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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: Once we clear the decks, we can focus properly on the new strategy.
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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: The teacher was just getting ready to hand out the quizzes when the fire alarm went offsaved by the bell!
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addicted
addicted
[Adjective]

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

Ex: She 's addicted to toxic relationships , mistaking drama for passion .
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addiction
addiction
[noun]

a strong desire to do or have something

Ex: She developed an addiction to reading mystery novels , finishing one every week .
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bald
bald
[Adjective]

having little or no hair on the head

Ex: The older gentleman had a neat and tidy bald head , which suited him well .
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baldness
baldness
[noun]

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

Ex: He noticed the first signs of baldness in his late twenties .
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deaf
deaf
[Adjective]

partly or completely unable to hear

Ex: He learned to lip-read to better understand conversations as he grew increasingly deaf.
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deafness
deafness
[noun]

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

Ex: Early detection of deafness is essential for better outcomes .
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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: The disabled worker excels in their job despite facing challenges related to their condition .
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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: Disability should not prevent someone from achieving their goals .
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imperfect
imperfect
[Adjective]

having faults, flaws, or shortcomings

Ex: The painting was captivating but imperfect, with brushstrokes that were slightly uneven .
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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: Obese children are at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases later in life .
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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: Addressing obesity requires a multifaceted approach that includes promoting healthy eating habits , regular physical activity , and community-wide initiatives .
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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: At first glance, the painting seemed ordinary, but upon closer inspection, there was more than meets the eye, with hidden symbols and layers of meaning.
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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: His heart isn’t in the team anymore; he doesn’t seem to care about the games.
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to [dig] {one's} heels in

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

Ex: My grandfather dug in his heels and refused to move to an apartment.
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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 project ended dismally, leaving everyone feeling defeated .
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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 yacht’s flowing hull improves speed on water.
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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 new restaurant in town is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to culinary innovation and unique flavors.
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to [feel] {sth} in {one's} bones

to believe something strongly, even though one cannot explain why

Ex: They laughed at his warning, but he felt the danger in his bones.
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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: The thought was always at the back of my mind, even when I tried to ignore it.
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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: The doctor worked tirelessly to save the patient , but unfortunately , all efforts proved to be in vain, and the patient could not be revived .
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body and soul

with all that one has

Ex: The volunteers gave themselves body and soul to the rescue effort.
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to [keep] {sth} in mind

to remember or consider a particular piece of information or advice

Ex: Before signing the contract, keep in mind the terms and conditions to avoid any future misunderstandings.
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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: Talking over my problem with my close friend was a weight off my 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 company tried to pull the wool over the government's eyes by falsifying its financial records.
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feather in {one's} cap

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

Ex: Being selected for the national team is a feather in his 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: The couple had champagne taste on a beer budget, constantly longing for lavish vacations and extravagant experiences they couldn't afford.
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lifeless
lifeless
[Adjective]

without any signs of life or vitality

Ex: After the accident , the paramedics found the driver slumped over the steering wheel , his body appearing lifeless.
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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 smoothie was watery and bland , lacking the creaminess and sweetness of properly blended fruit .
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to head out

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

Ex: She decided to head out early to avoid the rush hour traffic .
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to [get] the (sack|boot|axe)

to be fired from one's position or job

Ex: Nobody expected the popular coach to get the boot.
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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: The company took it on the chin as a symbol of the system in the Sixties.When it was accused of racism, sexism, anti-environmentalism, it reacted defensively, exacerbating the situation.
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[show|teach] {sb} the ropes

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

Ex: She doesn't need much supervision now; we showed her the ropes last week.
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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 entrepreneur held her cards close to her vest when discussing her new invention, protecting her intellectual property until she secured proper patents.
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to [put|lay] {one's} cards on the table

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

Ex: The employee decided to put her cards on the table and openly address the issues that were affecting her productivity in the workplace.
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hard to (swallow|take)

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

Ex: I found her story rather hard to swallow.
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