| NO
| LANGUAGE UNIT
| NOTES
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| 1.
| a chaperon(e)
| an older woman in the past who went out with a young unmarried woman on social occasions and was responsible for her behaviour
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| 2.
| She had no business to do it. No business at all!
| to do something you should not be doing:
He was drunk and had no business driving! (He had no business to drive).
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| 3.
| Any nook will do for me.
| DHa small space in a corner of a room:
the table in the breakfast nook
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| 4.
| between the squalor of London and the squalor of Prato
| the condition of being dirty and unpleasant because of a lack of care or money:
We lived in squalor for a year and a half.
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| 5.
| going off the track
| the direction or line taken by something as it moves
*get off the track(SP) to begin to deal with a new subject rather than the main one which was being discussed: Don't get off the track, we're looking at this year's figures not last year's.
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| 6.
| He meant to be kind.
| to intend to do something or intend that someone else should do something
I've been meaning to ask you if you want to come for a meal next week.
I'm sure he didn't mean any harm.
He may sound a bit rude at times, but he means well (=intends to be helpful or kind, even if it does not seem like that).
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| 7.
| He would not take advantage.
| to use a particular situation to do or get what you want: I took advantage of the good weather to paint the shed.
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| 8.
| There are no jewels more becoming to a lady. (cornflowers)
| a piece of clothing, a hairstyle, etc that is becoming makes you look attractive:
Her short hairstyle is very becoming.
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| 9.
| May I say something daring?
| 1.involving a lot of risk or danger, or brave enough to do risky things:
a daring rescue attempt
2.new or unusual in a way that may shock people:
a daring new building
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| 10.
| I’m peevish afterwards. Naturally one would be stirred up.
| PEEVISH easily annoyed by small and unimportant things [↪ bad-tempered]: The kids were peevish after so long in the car. STIR UP to deliberately try to cause arguments or bad feelings between people: John was always stirring up trouble in class. Dave's just trying to stir things up because he's jealous. (Here probably used to refer to the inner conflict).
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| 11.
| I put it down to too much Beethoven.
| 1.to think that something is caused by something else:
I was having difficulty reading, which I put down to the poor light. *2.put it down to experienceto try not to feel too upset about failure, especially when you learn something useful from it: Everyone gets rejected from time to time; put it down to experience.
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| 12.
| Turkish cannons
| a large heavy powerful gun that was used in the past to fire heavy metal balls
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| 13.
| He’s very muddled.
| confused:
muddled thinking
The situation today is very muddled.
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| 14.
| He’s been brought up free from the superstition…
| a belief that some objects or actions are lucky or unlucky, or that they cause events to happen, based on old ideas of magic:
the old superstition that walking under a ladder is unlucky
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| 15.
| They are all peasants.
| a poor farmer who owns or rents a small amount of land, either in past times or in poor countries:
Most villagers are peasant farmers.
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| 16.
| We will simply drift.
| to move, change, or do something without any plan or purpose:
Jenni spent the year drifting around Europe.
Theconversation driftedfrom one topic to another.
Idly she let her eyes drift over his desk.
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| 17.
| A true Florentine smell. Inhale, my dear.
| to breathe in air, smoke, or gas: It is dangerous to inhale ammonia fumes.
Myra lit another cigarette andinhaled deeply (=breathed in a lot of smoke).
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| 18.
| I nearly fainted myself.
| to suddenly become unconscious for a short time [= pass out]: Several fans fainted in the blazing heat.
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| 19.
| Gossiping.
| to talk about other people's behaviour and private lives, often including remarks that are unkind or untrue: The whole town was gossiping about them.WORD FOCUS: talk 
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| 20.
| Something tremendous has happened.
| very big, fast, powerful etc:
Suddenly, there was a tremendous bang, and the whole station shook.
She was making atremendous effort to appear calm.
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| 21.
| I abhor Baedeker. I’d fling every copy in the Arno.
| ABHOR (FML)to hate a kind of behaviour or way of thinking, especially because you think it is morally wrong: I abhor discrimination of any kind. FLING to throw something somewhere using a lot of force:He flung the box into the river. People cheered and flung their hats into the air.
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| 22.
| Have we bolted? (the carriage)
| to suddenly run somewhere very quickly, especially in order to escape or because you are frightened:
The horse reared up and bolted.
Kevin had bolted through the open window.
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| 23.
| He’s saying his creed.
| 1.a set of beliefs or principles:
Marxism has never been weaker as apolitical creed.
areligious creed
people of all colours and creeds
2. The Creed - RRCa formal statement of belief spoken in certain Christian churches
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| 24.
| Observe my foresight. I never venture anywhere without my mackintosh squares.
| the ability to imagine what is likely to happen and to consider this when planning for the future [↪ forethought]: It was an example of the authorities’lack of foresight.
Luckily I’dhad the foresight to get in plenty of food.
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| 25.
| You had an adventure there. Vain to deny it.
| a vain attempt, hope or search fails to achieve the result you wanted:
The young mother diedin a vain attempt to save her drowning son.
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| 26.
| I don’t wish to judge him uncharitably, but I know he will talk.
| UNCHARITABLE: unkind or unfair in the way you judge people: uncharitable remarks
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| 27.
| They seldom keep their exploits to themselves.
| a brave and exciting adventure that someone has had
the daring exploits of the British Parachute Regiment
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| 28.
| I have vexed you at every turn.
| VEX: (OLD-FASHIONED) to make someone feel annoyed or worried: a vexing problem
AT EVERY TURN: happening again and again, especially in an annoying way: problems that presented themselves at every turn
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| 29.
| There’s such a beautiful confidence between you.
| the feeling that something is definite or true; trust:
The new director began to win the confidence of the villagers. Elsa took me into her confidence and told me about some of the problems she was facing.
*confide IN somebody to tell someone about something very private or secret, especially a personal problem, because you feel you can trust them:
I've never felt able to confide in my sister.
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| 30.
| We’ll both be as silent as the grave.
| (=completely silent in a mysterious or uncomfortable way)
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| 31.
| You shouldn’t peep.
| to look at something quickly and secretly, especially through a hole or opening [= peek; ↪ peer]
The door was ajar and Helen peeped in.
Henry peeped through the window into the kitchen.
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| 32.
| Ridiculous child. You think you are so holy and truthful, but really it’s just conceit.
| an attitude that shows you have too high an opinion of your own abilities or importance [= conceitedness]:
The conceit of the woman!
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| 33.
| I have a pet theory about Miss Honeychurch.
| a plan, idea, or subject that you particularly like or are interested in
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| 34.
| One day music and life will mingle.
| if two feelings, sounds, smells etc mingle, they mix together with each other:
Add the mint and allow the flavours to mingle.
Her perfume mingled with the smell of woodsmoke from the fire. Her excitement was mingled with a slight feeling of fear.
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| 35.
| This day is at hand.
| (FML) likely to happen soon:
Recent economic performance suggests that a major crisis is at hand.
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| 36.
| Your vicar’s benediction.
| a Christian prayer that asks God to protect and help someone (~ blessing)
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| 37.
| How dare you be so serious.
| (SP) said to show that you are very angry and shocked about what someone has done or said: How dare you accuse me of lying!
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| 38.
| How would you like spinsters as tenants?
| SPINSTER (OLD-FASHIONED)an unmarried woman, usually one who is no longer young and seems unlikely to marry TENANT: someone who lives in a house, room etc and pays rent to the person who owns it: The desk was left by the previous tenant.
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| 39.
| Don’t slouch, Lucy.
| (noun) a way of standing, sitting, or walking with your shoulders bent forward that makes you look tired or lazy
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| 40.
| Don’t get your frock muddied.
| (OLD-FASHIONED): a woman's or girl's dress: a party frock
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| 41.
| Those old women smirking.
| to smile in an unpleasant way that shows that you are pleased by someone else's bad luck or think you are better than other people:
The boys tried not to smirk.
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| 42.
| I consider him far above the average.
| having qualities that are typical of most people or things: The average American has not even thought about next year's election.
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| 43.
| his sham aesthetics
| made to appear real in order to deceive people [= false]: a sham marriage
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| 44.
| And everyone is taken in.
| to be completely deceived by someone who lies to you: Don't be taken in by products claiming to help you lose weight in a week.
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| 45.
| How cross you are!
| (esp.BRE) angry or annoyed:
She gets cross when he goes out drinking.
Sometimes I get very cross with the children.
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| 46.
| It’s hardly a lake. More of a puddle.
| a small pool of liquid, especially rain water:
Children splashed through the puddles.
He had fallen asleep, his head resting in a puddle of beer.
|
| 47.
| I told him of my plan to lure you hither(=here).
| to persuade someone to do something, especially something wrong or dangerous, by making it seem attractive or exciting:
People may be lured into buying tickets by clever advertising.
Computer games are luring youngsters away from their lessons.
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| 48.
| She’s purging off that Honeychurch taint.
| PURGE(LITERARY)to remove bad feelings: We have to begin by purging our minds of prejudice. Any doubts about his leadership were purged by the courage of his performance. TAINTthe appearance of being related to something bad or morally wrong: The city has suffered for many years under the taint of corruption.
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| 49.
| pudding
| Say out loud!
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| 50.
| I’ll send our children to Italy for subtlety.
| the quality that something has when it has been done in a clever or skilful way, with careful attention to small details:
The play lacks subtlety.
She argued her case with considerable subtlety.
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| 51.
| Get her round her shins.
| the quality that something has when it has been done in a clever or skilful way, with careful attention to small details:
The play lacks subtlety.
She argued her case with considerable subtlety.
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| 52.
| You really are savages, you know!
| OLD-FASHIONED, NOT POLITEa very offensive word for someone who has a simple, traditional way of life
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| 53.
| What a weathercock Sir Harry is.
| a weather vane in the shape of a male chicken Think of the figurative meaning.
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| 54.
| a simple burrow
| a passage in the ground made by an animal such as a rabbit or fox as a place to live
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| 55.
| You scored off Sir Harry, but at my expense.
| to say or do something in an attempt to prove that you are better or cleverer than someone else:
He liked scoring off his pupils in his days as a teacher.
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| 56.
| It was most disloyal.
| doing or saying things that do not support your friends, your country, or the group you belong to [≠ loyal]:
He felt he had been disloyal to his friends.
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| 57.
| Temper, Lucy, temper.
| (=Control yourself, Lucy).
TEMPER a tendency to become angry suddenly or easily:
That temper of hers will get her into trouble one of these days.
Theo needs to learn to controlhistemper.
I've never seen Vic lose his temper.
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| 58.
| On reflection, it’s not coincidental that you are here now.
| (=after thinking carefully about it)
At first I disagreed, but on reflection, I realized she was right.
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| 59.
| plumbers
| someone whose job is to repair water pipes, baths, toilets etc
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| 60.
| She gets on my nerves.
| INFML if someone gets on your nerves, they annoy you, especially by doing something all the time: She's always moaning. It really gets on my nerves.
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| 61.
| Whenever I speak, he winces.
| to suddenly change the expression on your face as a reaction to something painful or upsetting:
Sandra winced as the dentist started to drill.
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| 62.
| We must put up with it.
| to accept an unpleasant situation or person without complaining:
She put up with his violent temper.
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| 63.
| He doesn’t mean to be uncivil.
| CIVIL polite in a formal but not very friendly way [↪ civility]: Try at least to be civil.
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| 64.
| Must he sneer?
| to smile or speak in a very unkind way that shows you have no respect for someone or something:
'Is that your best outfit?' he sneered.
She sneered at Tom's musical tastes.
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| 65.
| He’s topping! He’s spiffing! He’s simply ripping!
| SPIFFING a very posh and outdated word meaning “excellent” [fantabuluos :-)]: We're having such a spiffing time. He's a spiffing bloke. RIPPING Something or someone who is really, really good: She is a ripping dancer. Last night was ripping.
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| 66.
| Sunday week
| Monday week/Tuesday week etc(BrE)TMCa week after the day that is mentioned: We're off to Spain Sunday week.
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| 67.
| What a stupid blunder!
| a careless or stupid mistake:
A last-minute blunder cost them the match.
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| 68.
| MONEY UNITS
sovereigna British gold coin used in the past that was worth £1
shillingan old British coin or unit of money. There were 20 shillings in one pound.
bobINFMLa shilling: At last I'm making a few bob (=a reasonable amount of money).
quidBrE, INFMLone pound in money: She earns at least 600 quid a week.
crownan old British coin. Four crowns made a pound.
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| 69.
| Toss for it!
| (esp. BrE) to throw a coin in the air, so that a decision will be made according to the side that faces upwards when it comes down [= flipAmE]
They tosseda coin to decide who would go first.
We couldn't make up our minds, so we decided to toss for it.
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| 70.
| I’m a spoilsport. But it would make me wretched.
| SPOILSPORT someone who spoils other people's fun: Don't be such a spoilsport.
WRETCHED if you feel wretched, you feel guilty and unhappy because of something bad that you have done: Guy felt wretched about it now.
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| 71.
| What a nuisance I am!
| a person, thing, or situation that annoys you or causes problems:
What a nuisance! I've forgotten my ticket.
I hate to be a nuisance, but could you move your car to the other side of the street?
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| 72.
| a barley field
| a plant that produces a grain used for making food or alcohol
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| 73.
| poppies
| a plant that has brightly coloured, usually red, flowers and small black seeds
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| 74.
| an ivory box
| the hard smooth yellowish-white substance from the tusks (=long teeth)of an elephant:
an ivory chess set
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| 75.
| Nothing must hinder us ever again.
| to make it difficult for something to develop or succeed:
His career has been hindered by injury.
policies that will hinder rather than help families
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| 76.
| Do play, that’s a good chap.
| (~Good boy).
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| 77.
| It was the last straw.
(It was the last straw that broke the camel’s back).
| the last problem in a series of problems that finally makes you give up, get angry etc:
Making me work late on Friday was the last straw.
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| 78.
| She must spare me.
| to not damage or harm someone or something, even though other people or things are being damaged, killed, or destroyed:
I could not understand why I had been spared and they had not.
the soldier who had sparedhis life
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| 79.
| in lieu of Constantinople…
| FMLinstead of: extra time off in lieu of payment
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| 80.
| paper soap
| = paper-thin soap sheets - as an alternative to bar and/or liquid soap. Paper soap is not only easy to carry, store and use (especially for travel), but quickly dissolves in water without leaving behind residual soap scum in a soap dish or on a sink as typically seen with wet soap bars or dripping soap dispensers.
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| 81.
| He is such a standby.
| ready to help immediately if you are needed:
A special team of police were kept on standby.
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| 82.
| She lacked…radiance.
| (LITERARY) great happiness that shows in someone's face and makes them look attractive:
a young face full of radiance
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| 83.
| It was all done with great discretion, naturally.
| the ability to deal with situations in a way that does not offend, upset, or embarrass people or tell any of their secrets: British newspapers no longer feel they must treat the royal family with discretion.
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| 84.
| For the time being, she would like to keep it quiet.
| for a short period of time from now, but not permanently:
Now, for the time being, she is living with her father in Tijuana.
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| 85.
| I come into my money next year.
| to receive money, land, or property from someone after they have died: She'll come into quite a lot of money when her father dies.
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| 86.
| latchkey
| a key that opens a lock on an outside door of a house or apartment
*a latchkey kid (OLD-FASHIONED) SSCa child whose parents both work and who spends time alone in the house after school
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| 87.
| They are such an agreeable family.
| (WRITTEN or OLD-FASHIONED) pleasant [≠ disagreeable]: We spent a most agreeable couple of hours.
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| 88.
| She’ll mope till next Friday.
| to feel sorry for yourself, without making any effort to do anything or be more happy:
Don't lie there moping on a lovely morning like this!
The week he died, we all sat around and moped.
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| 89.
| He misbehaved abominably.
| ABOMINABLE extremely unpleasant or of very bad quality [= terrible]: abominable cruelty
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| 90.
| You love the boy body and soul.
| a) completely:
She threw herself body and soul into her work. b)the whole of a person:
They think they own the employees, body and soul.
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| 91.
| You deceived everyone, including yourself.
| to make someone believe something that is not true [= trick; ↪ deception]:
He had been deceived by a young man claiming to be the son of a millionaire.
I thought she loved me, but I was deceiving myself.
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| 92.
| He thinks he is being dignified.
| behaving in a calm and serious way, even in a difficult situation, which makes people respect you:
a dignified old lady
She made a dignified departure.
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