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Language points Appetite. Words and expressions. edge: n. (as a personal attribute) keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest; excitement, esp. as an element in an otherwise routine situation ; to have an edge on / over somebody : to have a slight advantage over somebody examples
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Words and expressions • edge:n.(as a personal attribute) keenness, as of desire or enjoyment; zest; excitement, esp. as an element in an otherwise routine situation; • to have an edge on / over somebody: to have a slight advantage over somebody • examples • I have an edge over him in the election: I’m more likely to win the election. • There is an edge to somebody’s voice: He sounds angry or bitter. • be on edge: tense, nervous
Words and expressions • to bite into the world • (lit) to put one’s teeth into e.g. People with false teeth find it difficult to bite into apples. • (fig) to damage on the surface e.g. Acid bites into metals. • (in the text) with literal meaning, but used metaphorically • multitude: n.a very great number; the masses; the populace; e.g. • like the stars in multitude • the concerns of the multitude • multitudinous:adj. very numerous; existing in great numbers; crowded
Words and expressions • wanting:adj. , prep. • absent; lacking; e.g. a letter wanting a stamp • not measuring up to standards or expectations; e.g. He judged the statistics and found it wanting. • (in the text) having desire for something; c.f. a want of something: a lack of something e.g.They had to confess their complete want of foresight.
Words and expressions • orgy:n. uncontrolled or immoderate indulgence in an activity; wild drunken festivity; e.g. an orgy of spending • orgiastic: adj. of or resembling an orgy • pitch:n. • point, level, degree (of excitement, anger, etc.) • The pitch of a sound is its degree of highness or lowness, e.g. • Her voice dropped to a low pitch. • Her frustration mounted to such a pitch of anger that she could no longer keep silent. • Excitement about the wedding is now at fever pitch.
Words and expressions • imperceptible: adj. incapable of being perceived by the senses and intellect; so subtle, slight, or gradual as to be barely perceptible; e.g.an imperceptible drop in temperature • c.f. perceive, perceivable, perceptible • gross: adj, n. • exclusive of deductions; total e.g.gross profits/interest / earnings • unmitigated in any way; utter e.g.gross incompetence
Words and expressions • gross: adj, n. • glaringly obvious; flagrant e.g. -- gross inequalities in wealth, power and privilege -- gross negligence • brutishly coarse, as in behavior; crude; offensive; disgusting; e.g. -- gross language • large and ugly; e.g. -- gross architecture • big or bad -- gross mistake
Words and expressions • be at its most flawlessly perfect: at best • flawless:adj. being entirely without flaw or imperfection; perfect; having no flaw e.g. • This policy is flawless. • Her complexion is flawless. • People expect a beautiful woman to be flawless while a handsome man is allowed to have some flaws in his features. • flawed: adj. e.g. • We are all flawed in some way. ( i.e. No one is infallible.) • This is a flawed argument.
Words and expressions • bludgeon: v. (imf) • to bludgeon somebody is to hit somebody several times with a heavy object; • to bludgeon somebody into doing something is to make somebody do something by bullying or threatening. • (in text) (lit) to hit or knock it so hard that it loses consciousness; (fig) to destroy it by over indulgence. • for that matter: • to emphasize that a statement you’ve made about one thing is also true about another. • (in text) because of this reason.
Words and expressions • blow-out: n. large meal • blow out:v. to fill something / somebody with air or food; e.g. • The child blew the paper bag out and then burst it. • I feel blown out after that heavy meal. • anticipate: v. realize in advance that something may happen and be prepared for it; e.g. • The secretary had anticipated the question. • She had often pleasurably anticipated the moment when she would hand in her resignation.
Words and expressions • fasting:n. (lit) going without (certain kind of) food, esp. for religious reasons; (extended) temporary denial of pleasure • homage: n. respect; honor; e.g. • pay homage to something / somebody • The young soldiers gathered to pay homage to the new heroes. • Every day visitors from all over the world come to the Stratford upon Avon to pay homage to Shakespeare.
Words and expressions • regularly:adv. according to a definite arrangement or plan e.g. • You need to take regularly exercises. • The members meet regularly in one another’s homes. • on top: • something happens on top of other things means it happens in addition to other things; e.g. -- You don’t want to give the poor man ulcers (troubles) on top of all the problems he’s already got. • If you are on top of what you are doing, you are dealing with it successfully; e.g.
Words and expressions -There are the jobs that we never really got on top of. • If something gets on top of you, it makes you feel depressed because you cannot cope with it. e.g. • I find the house work is getting on top of me. • gorge:v. to stuff with food; glut; • to gorge or gorge oneself: To eat very greedily until you’re so full that you cannot eat any more. e.g. They gorge themselves on rich food. • gorgeous: adj. dazzlingly beautiful or magnificent; extremely enjoyable; e.g. - wore a gorgeous Victorian gown. - gorgeous weather
Words and expressions • to come into one’s own: • receive one’s due; to achieve recognition: e.g. • in the 1980s, those veterans who were persecuted during the Culture Revolution eventually came into their own. • c.f. on one’s own: alone; • of one’s own: belonging to oneself alone; e.g. • We want to write a book on our own. • She has troubles of her own. • This type of glass has a color and character all of its own. • serve up: to provide (usu. a meal); e.g. • It is time to serve up a main course. • Are you ready to serve up? Everyone’s at table.
Words and expressions • impotent:adj. lacking physical strength or vigor; weak; powerless; lacking all strength; helpless; e.g. • The city government seems impotent in dealing with the rising crime rate. • c.f. impotence:n. (antonym of effectiveness), e.g. • The cut back in funds will leave this project in a state of impotence. • divinity: n. 1) quality of being divine; 2) the study of the Christian religion; e.g. - a doctor of divinity /a degree in divinity • divine: adj. holy; belonging to God; e.g. • He is said to have been operating under divine inspiration. • Nancy made the most divine chocolate cake we had ever tasted. (i.e. more than humanly excellent)
Words and expressions • blunt: v. (antonym of sharpen) If something blunts an emotion or feeling, it weakens it, e.g. • His personality was blunted a great deal during the Cultural Revolution. • bliss:n. extreme happiness; ecstasy; the ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy; e.g. • the road to eternal bliss • What bliss to be going on holiday!
Words and expressions • parched: adj. • (of ground or plant) very dry; e.g. • the parched plain of India • (of mouth, throat, or lips) unpleasantly dry; • She touched her wet fingertips to her parched lips. • Give me a drink. I’m parched.
Word study squeal squeak screech • squeal: to make long, high-pitched sounds; e.g. • The boys scattered, squealing in horror. • There was a squeal of brakes. • squeak: short, high-pitched sounds; e.g. • A door squeaked open. • As the dusk deepened, small black bats began squeaking. • She let out a squeak. • screech: to make an unpleasant, high-pitched cry; e.g. • “You’ll be sorry if you did that.”, she screeched. • The parrot gave a loud screech.
Word study ring off, ring round, ring up, ring back • ring off: (BrE.) to end a telephone conversation by putting the receiver down. • Don’t ring off. I haven’t finished my story. • ring round: to make telephone calls to different places such as shops, e.g. • It’s a good thing to ring round to find the best price. • ring up: to make a telephone call;e.g. • Have you rung up your mother recently? • How many people have rung up while I’ve been out? • ring back: to return a telephone call;e.g. • I’ll find out the address and ring you back.
Word study quell, quench, quash • quell: • To quell opposition or violent behavior means to put an end to it, using persuasion or force, e.g. -- The police had been called in to quell a minor disturbance. • To quell unpleasant feelings (fear / grief) means you stop yourself having these feelings; e.g. -- I was trying to quell a growing unease.
Word study • quench: satisfy (thirst) by drink; e.g. • When you are thirsty, you can quench your thirst by having a drink. • to quench a fire • to quench a heated thing • quash: If somebody in authority quashes a decision or judgment, they officially reject it and make it no longer legally valid. e.g. • Their imprisonment sentences were quashed on appeal.
Word study • time after time: time and time again; e.g. • She has threatened time after time to leave him. • sanctified: consecrated; purified; free from sin;
