VOCABULARY TEST 1

Michael Hofmann: To speak another language isn't just cultured, it's a blow against stupidity

a) To feel like doing something; to like someone romantically TO FANCY (Colloquial, contemporary)
b) Someone who is side-lined, isolated or left out of a social event; for example, a person who is shy and will
not or is not asked to dance at a party A WALLFLOWER (idiom)
c) Very useful JOLLY USEFUL (Old-fashioned, anachronistic)
d) Flatter with an ulterior motive HARRUMPH (Old-fashioned, anachronistic)
e) Talking about something with no let up HARP ON (Old-fashioned, anachronistic)
f) Very poor or impoverished TO NOT HAVE TWO PENNIES/NICKELS TO RUB TOGETHER (idiom)
g) To express oneself gruffly KNOCKED INTO A COCKED HAT (idiom)
h) Indicate, suggest BESPEAK (Old-fashioned, anachronistic)
i) To make the rules or entry requirements of a competition fairer for the disadvantaged (e.g. in university
applications) TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD (idiom)
j) To dump*, cut, drop out of TO JUNK (Colloquial, contemporary)
k) To scrap*, get rid of*, cut TO DITCH (Colloquial, contemporary)
l) Easy option, something requiring very little effort DOSS (N) (Colloquial, contemporary)
m) To make useless or unbelievable TO SCHMOOZE (Colloquial, contemporary)

Things get shunted: where things are forgotten, left aside

Dearth of respect: lack of respect
Snobbish contempt: A snobbish disdain, derision, distaste
Conceit: egoism, arrogance, pride.

Symphony in Slang

A) I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth

B) Whats cooking? / Hows tricks?
C) I got up with the chickens
D) I went back to my hole in the wall
E) My breath came in short pants
F) I put on my white tie and tails
G) Every time I open my mouth, I put my foot in it

I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth to have a high social position and be richfrom birth
I grew up overnight to grow up really fast
At the crack of dawn very early in the morning, especially at the time when the sun first appears
I got up with the chickens wake up really early in the morning
I got a job slinging hash to work at a frontal desk/service of a institution
short-handed If a company or organization is short-handed, it does not have
the usual or necessary number of workers
Cut the mustard "Get it up." By extension, perform any challenging act.
To give the gate to get rid of someone
To go back to the hole in the wall a small, often unpleasant, shop, house, or restaurant
To be beside oneself with anger to be so anger that it makes you almost out of control
To make some dough punching to make money
To fly somewhere to take a plane to go somewhere
Beautiful girl stepped into the picture when you meet someone new in your life
Our eyes met If people's eyes meet, they look at each other at the same time
My breath came in short pants to be out of breath
I got goose pimples reflex erection of hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation
(goose bumps)
I was all thumbs very awkward and clumsy, especially with one's hands
fit like a glove to be the perfect size and shape for someone
Her hair done up in a bun a style of hair
She had good lookin pins good lookin, attractive, legs
To give a date to have a date with someone
I put on my white tie and tails formalwear consisting of full evening dress for men
To put on the dog to act as if you are more important than you are
To go around together for some time to be with someone in a relationship for a certain period of time
To paint the town red to go out and enjoy yourself in the evening, often drinking a lot of alcohol and dancing
To go to the Stork Club to go to a club (club in NY 1929-1965)
To have a box at the opera
To have a partially inclosed portion of the auditorium of an opera house for the use of a small private party
To have a cocktail to have a drink made by a barman
To have a Moscow Mule to have a drink made with vodka, spicy ginger beer, and lime juice, garnished with a
slice or wedge of lime
Mary let her hair down to allow yourself to behave much more freely than usual and enjoy yourself
To eat like a horse to always eat a lot of food
Money runs up out of somebody to use all of something and not have any money left
To write a check fill up the information required to pay with a check
It bounced when you dont have enough money in your account to pay with a check
To be in a pickle to be in trouble
To draw a gun on somebody
(pull) to bring out a gun or knife suddenly so that it is ready for use against someone
To give someone the slip to escape from someone who is following or chasing you
To head to the foothills to escape to a place far away
The law was on my heel to be chase by the police
The judge tried to pump me when a jury tries to pressure you to say something
I put my foot in it everytime you speak, you mess it up
He sent me up the river when the jury send you to jail
to do a stretch in the jug
I was up against it
To feel oneself go to pot
I raised a big stink to smell bad
Let me talk to an undercover man to talk with an undercover agent (usually a police/FBI men)
I went through a lot of red tape
He sprang me
It sure felt good to stretch my legs to be out of jail
I caught a Greyhound
I dropped in on Mary to go to someones house
Threw myself at her feet to beg to someone, usually for a second chance
But she turned her back on me when someone rejects you
But she got on her high horse act with a lot of disdain
I couldnt touch here with a 10-foot pole! When you are unable to reach someone to talk
The cat got her tongue to not say a word
To walk out of someone to get away from somenone
To went to pieces to be so heartbroken that you feel you are going into pieces
To hang around to spend (quality) time, usually with your friends
The guy at the piano played by ear to play without any preparation besides your own
I felt a tug at my elbow when someone wants to talk to you
We sat down and chewed the rag a while to talk to someone for a long period of time

I heard through the grapevine

Mary was going around with an old flame. To be in a relationship with and ex-boyfriend/girlfriend

That burned me up! when something makes you really angry

Because I knew that he was feeding her a line.

The guy really spent his money like water. To spend money like nothing else matter

I think he was connected with the railroad.

As they danced, I tried to chisel in

but the guy got in my hair.

Outside it was raining cats and dogs. When is pouring

I was feeling mighty blue. Feeling sad

And everything looked black. When everything around is going downhill or are becoming sad

But I carried on! to go on with your life

I went to the 1000 Islands.

There, I became a beachcomber.

and a tear ran down my cheek. When a tear goes out of your eye, down your cheek

So I send her a cable.

The next day, she sends me a wire.

I rushed back to the US on a cattle boat

and I hotfooted it over to Marys apartment.

When I opened the door, I noticed quite a few changes

Why Mary, she had a bunch of little ones. To have a lot of babies
The groom had his hands full, too! to be very busy, usually with house work

So, all this struck me so funny, I died laughing! to laugh really hard