高英LessonSixFreeandEqual
Lesson Six Free and Equal
1. scrutiny: careful and thorough examination of someone or something
careful/close scrutiny
--- Careful scrutiny of the company's accounts revealed a whole series of errors.
2. crook: bent, twisted, or not in a straight line 3. maroon: a dark brownish red colour
4. project: to imagine that someone else is feeling the same emotions as you
project something on/onto somebody ---- You're projecting your insecurity onto me.
5. intimate: to make people understand what you mean without saying it directly
intimate that
--- He intimated, politely but firmly, that we were not welcome.
intimate something to somebody
---- She had already intimated to me her wish to leave. 6. hurl:
1) to throw something with a lot of force, especially because you are angry
--- Demonstrators were hurling bricks through the windows. ---- He hurled a chair across the set, smashing lamps and vases.
2) hurl abuse/insults/accusations etc (at somebody) to shout at someone in a loud and angry way --- He was accused of hurling abuse at the referee.
3) hurl yourself at/against etc somebody/something also hurl yourself down
to throw yourself at someone or something with a lot of force --- She wanted to hurl herself into his arms.
7. whim: a sudden feeling that you would like to do or have something, especially when there is no important or good reason
on a whim
--- I didn't leave just on a whim (=for no good reason) . at the whim of somebody
--- At work they are at the whim of the boss.
8. covet: to have a very strong desire to have something that someone else has
--- The Michelin Awards are coveted by restaurants all over the world.
9. wrong: To treat unjustly or injuriously.
10. dowry: property and money that a woman gives to her husband when they marry in some societies
11. talk somebody out of something: ( phrasal verb) to persuade someone not to do something
talk somebody out of doing something
---- Can't you talk them out of selling the house?
12. tacit: tacit agreement, approval, support etc is given without anything actually being said
---- a tacit agreement between the three big companies 13. pomp: all the impressive clothes, decorations, music etc that are traditional for an important official or public ceremony
--- The queen's birthday was celebrated with great pomp and ceremony .
----- all the pomp and circumstance (=an impressive ceremony) of a treaty signing
14. conciliatory: doing something that is intended to make someone stop arguing with you
conciliatory approach/tone/gesture etc
---- Perhaps you should adopt a more conciliatory approach. ------ Brooks felt in no mood to be conciliatory.
15. back out: to decide not to do something that you had promised to do
--- It's too late to back out now. After you've signed the contract, it will be impossible to back out.
back out of
--- The government is trying to back out of its commitment to reduce pollution.
16. chandelier: a large round frame for holding candles or lights that hangs from the ceiling and is decorated with small pieces of glass
17. mill: v.
mill around/about (something) : phrasal verb
if a lot of people mill around, they move around a place in different directions without any particular purpose
----Crowds of students were milling around in the street. ---- There were a lot of people milling around the entrance. 18. fluorescent:
1) fluorescent colors are very bright and easy to see, even in the dark
a fluorescent pink T-shirt
2) a fluorescent light contains a tube filled with gas, which shines with a bright light when electricity is passed through it
19. sag:
1) to hang down or bend in the middle, especially because of the weight of something
synonym droop
--- The branch sagged under the weight of the apples. --- The skin around my eyes is starting to sag --- .a sagging roof
2) to become weaker or less valuable --- attempts to revive the sagging economy
20. booth: A small, often enclosed compartment, usually accommodating only one person
21. intensify: to increase in degree or strength, or to make something do this
--- In June the civil war intensified.
--- His mother's death intensified his loneliness. 22. buff:
wine/film/opera etc buff: someone who is interested in wine, films etc and knows a lot about them
23. oratory: the skill of making powerful speeches
24. bounce ideas off somebody: to talk about your ideas with someone in order to get their opinion
--- When you work in a team you can bounce your ideas off each other.
25. zombie: someone who moves very slowly and does not seem to be thinking about what they are doing, especially because they are very tired
---- I walked around like a zombie for most of the day. 26. trauma: an unpleasant and upsetting experience that affects you for a long time
---- traumas such as death or divorce
27. elated: extremely happy and excited, especially because of something that has happened or is going to happen
28. ponder: to spend time thinking carefully and seriously
about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened
29. jabber: to talk quickly in an excited and unclear way - used to show disapproval
---- The tourists were jabbering away on the bus. 30. strain your ears/eyes (=try very hard to hear or see) ---- I strained my ears, listening for any sound in the silence of the cave.
31. nonchalant: behaving calmly and not seeming interested in anything or worried about anything
---- 'Has he got a girlfriend?' Jill asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
