate. We'll get used to losing our freedoms, our ability to walk the streets with faces uncovered, to go wherever we'd like and see whomever we'd like. We cut down on our freedoms now so we may have more freedom later.
adjourn/əˈjərn/: break off(a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later.
- The meeting was adjourned until December 4.
- "Meeting adjourned."
alight: on fire; burning; shining brightly.
* set the world alight – do something remarkable or sensational.
- The team includes great players who could set the world alight.
- Lady Gaga set the internet alight on Tuesday after she posted a photo from the set of the forthcoming Ridley Scott movie, "House of Gucci."
as for: to be regarding (something or someone), to be concerning, or about something or some; used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a slightly different subject that is still concerned to the previous one.
- "And as for this book," said Hermione, "The Tales of Beedle the Bard... I've never even heard of them!"
- The city has some wonderful museums. As for hotels, 'Coco Reef' is a great choice.
as of: used to indicate the time or date from which something starts.
- I'm out of a job as of now.
- As of Monday, more than 560 people had been detained, according to a tracking group.
attribute: regard something as being caused by (someone or something).
- He attributed the firm's success to the efforts of the managing director.
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, New Zealand has reported 2,330 cases and 25 deaths attributed to the virus.
B (as in Bravo)
balk/bôk/: hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
- Mexican officials balked at the decision.
- Any gardener will at first balk at enclosing the garden.
be born into/to/of something: be born in a particular situation, type of family, etc.)
- One third of all children are born into single-parent families.
- I was born into a Catholic family.
- Some people are born into rich families or generate substantial wealth through lucky circumstances, such as buying a winning lottery ticket.
big mouth: (informal) an indiscreet or boastful person; a tendency or habit of speaking incessantly and indiscreetly, especially about sensitive or secret information.
- If I'd known you had such a big mouth, I'd have never shared my secret with you! God you've got a bit mouth!
- Okay, first of all, Mrs. McCluskey has a big mouth.
bolster: support or strengthen; prop up.
- The fall in interest rates is starting to bolster confidence.
- But the plan was rescinded in May 2020 to bolster national tourism during Covid-19 because of economic concerns for tourist sites.
bombshell: an overwhelming surprise or disappointment.
- he news came as a bombshell.
- The bombshell interview was full of revelations: Meghan experiencing suicidal thoughts, the royal family's concerns about Archie's race, and the gender of their second child.
breach: an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct; a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense, especially one made by an attacking army
break off: (phrasal verb) stop doing something, especially speaking.
- Linda broke off, realizing that she was wrong.
- People would break off their conversations when she came into the room.
break off: (phrasal verb) end a relationship or a discussion.
- Did you know they've broken off their engagement?
- I've decided to break it off with her.
- The two countries have broken off diplomatic relations.
in the same breath: at once, or at the exact same time; in practice, it really means "more or less at the same time," since it's physically impossible to say two things at once.
- She's been the subject of effusive comments from Trump: In 2019, in the same breath, he touted Ivanka Trump for both US ambassador to the United Nations and head of the World Bank, and in an interview with The Atlantic he said she would be "very hard to beat" if she were to run for president herself.
bygone: belonging to an earlier time;(noun) a thing dating from an earlier time.
- Evans's pictures of a bygone era offer an edifying measure of our own cultural progress.
- The museum consists of a fascinating collection of rural bygones.
C (as in Charlie)
calamity/kəˈlamədē/: an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.
- The journey had l ed to calamity and ruin.
caveat/ˈkavēˌat,ˈkävēˌät/: a warning or proviso of specific stipulations, conditions, or limitations.
- There are a number of caveats which concern the validity of the assessment results.
- One Beijing-based business executive, for example, says he believed the risk of traveling to China to be just "non-zero," but outlines certain caveats, which might not be immediately apparent to someone living in a Western democracy. He asked not to be named for security reasons.
child labor: the exploitation of children through any form of work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and is mentally, physically, socially, and morally harmful.
- In the world's poorest countries, around one in four children are engaged in child labor, the highest number of whom (29 percent) live in sub-saharan Africa.
- Child labour can result in extreme bodily and mental harm, and even death. It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation.
confidant/ˈkänfəˌdant,ˈkänfəˌdänt/: a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others.
- He is a trusted confidant of the president.
- The words "confidant" and "confidante" are interchangeable, but strict grammarians reserve "confidant" for males and "confidante" for females.
cosset: care for and protect in an overindulgent way.
- As march turned into April turned into June– as "you'll see your friends soon" became "at least there will be kindergarten in the fall" became "hopefully it will be safe by first grade"–it grew clear that even the most cosseted children won't get out of this situation unscathed.
- Cosseted Life and Secret End of a Millionaire Maltese
- The ideal choice would be a well-aged white, like a 15-year-old grand cru Chablis, with just the right amount of richness and minerality to cosset the fish.
learning curve: the rate of a person's progress in gaining experience or new skills. In colloquial usage, a "steep learning curve" means the knowledge in question takes longer to learn; a "shallow learning curve" means it's a nice quick process.
- The latest software packages have a steep learning curve.
- There's a couple of games I'm not very good at. I'd say the one for me is definitely golf. It's got a really steep learning curve.
D (as in Delta)
de facto/ˌdā ˈfaktō/: in fact, or in effect, whether by right or not.
- The island has been de facto divided into two countries.
- "American citizens are too often being detained as de facto hostages in business disputes or to coerce family members to return to China," said James P. McGovern, a US Democratic congressman and chairman of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China.
detain: keep (someone) from proceeding; hold back.
- She made to open the door, but he detained her.
- As of Monday, more than 560 people had been detained, according to a tracking group.
debilitate: make (someone or something) weak and infirm.
- "There is ... no credible route to a Zero Covid Britain or indeed a Zero Covid World and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental well-being, and the life chances of our children," Johnson said.
- A bad flu may debilitate your powers of concentration, like the New Year's resolutions that temporarily debilitate bakeries' business.
dire: (of a situation or event) extremely serious or urgent. * Dire refers to situations or events that cause great fear and worry.
- Yet Canada has gone ahead with the suspension, making the 2021 outlook all the more dire.
- A dire calamity causes much suffering.
- If a family is in dire need, they need immediate help.
ditch: (informal) get rid of or give up.
- Plans for the road were ditched following a public inquiry.
- "All right, darling?" the drunkest of the men on the other pavement was yelling. "Fancy a drink? Ditch ginger and come and have a pint!"
do (someone) a favor: to do a kind and helpful act for (someone)
- You can do your uncle a favor by giving him a ride.
- "The Ministry's being very anti-werewolf at the moment and we thought our presence might not do you any favors."
dodge a bullet: (phrasal, informal) manage to avoid a difficult or unwelcome situation.
- The US economy dodged a bullet today.
- Trust me, Beth. I think you dodged a bullet here.
dose: a quantity of a medicine or drug taken or recommended to be taken at a particular time.
- He took a dose of cough medicine.
- At least 97 countries and territories have administered more than 208 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, barely a year after the first Covid-19 case was reported in China.
E (as in Echo)
effusive/əˈfyo͞osiv/: expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner.
- She's been the subject of effusive comments from Trump: In 2019, in the same breath, he touted Ivanka Trump for both US ambassador to the United Nations and head of the World Bank, and in an interview with The Atlantic he said she would be "very hard to beat" if she were to run for president herself.
eligible/ˈeləjəb(ə)l/: having the right to do or obtain something; satisfying the appropriate conditions.
- Beginning Monday, people in the United States will be eligible for a special three-month enrollment period to sign up for health coverage under Obamacare.
ensconce: establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe, or secret place.
- Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom.
- Ivanka Trump, ensconced now in an expensive seaside Miami condominium while a new mansion nearby is set for build on a $30 million plot purchased late last year, wants "nothing to do with politics," a friend of hers said of her current state of mind.
exile: the state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.
- He knew now that he would die in exile.
- He recalls one Buddhist colleague who had started contributing to a school in Tibet, a restive region of China with an exiled government agitating for its autonomy.
F (as in Foxtrot)
feeble: lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness.
feebly: in a way that lacks strength or force.
- I smiled feebly.
- He pulled the strings tight and slipped the purse around his neck, then sat holding the old Snitch and watching its wings flutter feebly.
fraternize: associate or form a friendship with someone, especially when one is not supposed to.
- She ignored Elisabeth's warning glare against fraternizing with the enemy.
- "When I'm in China, I don't go out. I don't fraternize, I don't go out to bars," he says. "You know, there's too much to lose. So my life in China is very small and I want to keep it that way. Because, you know, I've heard horror stories."
from nowhere: appearing or happening suddenly and unexpectedly; out of nowhere.
- He materialized a taxi out of nowhere.
fervent: having or displaying a passionate intensity.
- He was a fervent football supporter of the NFL.
- They were fervent of all folk musicians in Romania.
- His short-term goal includes watching his son Donald Trump Jr., the MAGA base's fervent mouthpiece, barnstorm his way across the country on behalf of Trump loyalists and supporters for midterms.
G (as in Golf)
H (as in Hotel)
I (as in India)
imminent: about to happen; happening soon.
- They were in imminent danger of being swept away.
indefinitely/ˌinˈdef(ə)nətlē/: for an unlimited or unspecified period of time.
- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the social media giant was banning Trump indefinitely. [...] "Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete."
- "There is ... no credible route to a Zero Covid Britain or indeed a Zero Covid World and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental well-being, and the life chances of our children," Johnson said.
Inexplicable/ˌinekˈsplikəb(ə)l/: unable to be explained or accounted for; unaccountable; unexplainable.
- For some inexplicable reason her mind went completely blank.
- One of the most inexplicable phenomena during the pandemic has been the efforts of the media to prop up Cuomo as some sort of Churchillian figure.
instill: gradually but firmly establish (an idea or attitutde, especially a desirable one) in a person's mind; put (a substance) into something in the form of liquid drops.
- The dramatic detention of a handful of foreigners in recent years has instilled a deep fear in some people, especially those with politically adjacent occupations.
ire: anger
- The plans provoked the ire of conservationists.
- The American professor, who for decades made multiple trips a year to China and was last there in 2018, hasn't focused his career on Tibet or Taiwan -- lightning-rod issues which attract Beijing's ire at lightning-quick speed -- but he has written about cultural diversity and student protests in mainland China, and appeared on panels with people he says the Communist Party is "clearly upset with."
- Several in the international business community said they would significantly modify their behavior while outside China to avoid attracting the ire of authorities in the country, where they need to do business.
irreversible: not able to be undone or altered.
- She suffered irreversible damage to her health.
- This roadmap should be cautious but also irreversible.
J (as in Juliett)
Joint effort: something done by two or more people or groups working together.
- The campaign was a joint effort by police forces nationwide.
- It has to be a joint effort. People from all around the world, have to get together.
- Repairs made on the farm were a joint effort by landlord and tenant.
K (as in Kilo)
keen: having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm; interested in or attracted by (someone or something).
- Bob makes it obvious he's keen on her.
- Downing Street officials were keen to explain that this caution was in order to avoid future restrictions that would further damage the economy.
keep a lid on: (phrasal, informal) keep (an emotion or process) from going out of control; keep secret.
- She was no longer able to keep a lid on her simmering anger.
- She keeps a very tight lid on her private life.
- So do you think we can keep a lid on this for now?
L (as in Lima)
lapdog: a person or organization which is influenced or controlled by another; a weak person who is controlled by someone else.
- I don't want my staff to be lapdogs who do what I say without question, but I'd like you to show at least some amount of trust in my decisions.
laud: (formal) praise (a person or their achievements) highly, especially in a public context.
- The obituary lauded him as a great statesman and soldier.
- Biden lauded the enrollment period, calling healthcare a "right, not a privilege."
to say the least: (phrase) used as an understatement (implying the reality is more extreme, usually worse); used to emphasize a statement.
- She was not happy, to say the least.
- Well, they have to be outstanding, to say the least, to set themselves apart.
leave the past behind: forget about the past or make a change from the past.
- She wanted to leave the past behind, so she moved to a new town for a new job.
- We may think we've left the past behind, but it has a way of catching up to us. Though we want to run away, we are forced to confront our past.
lurk around: to move or hang about (some place) in a suspicious, sneaking, or slinking manner.
- This child is at an age when she is entitled to privacy– a privacy she does not receive with her mother lurking around her kindergarten class or writing about her here.
M (as in Mike)
mitigate: make less severe, serious, or painful.
mitigation: the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
- Thosmas Nunlist, a risk analyst at Hill & Associates, says he has seen an increase in demand from multinational companies seeking guidance on matters of detention risk mitigation, and response protocol, in China in recent years.
mogul: (informal) an important or powerful person, especially in the motion picture or media industry.
- As well as whetting appetites for the upcoming production, the photo captured imaginations on social media thanks to the retro outfits worn by the singer and her co-star Adam Driver, who play Patrizia Reggiani and her fashion mogul ex-husband Maurizio Gucci, respectively.
lots of moving parts/pieces: (Idiom)a complicated situation with a lot of variables or components.
- There are a lot of moving parts.
- We've looked at some venues and talked to sponsors and next week we're going to start working on the marketing for the event. There are lots of moving parts, but luckily we have a great team.
N (as in November)
namesake: a person or thing that has the same name as another.
- Hugh Capet paved the way for his son and namesake to be crowned King of France.
- Although several behind-the-scenes photos of the actor in costume emerged online earlier this week, it's the first close-up look at Driver's turn as the late Gucci, grandson of his namesake label's founder, Guccio Gucci.
narcotic: a drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes especially one sold illegally.
- Others cases included foreginers taking drugs in China, where dealing narcotics can still result in capital punishment, while a handful involved being approached and questioned.
- Three Canadians have been sentenced to death on narcotics charges since relations between Ottawa and Beijing soured, although China denies politics affect the sentences.
O (as in Oscar)
obituary: a notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the decreased person.
- I was sure I was going to be writing his obituary.
- Oddly, the first obituary I ever wrote was my own.
- The "San Francisco Chronicle" ran her obituary.
- He was vaguely familiar: Racking his brains, Harry suddenly realized that this was Elphias Doge, member of the Order of the Phoenix and the writer of Dumbledore's obituary.
offlimits/off limits/off-limits: not allowed to do it or have it.
- Right now, that is a person who is tired of her parents and her little sister, tired of being told that the things she wants to do are off limits for an unspecified period of time*. *indefinitely
optics: (North American, typically in a political context) the way in which an event or course of action is perceived by the public.
- What we really need in this circumstance is to make smart decisions in the best interest of student safety– not simply make changes that win political points for optics.
- She had been welcomed into the royal family, and said the Queen had been wonderful and welcoming -- but beyond that, there was nearly no guidance or support. She wasn't allowed to leave the house for months due to concerns regarding optics.
outing: a trip taken for pleasure, especially one lasting a day or less.
- I love taking my girls on outings, riding the bus, going to lunch, embarking on long, possibly ill-considered road trips.
out of nowhere; from nowhere; appearing or happening suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Brightly colored figures were appearing, one by one, out of nowhere at the distant boundary of the yard.
out of the blue; from nowhere; completely unexpected.
- One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.
outset: the start or beginning of something.
- The project was flawed from the outset.
- President Biden called the initiative "critical in the midst of a deadly pandemic," citing the more than 470,000 fatalities related to COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic.
P (as in Papa)
pan out: (phrasal) turn out well.
- Harold's idea had been a good one even if it hadn't panned out.
- Well, for example, my cousin Jerry is faced with these types of issues sometimes. When an investment doesn't pan out for one of their clients, then the blame falls on him.
payout: a sum of money, especially a large one that is paid to someone, for example by an insurance company or as a prize; a payout is a sum of money paid to a policy holder when a claim is accepted.
- And there's time to win more, with a $10,000 payout still to play for over the next few days.
- With many life insurance policies the only benefit received is a lump sum payout on death.
persist: continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure; continue to exist; be prolonged.
- There is ... no credible route to a Zero Covid Britain or indeed a Zero Covid World and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental well-being, and the life chances of our children," John said.
- If the symptoms persist for more than a few days, contact your doctor.
more to the point: more crucial or important to what's being discussed.
- Your appearance and demeanor have become increasingly unprofessional, and, more to the point, your productivity has really gone down lately.
- Drinking and driving is against the law and, more to the point, extremely dangerous.
ponder: think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion.
- I pondered the question of what clothes to wear for the occasion.
- Eighteen holes later, he leaves his Trump International Golf Club and returns to Mar-a-Lago, where he retreats within his quarters to his own private living space, separate from that of his wife, and ponders two main questions: Who is with him? And who is against him?
potable/ˈpōdəb(ə)l/: safe to drink; drinkable.
- There is no supply of potable water available.
- Obviously, the most important thing here is that millions more dollars will go to Texans still struggling to find potable water and deal with the damage from last week's deep freeze.
pseudonym: a fictitious name, especially one used by an author.
- I wrote under the pseudonym of Evelyn Hervey.
- He asked to use a pseudonym for this piece to avoid retributions in China for his comments.
Q (as in Quebec)
quality time: time spent in giving another person one's undivided attention in order to strengthen a relationship, especially with reference to working parents and their child or children.
- The most important thing is to spend quality time talking to their children.
- He's a very good father and he' always pays attention to spending quality time with his wife and especially his three children.
without question: Absolutely or with absolute certainty; with no doubt whatsoever; without argument, uncertainty, hesitation, or complaint.
- This photo now proves, without question, that my client is innocent.
- This is without question the best movie of the year, perhaps even the decade.
- I don't want my staff to be lapdogs who do what I say without question, but I'd like you to show at least some amount of trust in my decisions.
- A soldier must be prepared to follow his orders without question.
R (as in Romeo)
rampant: (especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked.
- Involved in conservation efforts to protect wild macaws in the region, he says another concern is that along Mexico's coastline where development has been rampant, the majority of financial backing for conservation efforts comes from the entrance fees paid by tourists.
reach out to (someone): (phrasal)to make an effort to communicate with people or to give them your support.
- The Democrats have to reach out to these people to win this election.
- I will reach out to the head teacher here.
- The government needs to reach out to those on the margins of society.
- Two fathers reached out to a son in trouble.
- CNN reached out to Mexico's secretary of tourism for more information on the pandemic response as it relates to tourism but has not heard back.
- The investigation is ongoing. The source added that the singer's dog walker is thankfully "recovering well." CNN has reached out to representatives for Gaga for comment.
- "I didn't know who to even turn to in that. And one of the people that I reached out to, who's continued to be a friend and confidant, was one of... Diana's best friends. Because it's like, who else could understand what it's actually like on the inside?" she told Winfrey.
recuperate: recover from illness or exertion.
- She has been recuperating from a shoulder wound.
- I usually take about two weeks. Just a month ago, I took 14 days and went to Florida to visit a cousin of mine. I usually find this is enough time to relax and recuperate.
rescind/rəˈsind/: revoke, cancel, or repeal (a law, order, or agreement).
- But the plan was rescinded in may 2020 to bolster national tourism during Covid-19 because of economic concerns for tourist sites.
reticent/ˈredəsənt/: not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
- She was extremely reticent about her personal affairs.
- Thornton was equally reticent about both issues when I spoke to him.
- He is initially reticent, unsure of the motives for my questions.
retrieve: get or bring (something) back; regain possession of.
- I was sent to retrieve the balls from his garden.
- The source said the singer "is offering half-a-million dollars to anyone who has her two dogs, no questions asked. Anyone who has the dogs can use this email, KojiandGustav@gmail.com to retrieve the reward."
rollout: the unveiling of a new aircraft or spacecraft; the official launch or introduction of a new product or service.
- Campaign these days look a lot like product rollout.
- The vaccine rollout strategy varies from country to country.
- At least 97 countries and territories have started their vaccination rollouts.
roll out: exclude, eliminate; to make impossible.
- Of course, he has no incentive to rule it out right now -- keeping himself in the mix helps sustain his kingmaker role.
S (as in Sierra)
sabbatical/səˈbadək(ə)l/: a period of paid leave granted to a university teacher or other worker for study or travel, traditionally one year for every seven years worked.
- She's away on sabbatical.
- I think she took a sabbatical in fall 2015, which is only supposed to be for a year but somehow she extended it all through now...
second to none*: (phrase) the best, worst, fastest, etc.
*This idiomatic phrase is used to compare someone or something to someone or something else to point out that they are the best, worst, quickest, etc.
- The group has a reputation that is second to none in the building industry.
- That's a tough one. I have had many great vacations, but if I had to choose one, I would have to say that the Alpine adventure this past winter to Aspen Colorado was one of my best. The snow, the powder was just perfect, so the weather was great, and snowboarding was just second to none.
self-proclaimed: described as or proclaimed to be such by oneself, without endorsement by others.
- Jeff Wasserstrom is a self-proclaimed China specialist who is seriously considering never returning to China -- at least, he says, not while President Xi Jinping is in power.
beyond/without a/the shadow of (a) doubt: with certainly; for sure; without the smallest amount of doubt.
- If something is true beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is certainly true.
- I am certain that I am right, without a shadow of a doubt. I felt the the man was guilty beyond the shadow of a doubt.
- I only made such a big change in my life because I knew without the shadow of a doubt that it was the right thing for me to do.
sheer: nothing other than; unmitigated(used for emphasis).
- She giggled with sheer delight.
- I have always relied on the world to play a part in my child-rearing: not only people–family and teachers and classmates–but also the sheer experience of being out in the world, letting the friction of the place do some of the work of raising them.
single out: to treat or to speak about (someone or something in a group) in a way that is different from the way one treats or speaks about others.
- The coach singled out the players who played poorly.
- It's not fair the way my sister is always singled out for special treatment.
- "I know, but surely he wouldn't have singled you out in his will just to help us turn out the lights!"
socialite: a person who is well known in fashionable society and is fond of social activities and entertainment.
- Wearing a white fur hat, and draped in gold jewelry, Gaga casts a striking resemblance to the Italian socialite.
superimpose: place or lay (one thing) over another, typically so that both are still evident.
- An example of superimpose is when you put a watermark or copyright mark over the top of a picture but the picture underneath is still visible.
- He superimposed the company logo over the image.
- Social media users were quick to make memes of the viral picture, comparing Driver's sweater to the one worn by Chris Evans in "Knives Out," superimposing the couple onto "Star Wars" backgrounds and, of course, incorporating an image of Bernie Sanders in his inauguration mittens.
stifling: (of heat, air, or a room) very hot and causing difficulties in breathing; suffocating; making one feel constrained or oppressed.
- He added that his brother and father were also trapped, and that the royal institution was a stifling environment.
stink eye: (informal) a look expressing annoyance, resentment, or disapproval–usually used with 'the.'
- Everyday she and I sit at home in an uncanny mirrored panopticon: she learns through her screen, and I sit across the table and give her the stink eye.
- The people waiting to use the computers were giving me the stink eye.
T (as in Tango)
teem: 1. be full of or swarming with; 2. (of water, especially rain) pour down; fall heavily.
- Every garden is teeming with wildlife.
- Along the beaches of Mexico, typically teeming with vacationers, there is a struggle between two powerful forces that won't be going anywhere anytime soon: The very real concern for health and safety during the pandemic and an equally valid concern for economic survival.
temerity/təˈmerədē/: excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
- No one had the temerity to question his conclusions.
- The governor had the temerity to write a book on what he described as his success in fighting the virus.
tight-lipped: with the lips firmly closed, especially as a sign of suppressed emotion or determined reticence; reluctant to speak.
- She stayed tight-lipped and shook her head.
- I'm serious, you were so tight-lipped.
trade barbs: exchange caustic remarks; insult or attack each other.
- Policymakers traded barbs about whose actions harmed the world economy most.
- Trump and Biden trade barbs over wearing a mask.
U (as in Uniform)
uncanny: strange or mysterious, especially in an unsettling way.
- Everyday she and I sit at home in an uncanny mirrored panopticon: she learns through her screen, and I sit across the table and give her the stink eye.
- John is an uncanny man who likes to eat raw meet.
- My best friend Angela has the uncanny ability to know my thoughts before I speak.
understatement: the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
- A statement that understates something to say that I was surprised by this outcome would be an understatement.
- Saying he had gained a little weight was an understatement since he had put on thirty just last month.
unscathed/ˌənˈskāT͟Hd/: without suffering any injury, damage, or harm.
- I came through all those perils unscathed.
- It should not be lost on those who work and serve in the halls of power that some people have come through this coronavirus mess completely unscathed. Some highly skilled professionals have actually prospered while enjoying the additional privilege of working from home.
V (as in Victor)
verboten: forbidden, especially by an authority.
- The five years Trump spent on the campaign and in the White House "was a lot," her friend told CNN, a nd talk of a political future is verboten.
- Bank fishing is verboten on Strathbeg.
W (as in Whiskey)
water under the bridge: (idiom) used to refer to events or situations that are in the past and consequently no longer to be regarded as important or as a source of concern.
- Not at all. It is water under the bridge.
- We had our differences in the past, but that's all water under the bridge.
- Sure, we have had our disagreements in the past, but that's water under the bridge.
well-built: (of a person) large and strong, or of big and strong muscles.
- He was about six feet tall and well built.
- Mitchell is well-built, of medium height, with a dark complexion.
- He's got blue eyes and blond hair. He's a pretty well-built guy.
X (as in X-ray)
Y (as in Yankee)
Z (as in Zulu)
Preposition + nouns
at speed; quickly
- Several different vaccines have been developed at record speed, in large part due to years of research on related viruses and billions of dollars in investment.
in accordance with
- "China has always protected the safety and legitimate rights and interests of foreigners in China in accordance with the law," the ministry in a statement in response to CNN's inquiry.
in disbelief
- "Come off it!" said Ron, looking in disbelief from Harry to Hermione.
in record time; in the least amount of time ever.
- He finished in record time.
in reaction to
- Meanwhile, actress Kiernan Shipka wrote "nothing could prepare me for this photo," in reaction to the instagram post.
in surprise and excitement
- He nearly dropped the Snitch in surprise and excitement.
in seriousness
- She said in all seriousness.
- In all seriousness, if he does propose, what will you say?
- Lynette, in all seriousness, it's your mother's wedding day.
in trouble
- Two fathers reached out to a son in trouble.
in the same breath
in lockdown
in demand
- Trump Jr. was not only in high demand for appearances and events, but he also was filling rooms, spewing conspiracy theories on social media, freewheeling with his attacks on Democrats, so-called RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) and anyone who did not agree with Trump's theories and policies -- truthful or no.
in need
- If a family is in dire need, they need immediate help.
in power
- Jeff Wasserstrom is a self-proclaimed China specialist who is seriously considering never returning to China -- at least, he says, not while President Xi Jinping is in power.
in the long term
- As those fees dry up, it could mean catastrophic effects in the long term.
- The country has been in full national lockdown since January 4, after a new, more transmissible variant of coronavirus was discovered in southeast England.
in place; working or ready to work; established; not traveling any distance.
- Step three, which will be in place no sooner than May 17, will remove most social distancing rules.
- Social contact rules will remain in place for indoor activities, meaning that they can only be attended by the members of own household.
in the form of
- It comes in the form of an exit ban -- legal under the Exit and Entry Administration Law adopted in 2012 for unsettled civil cases in China.
on a daily basis
- Many people in Mexico "make their money on a daily basis," he says, so to eat that day, they must work that day.
on one's mind
- I have a lot on my mind.
on behalf of
- His short-term goal includes watching his son Donald Trump Jr., the MAGA base's fervent mouthpiece, barnstorm his way across the country on behalf of Trump loyalists and supporters for midterms.
on the heels of; following closely after.
- The lawsuit comes on the heels of a police investigation in Massachusetts.
- The decision follows close on the heels of Perdue's recent visit to Palm Beach, where he played golf with Trump, says a person familiar with the Georgia Republican's schedule.
out of one's mind
- Are you out of your mind? You actually think I would take you back?
To one's surprise and excitement
- To my surprise and excitement, the wine is only $10.
To one's astonishment
- "Yes, they're here," said Hermione, and to Harry and Ron's utter astonishment, she pulled out a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, some maroon socks, and finally the silvery Invisibility Cloak.
with surprise and excitement
- "What's that?" he exclaimed with surprise and excitement.
to bits
- If someone says they love you to bits(or other variations, such as "pieces") then what it actually means is that there's a but...
- Harry had said earlier in the interview with Oprah Winfrey that he loves his brother Prince William "to bits," despite frequent rumors and speculation of sibling conflict.
as though
- He felt as though he were sitting in an examination with a question he ought to have been able to answer in front of him, his brain slow and unresponsive.
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