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an avid reader/football fan/stamp collector start learning
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very enthusiastic (for people) avid very interested and enthusiastic an avid reader
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start learning
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very obvious, done without shame or embarrassment (used to describe bad things) blatant very obvious, with no attempt to be honest or behave well
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breathtaking view/ scenery Fo ra child of his age, his knowledge of the subject was breathtaking. start learning
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very beautiful, surprising or impressive breathtaking very beautiful or surprising breathtaking views
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It was a gripping tale of murder and intrigue. start learning
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very exciting; for films and books If something is gripping, it is so interesting that it holds your attention completely. a gripping story
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shocking, making you feel very upset (not used to describe people) harrowing making you feel extremely frightened or upset a harrowing experience
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They seem to have a very lax attitude towards security. start learning
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not strict or not careful enough (for safety measures, security, morals, discipline, laws, etc) lax not careful enough or not well controlled
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He asked the judge to pass a lenient sentence. start learning
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not strict; used to describe people in a position to punish (parents, teachers, etc) The judge was lenient and let him off with a fine. A lenient punishment is not severe.
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a meteoric career The band's rise to fame was meteoric. start learning
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very sudden and very quick (generally used with the noun rise) He was unprepared for his meteoric rise to fame. meteoric If the development of something is meteoric, it happens very quickly or causes great success.
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misleading making someone believe something that is untrue start learning
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misleading: *** giving the wrong idea or impression misleading information/ advertisements/comments, etc misleading information/statements
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piercing: * loud and high-pitched (for noises) She let out a piercing scream of terror start learning
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prolific: *** producing a large number of works (for artists, composers and writers)
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sporadic: *** happening at irregular intervals sporadic fighting/shots/violence/ outbreaks start learning
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staunch: * very loyal staunch supporter/friend/ally/ Democrat, etc
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weeping: * (i) too general and therefore not valid (for statements and generalisations) (ii) large and affecting everyone (for changes and reforms) start learning
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'Women are bad drivers' is a sweeping generalisation that is all too common these days. He proposed sweeping changes! to the country's electoral system.
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watertlght: impossible to prove start learning
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wrong or argue against watertight arguments/court case/alibi
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dreary: *** boring and depressing a dreary day/life/town Her apartment was dreary and depressing. start learning
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dull: *** boring, without life, excitement or colour dull afternoon/people/colour/ weather
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He had a mundane job in a local bank start learning
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ordinary, boring, giving little satisfaction; often used to describe jobs mundane ordinary, or not interesting a mundane task/life
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tedious: ***boring, andoftenfrustrating start learning
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atrocious: *** extremely bad start learning
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strocious film/mess/game, etc
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start learning
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dreadful weather/mistakes/acting
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lousy: *** (informal) very bad start learning
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lousy day/hotel/teacher/singer
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flawless: *** perfect, with no faults flawless complexion/performance start learning
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with no mistakes or bad characteristics a flawless complexion
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start learning
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perfect and with no mistakes She speaks impeccable English
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unblemished: * sth that has not been spoilt or harmed start learning
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unblemished record/reputation/ character
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arduous: *** tirinciand involving a lot of effort start learning
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Gruelling activities are very difficult and make you very tired. a gruelling bicycle race
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tiring and lasting a long time start learning
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gruelling schedUle/day/race
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strenuou: * needing a lot of physical effort start learning
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strenuous activity/trip/effort/
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bedraggled: *** untidy, dirty and wet (for people start learning
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The two bedraggled children trudged into the house,
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start learning
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dishevelled clothes/hair/ appearance/man
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scruffy jeans I don't like to look scruffy. start learning
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untidy (for people/places) old and wom out (for clothes
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astute good at judging situations and making decisions which give you an advantage astutepolitician/decision start learning
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clever at understanding i people and situations
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clever and good at using deception to achieve success start learning
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clever at getting what you want, especially by deceiving people
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clever and showing good judgement of other people and situations start learning
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good at judging situations and making decisions which give you an advantage a shrewd businessman a shrewd investment shrewd businessman/ investment
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wily: * clever, experienced at j deceiving people and not easily i deceived (for people/behaviour wily - good at getting what you want, especially by deceiving people start learning
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wily businessman/manoeuvring
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conventional ordinary, normal! conventional people/opinions/ ideas start learning
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mainstream: *** ordinary, ~ conventional, neither strange nor 1 extreme 1 mains~rea. m belie~s/ideas /! orqenteetlonsloottuc
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middle-of-the-road pop music They adopted a sensible, middle-of-the-road policy on defence spending. start learning
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used to describe a person, organization, opinion, or type of entertainment that is not extreme and is acceptable to or liked by most people:
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He gave a fairly run-of-the-mill speech. start learning
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ordinary and not special or exciting in any way
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