Random vocabulary 4

This is a [blank_start]tile[blank_end].

[blank_start]fringe[blank_end]

[blank_start]whip[blank_end]

“I don’t have any [blank_start]inkling[blank_end] (clue) and I haven’t heard anything about it." "The first time Kramer got an [blank_start]inkling[blank_end] (clue) that evolution might be more than just atheist mumbo-jumbo was in high school."

[blank_start]claw[blank_end]

[blank_start]moat[blank_end]

[blank_start]portcullis[blank_end]

I didn't invite John, [blank_start]let alone[blank_end] (not to mention) the rest of his family.

It was full of empty sentences, with governments [blank_start]squabbling[blank_end] (bandying, bickering) like reluctant and [blank_start]petulant[blank_end] (childishly irritated or annoyed) children about issues, on which there is absolutely no reason to disagree.

"It's because of [blank_start]petty[blank_end] (trivial) quarrels such as these that it hasn't been able to evolve in five years."

While he did not criticize Mr. Trump explicitly, Mr. Cruz seemed to [blank_start]allude to[blank_end] him when he spoke of campaign strategy Saturday night. He had committed the horrible sin of adultery, which is so shameful a sin that we can only [blank_start]allude to[blank_end] it with bated breath.

Turner was famously [blank_start]reticent[blank_end] (reserved, introverted) regarding his private life. He looked at me, smiling [blank_start]reticently[blank_end] (in a way that shows unwillingness to make one's feelings or thoughts public), and said, ‘I'll pick you up at 7.’

The pursuit of money, power and privilege by oil-rich oligarchs has resulted in a justice system [blank_start]riddled with[blank_end] (full of [something bad, or holes if used with its literal meaning]) corruption and devoid of [blank_start]scruples[blank_end] (qualms).

To survivors who have lost their [blank_start]kith and kin[blank_end] (friends and relatives) in the tsunami, life is [blank_start]bleak[blank_end] (not hopeful, not giving the impression of being likely to have a favourable outcome) without the union of family life.

Klopp was honest enough to admit on the eve of the fourth round tie that a replay was not the [blank_start]outcome[blank_end] (result) he desired at Anfield.

When questions about abortion come up at town halls, I often provide a [blank_start]curt[blank_end] (marked by rude or peremptory shortness) answer: “I am pro-choice.” When it came to the papal encyclical, however, he was positively [blank_start]curt[blank_end] (brief and to the point), confining his response to three sentences.

He didn't treat his wound and it [blank_start]festered[blank_end] (got full of pus {/pʌs/}). Food also [blank_start]festers[blank_end] (decays, gets rotten).

The school [blank_start]endeavours[blank_end] (tries earnestly) to teach students to be good citizens. We should help them realise that a lifetime of discovery in music is a worthwhile and enjoyable [blank_start]endeavour[blank_end] (purposeful or industrious undertaking).

A dog [blank_start]kennel[blank_end].

A woman who can't have children, a land so dry that plants can't grow there, a plant that doesn't produce any fruit and a period in which one doesn't have any success can be said to be [blank_start]barren[blank_end].

Our man on the beat saw a light there about two in the morning, and as the house was an empty one, suspected that something was [blank_start]amiss[blank_end] (not correct, not happening or functioning properly).

The plane is [blank_start]riddled with[blank_end] arrows, meaning it is full of holes.

A [blank_start]flock[blank_end] of birds.

Hundreds of workers staged a [blank_start]walkout[blank_end] (the action of leaving a meeting or organization as an expression of disapproval) to protest conditions in the factory.

He never [blank_start]bestirred himself[blank_end] (roused himself, became active) to study and now he is completely hopeless.

These are [blank_start]antlers[blank_end].

These things used to make the horse change its direction are called [blank_start]reins[blank_end].

The Eyrie is said to be [blank_start]impregnable[blank_end], meaning it can't be captured or broken into.

An informal British way to say you're tired out or exhausted is "I'm [blank_start]shattered[blank_end]".

If some part of your body aches intermittently, it [blank_start]throbs[blank_end].

A [blank_start]plough[blank_end].

Its take-up rates are accordingly very high, with roughly half of the CPS students [blank_start]opting[blank_end] (deciding, choosing) out of their neighborhood school. But after two more pain spikes, she decided to go the emergency room, [blank_start]opting[blank_end] (choosing, deciding) to drive herself instead of calling 911.

It took a long time to [blank_start]sort out[blank_end] (untangle, make clear, solve) the mess. This matter could be [blank_start]sorted out[blank_end] (made clear, solved) if they would just sit down and talk. It sometimes became difficult to [blank_start]sort out[blank_end] (separate, put in order, clarify) who was attacking whom and over what.

I can [blank_start]get by w[blank_end]ith (manage with difficulty to do what is needed, just having...) little money. If you're barely [blank_start]getting by[blank_end] (managing with difficulty to do what is needed), it may seem crazy to try to emulate a millionaire. With trademark sarcasm, he mocked the rich, yelling: “How can I [blank_start]get by o[blank_end]n (manage with difficulty to do what is needed, just having...) one house?

Squabble a[blank_start]bout[blank_end]/o[blank_start]ver[blank_end] petty things. A squabble b[blank_start]etween[blank_end]/a[blank_start]mong[blank_end] two children. A squabble w[blank_start]ith[blank_end] his girlfriend.

Surgery was deemed successful but he remained [blank_start]bedridden[blank_end] (confined to bed) after returning home.

Someone was back there, hidden in the [blank_start]gloom[blank_end] (dark, dark place, darkness) among the pines high up on the top of the ridge. However, all that grows and works well must be freed from the [blank_start]gloom[blank_end] (despondency, pesimism, [blank_start]dejection[blank_end], lowness of spirits, hopelessness) that hangs over this country. Amid all this [blank_start]gloom[blank_end], perhaps we can take comfort from one ray of hope. Can a crisis yield opportunities as well as [blank_start]gloom[blank_end]?

To say something suddenly and without thinking about the effect it will have, to utter impulsively or involuntarily is to [blank_start]blurt[blank_end] or [blank_start]blurt[blank_end] [blank_start]out[blank_end]. And by all means, wait until they ask before you [blank_start]blurt[blank_end] [blank_start]out[blank_end] that you are looking for a new job.

This violation of school rules is a [blank_start]grave[blank_end] (serious) matter. The report expressed [blank_start]grave[blank_end] concerns about the safety of meat production.

I knew you were taking the pill [blank_start]on the sly[blank_end] (furtively, surreptitiously, in secret), so I found them and switched them for some sugar pills I had made up.

She thinks I'm trying to make things difficult for her, but that's not my [blank_start]intent[blank_end] (intention). He was so [blank_start]intent[blank_end] (focused, concentrated) on his work that he didn't hear the dog bark.

[blank_start]Compendious[blank_end]: briefly giving the gist of something. A short and [blank_start]compendious[blank_end] book.

The apple trees [blank_start]yielded[blank_end] (produced, was the result of [a product]) an abundant harvest. The sport should not [blank_start]yield[blank_end] [blank_start]to[blank_end] (give up to, stop doing what they wanted to start to do [what someone else wants]) every demand that the television companies make. The following year, control of the industry was [blank_start]yielded[blank_end] [blank_start]to[blank_end] (given up to) the government.

He turned to Stephen, his face screwed up in an [blank_start]apologetic[blank_end] (regretful, remorseful, rueful, repentant, contrite, chastened, guilt-ridden) grimace.

The first one is [blank_start]crouching[blank_end]. The second one is [blank_start]bending[blank_end].

A steep [blank_start]slope[blank_end].

The picnic is canceled [blank_start]on account of[blank_end] (due to) the rain.

She [blank_start]alloyed[blank_end] (mixed) her courage with a helping of wisdom. Her courage has been [blank_start]alloyed[blank_end] (mixed) with wisdom.

A [blank_start]setback[blank_end] is something that hinders or impedes, a problem that makes progress more difficult or succes less likely. Despite some early [blank_start]setbacks[blank_end], they eventually became a successful company.

[blank_start]Fluff[blank_end] in the [blank_start]navel[blank_end], or belly button.