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Insight - Upper-intermediate - Vocabulary Insight 4

Here you will find the words from Vocabulary Insight 4 in the Insight Upper-Intermediate coursebook, such as "dismally", "in vain", "addicted", etc.

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Insight - Upper-intermediate
to [clear] the decks

to get ready for action by removing physical and mental obstacles

Ex: Before we start the launch, let's clear the decks and deal with these small issues. 
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saved by the bell

rescued from an unpleasant or difficult situation at the last moment by an unexpected event, action, or intervention

Ex: I wish I had been saved by the bell. 
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addicted
addicted
[Adjective]

physically or mentally dependent on a substance, behavior, or activity

Ex: The addicted individual sought help from a support group to overcome their dependency. 
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addiction
addiction
[noun]

a strong desire to do or have something

Ex: His addiction to video games kept him from focusing on his schoolwork. 
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bald
bald
[Adjective]

having little or no hair on the head

Ex: He used a special shampoo to try to prevent becoming completely bald. 
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baldness
baldness
[noun]

the condition of having little or no hair on the head or body

Ex: Baldness can be caused by genetics or medical conditions. 
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deaf
deaf
[Adjective]

partly or completely unable to hear

Ex: The deaf child communicates using sign language. 
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deafness
deafness
[noun]

the state or condition of being totally or partially unable to hear

Ex: Deafness can occur at any stage of life. 
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disabled
disabled
[Adjective]

completely or partial inability to use a part of one's body or mind, caused by an illness, injury, etc.

Ex: He uses a wheelchair to get around because he is disabled. 
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disability

a physical or mental condition that prevents a person from using some part of their body completely or learning something easily

Ex: He was born with a disability that affects his ability to walk. 
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imperfect
imperfect
[Adjective]

having faults, flaws, or shortcomings

Ex: The old chair was comfortable but imperfect, with a wobbly leg. 
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imperfection

a state of having flaws or mistakes, which make something or someone less than ideal

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obese
obese
[Adjective]

extremely overweight, with excess body fat that significantly increases health risks

Ex: Due to his sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, Tom has become obese. 
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obesity
obesity
[noun]

the condition of having such a high amount of body fat that it becomes very dangerous for one's health

Ex: Obesity rates have been steadily rising worldwide, becoming a major public health concern in many countries. 
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more than meets the eye

used for saying that a person or thing has more of a specific quality than it seems

Ex: The new employee seemed quiet and reserved, but there was definitely more than meets the eye as she turned out to be a talented artist and musician. 
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{one's} heart [is]  {not} in  {sth}

used to show one's lack of genuine interest or enthusiasm for something

Ex: Her heart wasn’t in the speech; she seemed uninterested and distant. 
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to [dig] {one's} heels in

to stubbornly refuse to change one's ideas, plans, etc.

Ex: It was really the British who, by digging their heels in, prevented any last-minute deal. 
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to [come] to {one's} senses

to start to think in a logical or correct way after admitting one's mistakes

Ex: She finally came to her senses and realized that public transport was faster than driving in the city. 
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dismally
dismally
[Adverb]

in a gloomy, depressing, or hopeless manner

Ex: The sky was dismally gray, reflecting the mood of the day. 
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flowing
flowing
[Adjective]

shaped or structured to allow air, water, or other fluids to move smoothly with minimal obstruction

Ex: The car’s flowing design reduces air drag. 
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head and shoulders above {sb/sth}

used to describe someone or something that is far superior when compared to others of the same type

Ex: The talented pianist was head and shoulders above the other competitors in the music competition, showcasing exceptional skill and artistry. 
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to [feel] {sth} in {one's} bones

to believe something strongly, even though one cannot explain why

Ex: I feel it in my bones that this plan is going to work. 
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(at|in) the back of {one's} mind

in the part of the mind that holds thoughts and memories that are not often recalled or thought about

Ex: At the back of my mind, I knew the plan might fail. 
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two heads are better than one

used to suggest that working together with others can often lead to better results than working alone, as combining different perspectives and ideas can create stronger solutions

Ex: The business partners brought different skills and expertise to the table, recognizing that two heads are better than one when it comes to launching a successful venture. 
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in vain
in vain
[Adverb]

without success or achieving the desired result

Ex: Despite hours of searching, the lost keys were found in vain, and she had to get a spare set. 
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body and soul

with all that one has

Ex: She threw herself body and soul into the campaign. 
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to [keep] {sth} in mind

to remember or consider a particular piece of information or advice

Ex: Keep in mind that the meeting is at 3 PM. 
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weight off {one's} shoulders

a sense of relief gained as a result of no longer being in a difficult or worrisome situation

Ex: So I told him that if he needs me as an assistant to do the odd jobs which are once or twice a year, I'd be willing to take some weight off his shoulders. 
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faint heart never won fair (lady|maiden)

used to suggest that one must be bold and take risks to achieve one's goals

Ex: The timid athlete was afraid to attempt the difficult jump, fearing injury. Her coach reminded her that faint heart never won fair lady, and encouraged her to push her limits. 
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to [pull] the wool over {one's} eyes

to hide the truth from someone and make them believe something that is not true

Ex: The salesman tried to pull the wool over my eyes by telling me that the car was in perfect condition, when in fact it was full of problems. 
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feather in {one's} cap

a thing that someone takes pride in, such as an accomplishment, honor, etc.

Ex: Winning the award was a real feather in her cap. 
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to [let] the cat out of the bag

to reveal information that were supposed to be kept secret, often by accident

Ex: She wanted to buy designer clothes and dine at fancy restaurants, but with her student budget, she had champagne taste on a beer budget. 
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lifeless
lifeless
[Adjective]

without any signs of life or vitality

Ex: The lifeless body of the bird lay motionless on the ground. 
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pearly
pearly
[Adjective]

having a shiny, white or light-colored surface similar to that of a pearl

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shrivelled
shrivelled
[Adjective]

having become dry, wrinkled, and smaller in size, often due to a loss of moisture or aging

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watery
watery
[Adjective]

having too much water and little taste

Ex: The soup was disappointingly watery, lacking the rich flavor of homemade broth. 
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to head out

to leave a place or go on a journey, especially for a specific destination

Ex: He needs to head out to the store to pick up some groceries. 
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to [get] the (sack|boot|axe)

to be fired from one's position or job

Ex: He got the sack after repeatedly missing deadlines. 
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to [take] {sth} on the chin

to experience a lot of problems, setbacks, damages, etc., as a result of something

Ex: After losing the championship match, the team took it on the chin but remained determined to come back stronger next season. 
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[show|teach] {sb} the ropes

to show or teach someone how a particular job or task is done

Ex: On my first day, Carla showed me the ropes. 
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to [keep|play|hold] {one's} cards close to {one's} (chest|vest)

to refrain from revealing one's true intentions or plans

Ex: The negotiator kept his cards close to his chest during the business deal, not revealing his true bottom line to the other party. 
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to [put|lay] {one's} cards on the table

to honestly share one's thoughts, feelings, or plans

Ex: During the negotiation, she decided to put her cards on the table and honestly discuss her expectations and limitations. 
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hard to (swallow|take)

(of a particular idea, statement, or situation) challenging to accept as true

Ex: He said the news that the farm was being sold was hard to swallow at first. 
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