Insight Advanced "Vocabulary Insight 1"

row

noun

r

o

oʊ

w

Close

Sign in

a group of people or objects placed in a line

Example

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The students sat in a row during the assembly, listening attentively to the guest speaker.

She carefully arranged the books in a straight row on the shelf, organizing them by genre.

to row

Verb

r

o

oʊ

w

‌to have a noisy argument

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to refuse

Verb

r

e

ɪ

f

u

ju

s

z

e

to say or show one's unwillingness to do something that someone has asked

accept

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to lead

Verb

l

ea

i:

d

to be the cause of something

Grammatical Information:

transitive

content

noun

c

k

o

ɑ

n

t

e

ɛ

n

t

(usually plural) the things that are held, included, or contained within something

to tear

Verb

t

ea

ɪ

r

to forcibly pull something apart into pieces

Grammatical Information:

transitive

console

noun

c

k

o

ɑ

n

s

o

oʊ

l

e

a piece of furniture designed to hold electronic instruments like radios or televisions

to console

Verb

c

k

o

ɑ

n

s

o

oʊ

l

e

to help a person, who is either disappointed or emotionally suffering, feel better

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to progress

Verb

p

r

o

ɑ

g

r

e

ɛ

ss

s

to develop into a more advanced or improved stage

regress

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

object

noun

o

ɑ

b

j

ʤ

e

ɛ

c

k

t

a non-living thing that one can touch or see

perfect

Adjective

p

e

ɜ

r

f

e

ɪ

c

k

t

completely without mistakes or flaws, reaching the best possible standard

imperfect

to transfer

Verb

t

r

a

æ

n

s

f

e

ɜ

r

to make a person or thing move from a place, situation, or person to another

Grammatical Information:

transitive

run-on

noun

/ˈɹəˈnɑn/

a continuation of a line of poetry to the next without a pause or punctuation at the end

end-stopped

unethical

Adjective

u

ə

n

e

ɛ

th

θ

i

ɪ

c

k

a

ə

l

involving behaviors, actions, or decisions that are morally wrong

ethical

to marginalize

Verb

m

a

ɑ

r

g

ʤ

i

ə

n

a

ə

l

i

aɪ

z

e

to treat a person, group, or concept as insignificant or of secondary or minor importance

Grammatical Information:

transitive

impersonation

noun

i

ɪ

m

p

e

ɜ

r

s

o

ə

n

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

the act of pretending to be someone else, often with the intent to deceive or mislead others

digitally

Adverb

d

i

ɪ

g

ʤ

i

ə

t

a

ə

ll

l

y

i

with the use of computers or electronic devices

alarmingly

Adverb

a

ə

l

a

ɑ

r

m

i

ɪ

n

g

l

y

i

in a manner that causes sudden concern or fear

traditionally

Adverb

t

r

a

ə

d

i

ɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

a

ə

ll

l

y

i

in accordance with methods, beliefs, or customs that have remained unchanged for a long period of time

Grammatical Information:

adverb of manner

potentially

Adverb

p

o

ə

t

e

ɛ

n

t

ʃ

ia

ə

ll

l

y

i

in a manner expressing the capability or likelihood of something happening or developing in the future

Grammatical Information:

adverb of manner

temporarily

Adverb

t

e

ɛ

m

p

o

ɜ

r

a

ɛ

r

i

ə

l

y

i

for a limited period of time

permanently

Grammatical Information:

adverb of time

psychologically

Adverb

p

s

y

aɪ

ch

k

o

ə

l

o

ɑ

g

ʤ

i

ɪ

c

k

a

ll

l

y

i

in a way that is related to someone's mind or emotions

Grammatical Information:

adverb of manner

financially

Adverb

f

i

aɪ

n

a

æ

n

c

ʃ

ia

ə

ll

l

y

i

in a way that is related to money or its management

Grammatical Information:

interrogative adverb

skin and bone

phrase

/skˈɪn ænd bˈoʊn/

Disapproving

Idiom

Informal

used to refer to someone who is extremely thin, often in an unattractive and unhealthy way

fatso

What is the origin of the idiom "skin and bone" and when to use it?

The phrase "skin and bone" is an idiomatic expression that originated as a descriptive comparison. It emphasizes the thinness of a person by comparing them to the bare minimum of flesh, consisting only of skin and bone. It is used to describe someone who is extremely thin, to the point where their skeletal structure is prominent and visible. It suggests that the person lacks significant muscle mass and body weight.

to go hand in hand

phrase

/ɡˌoʊ ɔːɹ biː hˈænd ɪn hˈænd/

Idiom

Informal

(of two things) to be closely connected to one another, particularly in a way that one of them causes the occurrence of another

What is the origin of the idiom "hand in hand" and when to use it?

The idiom "go hand in hand" is derived from the physical act of two people walking or moving together while holding each other's hands. This literal practice of walking hand in hand signifies unity, cooperation, and mutual support. The idiom extends this idea to describe situations where two elements or factors are closely connected and work together in a harmonious or complementary manner, often reinforcing each other's influence. Its origin lies in the universal gesture of physical connection and cooperation.

to save one's skin / neck

phrase

/sˈeɪv wˈʌnz skˈɪn nˈɛk hˈaɪd bˈeɪkən/

Idiom

Informal

to help a person get out of a situation that involves danger or difficulty

What is the origin of the idiom "save one's skin" and when to use it?

The idiom "save one's skin" has origins in the idea of preserving one's physical well-being or avoiding harm. It is a figurative expression used to describe actions taken to ensure one's safety or protect oneself from danger, often at the expense of others or in challenging situations.

to jump out of one's skin

phrase

/dʒˈʌmp lˈiːp ˌaʊɾəv wˈʌnz skˈɪn/

Idiom

Informal

to become extremely scared or surprised, causing a strong physical reaction

What is the origin of the idiom "jump out of one's skin" and when to use it?

The idiom "jump out of one's skin" likely emerged from the natural physiological response of the human body to sudden surprises or shocks. The phrase "jump out of one's skin" is used in various contexts to describe moments of extreme surprise, shock, or fright. It is commonly employed in storytelling, informal conversations, and descriptive writing to vividly depict the intensity of a person's reaction to a startling event.

bone of contention

phrase

/bˈoʊn ʌv kəntˈɛnʃən/

Idiom

Informal

a subject over which people disagree

What is the origin of the idiom "bone of contention" and when to use it?

The idiom "bone of contention" has roots in medieval English, where it originated from the literal meaning of a "bone" as an object of dispute or contention between two dogs. The phrase evolved to describe any contentious issue or subject that serves as a cause for disagreement or conflict between individuals or groups. Over time, it transitioned from its literal origins to a metaphorical usage, becoming a common expression in the English language to denote a central point of disagreement or conflict.

close at hand

phrase

/klˈoʊs æt hˈænd/

about to happen very soon

to make no bones about something

phrase

/mˌeɪk nˈoʊ bˈoʊnz ɐbˌaʊt ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/

Idiom

Informal

to not hesitate to do or say what one truly wants

What is the origin of the idiom "make no bones about something" and when to use it?

The idiom "make no bones about something" originated from the medieval practice of divination, where bones were used to predict the future. It is used to refer to being straightforward, direct, and unambiguous in expressing one's opinions, intentions, or feelings about something.

to transform

Verb

t

r

a

æ

n

s

f

o

ɔ

r

m

to change the appearance, character, or nature of a person or object

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to determine

Verb

d

e

ə

t

e

ɜ

r

m

i

ə

n

e

to learn of and confirm the facts about something through calculation or research

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to shape

Verb

sh

ʃ

a

eɪ

p

e

to give something a particular form

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to revert

Verb

r

e

i

v

e

ɜ

r

t

to go back to a previous state, condition, or behavior

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to enhance

Verb

e

ɛ

n

h

a

æ

n

c

s

e

to better or increase someone or something's quality, strength, value, etc.

Grammatical Information:

transitive

disaffection

noun

d

i

ɪ

s

a

ə

ff

f

e

ɛ

c

k

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

a sense of discontent, particularly towards a governing system

isolation

noun

i

aɪ

s

o

ə

l

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

the act of to physically or socially separating someone or something from others

rapport

noun

r

a

æ

pp

p

o

ɔ

r

t

a close relationship in which there is a good understanding and communication between people

association

noun

a

ə

ss

s

o

oʊ

c

s

ia

ieɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

an organization of people who have a common purpose

belonging

noun

b

e

ɪ

l

o

ɔ

n

g

i

ɪ

n

g

the feeling of being happy or comfortable in a specific situation or group

alienation

noun

a

eɪ

l

ie

iə

n

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

‌the feeling that one is different from others and therefore not part of a particular group

personification

noun

p

e

ɜ

r

s

o

ɑ

n

i

ə

f

i

ə

c

k

a

eɪ

t

ʃ

io

ə

n

a literary device where human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, objects, or ideas

What is "personification"?

Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities are given to animals, objects, or abstract ideas. It helps make non-human things seem more relatable or vivid by describing them as if they can act, think, or feel like people. For example, saying "The wind whispered through the trees" gives the wind the human ability to whisper. Personification adds depth and emotion to writing by allowing readers to connect more deeply with the subject.

oxymoron

noun

o

ɑ

x

ks

y

i

m

o

ɔ

r

o

ɑ

n

a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or contrasting terms to create a unique expression

What is an "oxymoron"?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two seemingly contradictory or opposing words are combined to create a paradoxical effect. This combination highlights a deeper or ironic meaning, showing a more complex truth. For example, the phrase "deafening silence" uses opposing terms to describe a profound, overwhelming quietness. Oxymorons are used to evoke thought, emphasize contrast, or create a striking effect in writing.

rhetorical question

noun

/ɹɛtˈɔːɹɪkəl kwˈɛstʃən/

a question that is not meant to be answered, but is instead used to make a point or to create emphasis or effect

What is a "rhetorical question"?

A rhetorical question is a question posed for effect or to make a point rather than to elicit an answer. It is often used to encourage the listener to consider a particular idea or perspective. For example, asking "Is the sky blue?" does not seek a response, as the answer is obvious. Rhetorical questions can be a powerful tool in speeches and writing, helping to engage the audience and provoke thought without requiring direct interaction. They emphasize the speaker's message and can enhance persuasion and emotional appeal.

Grammatical Information:

compound noun

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