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Phrases and Word Combinations
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to pick over smth to go back on smb
to rummage through to be down on smb
to attend to (one's affairs, a word of praise
business) to get promoted
to take (great) pains to do to be made much of
smth to result in
to slave over smth to bring back old times
to leave smb out of smth to carry smth too far
to be man enough to work out
to put smb wise as to what to take sides with smb
(how, when, where, etc.) to burst in
or about smth to set smb against smth
ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY
1. avoid vt to keep away from, as to avoid a person, speaking to smb. meeting smb, mentioning smth, mistakes, bad company, a quarrel, an argument, a scandal, a difficulty (difficulties), an attack, danger, evil, a punishment, an accident, answering, etc., e. g. What have I done? Why are you avoiding me? We only just avoided an accident. The doctor told her to avoid fatty meat (eating much fat).
avoidable a that can be avoided, e. g. I'm sure the quarrel was quite avoidable.ydur interference spoiled everything.
Ant. unavoidable, e. g. The accident was unavoidable, the man ran out into the street too suddenly for the driver to stop the car.
2. avert vt 1) to prevent, as to avert a blow, failure, controversy, evil, the gathering storm (fig.), etc., e. g. I did my best to avert the danger. Wasn't it possible to avert the accident? War was averted by a timely peace mission.
Syn.avoid
2) to turn away, as to avert one's gaze, face, thoughts, attention (from smth), e. g. She averted her eyes (gaze) from the terrible sight.
3. slight a 1) slender, slim, e. g. She is a slight girl. 2) not serious, not important, e. g. I hardly felt that slight scratch. He has a slight cold. She had a slight attack of fever.
not the slightest not the least, e. g. I haven't the slightest idea (doubt) about it.
slightly adv somewhat; to a slight degree, e.g. The child is only slightly hurt.
slight vt to pay too little attention to smb; to treat disrespectfully, e. g. Mary felt slighted because she was not invited to the party. Although the author's work was slighted during his lifetime, he became quite popular after his death. Aileen was slighted and insulted.
Syn. hurt
4. disgust n a very strong feeling of dislike, e. g. A great feeling of disgust overwhelmed her. She turned away in disgust when she saw the drunk man. He left the room in disgust over their petty quarrel.
disgust vt to cause disgust in smb, e. g. The smell of a bad egg disgusts most people. Your vulgar slang disgusts me. He was disgusted at (by) her answer. How could you say such a thing? I'm disgusted.
disgusting a causing disgust, e. g. What a disgusting smell. I find cruel treatment of animals disgusting. Look at the mess he has made of the place. It's disgusting.
5. humiliate vt to lower the dignity or self-respect of smb; to put to shame, e. g. That child who behaved badly when guests were present humiliated his parents. We felt humiliated by our failure.
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humiliation n humiliating or being humiliated, e. g. I shall never forget that humiliation.
humiliating a that humiliates, e. g. Such a humiliating experience was good for his egoism.
6. conceit n too much pride in oneself, e. g. Her self-praising letter seemed to be motivated more by conceit than a desire to communicate. The braggart's letter was full of conceit.
conceited a full of conceit, e. g. Many performers become conceited after only modest success. The conceited man is rarely a happy man.
7. glare vt 1) to shine with a light so bright as to hurt the eyes, e. g. The sun glared down on us all day. The frozen snow glared in the morning-sunlight. A single naked bulb glared pitilessly in the centre of the room. 2) to stare angrily or fiercely, e. g. He glared at me like a bull at a red rag. A tiger glares at its prey.
glare n 1) a very bright light so strong that it is unpleasant or blinding, e. g. The unshaded bulbs threw a yellow glare over the walls. We shielded our eyes from the glare of the sun on the water. She hates the glare of publicity. 2) an angry or fierce look or stare, e. g. He looked at me with an angry glare (gave me a glare) when I said he couldn' t be trusted with the job.
glaring a 1) unpleasantly bright, e.g. The glaring headlights of a car, blinded me for a moment. There were glaring neon signs overihe buildjtag. 2) angry or fierce e, g. Her glaring eyes were suggestive of her anger. 3) easily seen, obvious, e. g. How could you overlook it? It is a glaring mistake (error). There are several glaring defects in your plan.
8. extravagant a 1) spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful, e. g. Dora was an extravagant wife and could never make both ends meet. She was extravagant in everything she bought.
Ant. thrifty;
2) excessively high, as extravagant expenses, claims, etc., e. g. The price is extravagant, I shall never pay so much.
extravagance n wastefulness in spending money, e. g. That fur coat is an extravagance you cant afford. His wife's extravagance ruined him.
9. cunning a clever at deceiving people; sly, e. g. Be careful. He is as cunning as a fox.
Syn. sly
cunning n skill in deceiving people, e. g. The boy showed a great deal of canning in getting what he wanted. He succeeded in his object by pure cunning.
READING COMPREHENSION EXERCISES
1. Consult a dictionary and practise the pronunciation of the following words. Pay attention to the stresses:
a) atmosphere, unforgivable, disgusting, absurd, absolute, altar, conceited, irresolutely, automatons, rearrange, Lilliputian, precede,.cautiqus, bury, cushions, tiptoe, inaudibly, dove, stealthily, amateur, abbreviation, disagreeable.
b) lettuce, abyss, scavenger, rummage, grisly, Eden, vigorous, laxative, ingenious, serpent, exeunt, tentative, extravagant, dishevel(l)ed, atrocious, standoffish, complacent, adorable, motto.
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