Are we a nation of wusses? 3

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Question English Answer English
to not have (something) or to manage to live despite not having (something);
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go without
We have a generation of people who have no idea of what it is to go without
A ______ is also something which hides something unpleasant or unwanted.
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veneer
it's fashionable to talk about ethical consumption but it seems to me that's not much more than a veneer.
If sth is _____ it is referring to sth about which sb is very sensitive
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close to home
that strikes a bit too close to home.”
comfortably and pleasantly warm:
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toasty
We keep our homes toasty simply because we can.
not strong; weak:
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soft
It's easy to say you can go without, we are soft now.
to imagine or expect that (something) will happen, sometimes taking action in preparation for it happening
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anticipate
winter was anticipated with some dread.
to feel extremely anxious or unhappy about (something that is going to happen or might happen)
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dread
winter was anticipated with some dread.
quick movement;
Pol. pstryknąć, włączyć/wyłączyć
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flick
Central heating is convenient, you just flick a switch
(of people and animals) to gather together in a large group
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congregate
We heat the whole house now because families no longer congregate in one room
to (cause to) move far apart in different directions:
Pol. rozpraszać, rozrzucać, rozsiewać
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scatter
famlies are scattered throughout the house doing different activities.
Pol. 'zaszyć się w kamizelkę'
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sew into one's vest
I don't see people going back to being sewn into their vests at the beginning of winter. sewed, sewn or sewed
a sensation of coldness resulting from a cold or damp environment, or from a sudden emotional reaction.
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chill
A chill reminder to use energy more wisely
having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain about how you feel
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ambivalent
our ambivalent attitude to insulation follows a stubborn tradition.
a period of a particular kind of activity, weather, illness etc, usually a short one
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spell
In cold climates - where there are no “cold spells”, only long and bitter winters.
the area around a fireplace or the area of floor in front of it;
Pol. palenisko
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hearth
But the British loved their hearths, the cheerful centre of family life
(of a room or building) unpleasant because of a lack of fresh air
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stuffy
the British fear stuffiness.
pollution in the atmosphere, esp. noxious vapours from decomposing organic matter.
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miasma
we believed that disease was transmitted miasmatically, that bad smells were poisonous.
to decide that something or someone is not important and not worth considering:
NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY
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dismiss
Let's not just dismiss the idea before we've even thought about it.
central heating was dismissed in Britain as “hygienic decadence”.
a state of low standards in social and moral behaviour
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decadence
central heating was dismissed in Britain as “hygienic decadence”.
a building in which horses are kept;
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stable
For centuries the Swedes built houses of wood above stables so that the heat from the livestock would rise.
something not very important or valuable that a government or someone in authority offers to people to stop them from complaining or protesting;
symboliczny gest, ochłap
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sop
The first laws on insulation standards were a sop to the building industry
a hole, or an empty space between two surfaces
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cavity
wall-cavity insulation was not set as standard.
easily affected or damaged by sth such as a substance or temperature
wrazliwy na
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sensitive
But different nationalities are not more sensitive to cold.
willing to do or accept something, rather than doing more
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content
Britons feel comfortable in colder houses because they are content to wear two jumpers, extra socks and a cardigan.

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