Miscellaneous Vocabulary (R) MCQs

A publicity campaign, usually by politicians, that attempts to attract supporters by emphasizing their charisma or trustworthiness.

A jokey way of saying expensive.

The literal translation from French is "look for the woman".

A scene of disorder; a ruin; a mess.

Casual smalltalk or gossip.

Crammed so tightly together as to prevent movement.

To get to know or understand something.

Originally a term from competitive rowing referring to an obvious gap between the leading boat and those following.

To join a growing movement in support of someone or something, often in an opportunist way, when that movement is seen to be about to become successful.

A small but irritating flaw that spoils the whole thing.

A state of happiness based on false hope.

An introduction or way in to something, made in order that progress may be made later.

To be safe/whole/healthy.

Very good and wise advice.

The accumulated tiny amounts of time (like the sand in an hour glass).

To be safe/whole/healthy.

Very good and wise advice.

The accumulated tiny amounts of time (like the sand in an hour glass).

To be better than everything.

A power to know or feel things other than by sight/hearing/smell/taste/touch.

To advertise anything, everything and all sorts in between through the use of hand-naff signals and dubbed sound effects.

Social rank, occupation.

Damage as a result of ordinary use.

Strength of mind.

A lot of talk about little things.

Cheap and overly sensational newspaper writing.

The exact time when an attack or other military action will start.

Someone who makes a wise judgement about something that has previously proven difficult to resolve.

Someone who is basically good hearted but lacking social graces and respect for the law.

Advertising slogan for De Beers' diamonds.

A small but irritating flaw that spoils the whole thing.

A state of happiness based on false hope.

An introduction or way in to something, made in order that progress may be made later.

A person, usually a man, who comes to the aid of another, usually a woman, in a gallant and courteous manner.

On the menu, with each dish priced.

Fashionable.

Nonsense, rubbish.

A kindred spirit - someone I can agree with.

To minister is to serve, or act as a subordinate agent.

The notion that everything should have a place to be stored in and that it should be tidily returned there when not in use.

A frustrated curse on both sides of an argument.

From the previous.

A radical, and apparently mystical, change.

A stimulus.

A welcome visitor - someone you are glad to see.

Someone who hides malicious intent under the guise of kindliness.

Literal meaning (it means exactly what it says)

Join a conversation in which another is speaking continually and leaving little opportunity for others.

Change direction.

Openly - without any trickery.

The lack of something increases the desire for it.

An act which is accepted legally as being outside human control.

Behave foolishly.

A genre of popular fiction.

'To aid memory'.

Italian - literally 'in the fresh'.

In a state of confusion and disorder.

Not at any price.

A burden which some unfortunate person has to carry.

The notion that for every wrong done there should be a compensating measure of justice.

A horrible year.

A stance, with the arms on the hips and elbows turned outwards.

Pertaining to, or having an interest in, the arts - often pretentiously and affectedly so.

Feelings of depression or anxiety, experienced by some mothers following childbirth.

Place a bet on all the horses in a race, except one.

A return to previously held values of decency.

To be in disgrace or out of favour.

Someone or something that disappoints expectations.

A day on which one's hair seems unmanageable.

The difference between the value of the imports and exports that a nation makes.

Completely bald.

A 20th century slang term, meaning wife.

Said of something or someone so unappealing that one wouldn't want to approach near.

Insane; intensely mad.

Making a mistake or a false assumption in something you are trying to achieve.

General mayhem; a free-for-all fight.

Ostensibly, a warning that something dangerous is imminent.

Expression of excitement when seeing the object of one's romantic affect.

A person's eyes; more recently, the life force or consciousness.

Physical beauty is superficial.

To be at someone's beck and call is to be entirely subservient to them; to be responsive to their slightest request.

Excellent - the highest quality.

With a furrowed or prominent brow, or worried expression.

In a very short time; suddenly.

An unfair, underhand tactic.

Common or lowly.

Careful - not taking any chances.

My husband or my wife.

Literal meaning (it means exactly what it says)

Fail, due to being unable to choose between two alternatives.

The most important person.

Nickname for New Orleans, USA, referring to the easy-going, laid back attitude to life that jazz musicians and local residents indulge in there.

An important person.

To the limit of one's efforts - to the last extremity.

Pitch black.

Interactions that occur between black people, notably crime that is perpetrated by one black person against another.

An oath, alluding to mayhem and bloodshed.

Tiresome, stubborn and obstructive.

Something that spoils the view or ruins a previously comfortable situation.

Do not hold on to your anger for more than one day.

Without impediment.

Encourage many ideas from many sources.

Headlong; at full speed.

Keep out of sight; bide one's time.

Life begins to be better in one's middle age.

A lot; as in 'hurts like the dickens'.

A description of the British soldiers of WWI.

A person's eyes; more recently, the life force or consciousness.

The whole thing.

Old, especially of horses or people.

An unpredictable person or thing, liable to cause damage if not kept in check by others.

Cruel and unfeeling.

A decoy bird, or a police informer, or criminal's look-out or decoy.

Be enthusiastic to free oneself from the restrictions that bar one's progress.

An acceptance of the unpredictable fortunes of existence, often spoken with an air of weary resignation.

A type of cuisine that combines both meat and seafood (especially lobster and steak), or restaurants that serve such cuisine.

Surfing (a.k.a.

Take control of a situation.

Carry off the honours.

Tease or make fun of.

Close interrogation.

A literal view of the subject of remarriage.

The people habitually suspected or arrested in response to a crime.

Literal meaning (it means exactly what it says)

The weather is cold.

Through all forms of obstacle that are put in one's way.

The span of a life.

This slogan was used by US President Clinton to publicize his plans for mandatory life sentences for those convicted of a third violent offence.

Make or take up a challenge, or demonstrate one's willingness to join an enterprise.

No one is so powerful that they can stop the march of time.

Attacking imaginary enemies.

Inoperative; broken.

Something that is 'toe-curlingly embarrassing' is discomforting enough as to make one squirm and curl one's toes in response.

Snobbish; supercilious; stuck-up.

In an ironic manner, not meant to be taken seriously.

At once.

Someone who can be relied on to provide support and comfort.

The ultimatum given by children who call on houses to solicit gifts at Halloween.

To knowingly refuse to acknowledge something which you know to be real.

Reverse the positions of adversaries.

All of the time - twenty four hours/day and seven days/week.

With most phrases it is the origin rather than the meaning that is in doubt.

Up the stairs.

Euphemism for pregnant.

Relax in a slothful and mindless manner.

The reverse of the previous statement, with the main items transposed.

A self-perpetuating process which returns to its starting point with no improvement from when it was begun.

'We have become a grandmother' was UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's statement to the press in 1989, on the birth of her first grandchild, Mark Thatcher's son Michael.

A threat of violence.

Be in charge.