Vocabulary:
Adjectives:
Disparate = essentially different
Redeeming = offsetting or counterbalancing some default or defect
Unfathomable = difficult, impossible to understand
Flagging = dwindling, weak
Arrogant = making claims or pretensions of superiority
Gripping = intensely holding the attention, fascinating
Adverbs:
Potentially = possibly – but hasn’t actually happened yet
Frankly = freely, openly
Patently = evidently, obviously
Grossly = totally, completely
Nouns:
Beacon = person or thing that inspires
‘Wannabes’ = (informal/slang) someone who aspires to something – particularly fame or success
Humiliation = shame; loss of pride, self-respect or dignity
Mentality = view, outlook
Antic = act, behaviour, prank
Pitfall = danger
Backlash = strong or violent reaction to something
Antipathy = object of dislike, opposition (in feeling)
Indictment = serious criticism, cause for blame, charge
Motivation = incentive, reason for doing something
Verbs:
To nurture = support, encourage
To derive = receive, obtain
To manipulate = manage or influence skilfully – especially in an unfair manner
To revitalise = give new life to
To exploit = use selfishly for one’s own ends
To loathe = strongly dislike, abhor
Expressions:
Underdog = person at a disadvantage/expected not to do well – especially in a contest
To leave cold = leave someone unaffected or bored, not interested
Celebrity ‘B’ list = categorisation of the marketability of a celebrity (lower than a ‘Superstar’, ‘Star’ or an ‘A’ List Celebrity)
Spring to mind = to appear suddenly in your thoughts
Get out of hand = can’t be controlled any more
To snowball = cause to grow or become larger