W 1 … hone in on
… hone in on
… We need to hone in on the main issue.
… She honed in on the target quickly.
… hone in on
/ hone in on
… We need to hone in on the main issue.
/ We need to hone in on the main issue.
… She honed in on the target quickly.
/ She honed in on the target quickly.
W 2 … calumny
… calumny
… He was the victim of calumny.
… The article was full of calumny.
… calumny
/ calumny
… He was the victim of calumny.
/ He was the victim of calumny.
… The article was full of calumny.
/ The article was full of calumny.
W 3 … bellicose
… bellicose
… His bellicose tone alarmed the audience.
… The leader made bellicose threats.
… bellicose
/ bellicose
… His bellicose tone alarmed the audience.
/ His bellicose tone alarmed the audience.
… The leader made bellicose threats.
/ The leader made bellicose threats.
W 4 … loquacious
… loquacious
… She’s loquacious and loves to chat.
… The loquacious host kept the show lively.
… loquacious
/ loquacious
… She’s loquacious and loves to chat.
/ She’s loquacious and loves to chat.
… The loquacious host kept the show lively.
/ The loquacious host kept the show lively.
W 5 … neophyte
… neophyte
… He’s a neophyte in politics.
… The neophyte struggled with the basics.
… neophyte
/ neophyte
… He’s a neophyte in politics.
/ He’s a neophyte in politics.
… The neophyte struggled with the basics.
/ The neophyte struggled with the basics.
W 6 … quixotic
… quixotic
… His plan was noble but quixotic.
… She embarked on a quixotic quest.
… quixotic
/ quixotic
… His plan was noble but quixotic.
/ His plan was noble but quixotic.
… She embarked on a quixotic quest.
/ She embarked on a quixotic quest.
W 7 … spill the beans
… spill the beans
… He accidentally spilled the beans.
… Don’t spill the beans about the surprise.
… spill the beans
/ spill the beans
… He accidentally spilled the beans.
/ He accidentally spilled the beans.
… Don’t spill the beans about the surprise.
/ Don’t spill the beans about the surprise.
W 8 … winsome
… winsome
… Her winsome smile charmed everyone.
… He has a winsome personality.
… winsome
/ winsome
… Her winsome smile charmed everyone.
/ Her winsome smile charmed everyone.
… He has a winsome personality.
/ He has a winsome personality.
W 9 … rake over the coals
… rake over the coals
… She was raked over the coals for the mistake.
… The manager raked him over the coals.
… rake over the coals
/ rake over the coals
… She was raked over the coals for the mistake.
/ She was raked over the coals for the mistake.
… The manager raked him over the coals.
/ The manager raked him over the coals.
W 10 … vexation
… vexation
… His constant interruptions caused vexation.
… She sighed in vexation.
… vexation
/ vexation
… His constant interruptions caused vexation.
/ His constant interruptions caused vexation.
… She sighed in vexation.
/ She sighed in vexation.
W 11 … feign
… feign
… He feigned illness to skip school.
… She feigned surprise.
… feign
/ feign
… He feigned illness to skip school.
/ He feigned illness to skip school.
… She feigned surprise.
/ She feigned surprise.
W 12 … mete out
… mete out
… The judge meted out a harsh sentence.
… Justice was meted out swiftly.
… mete out
/ mete out
… The judge meted out a harsh sentence.
/ The judge meted out a harsh sentence.
… Justice was meted out swiftly.
/ Justice was meted out swiftly.
W 13 … vacillate
… vacillate
… He vacillated between choices.
… She vacillates when under pressure.
… vacillate
/ vacillate
… He vacillated between choices.
/ He vacillated between choices.
… She vacillates when under pressure.
/ She vacillates when under pressure.
W 14 … pull someone’s leg
… pull someone’s leg
… Are you pulling my leg?
… He pulled her leg about the surprise.
… pull someone’s leg
/ pull someone’s leg
… Are you pulling my leg?
/ Are you pulling my leg?
… He pulled her leg about the surprise.
/ He pulled her leg about the surprise.
W 15 … opulence
… opulence
… The palace was a display of opulence.
… She lived in opulence.
… opulence
/ opulence
… The palace was a display of opulence.
/ The palace was a display of opulence.
… She lived in opulence.
/ She lived in opulence.
W 16 … torpid
… torpid
… He felt torpid after the long flight.
… The torpid animal barely moved.
… torpid
/ torpid
… He felt torpid after the long flight.
/ He felt torpid after the long flight.
… The torpid animal barely moved.
/ The torpid animal barely moved.
W 17 … let the cat out of the bag
… let the cat out of the bag
… He let the cat out of the bag too early.
… She accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
… let the cat out of the bag
/ let the cat out of the bag
… He let the cat out of the bag too early.
/ He let the cat out of the bag too early.
… She accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
/ She accidentally let the cat out of the bag.
W 18 … zestful
… zestful
… She gave a zestful performance.
… His zestful attitude inspired others.
… zestful
/ zestful
… She gave a zestful performance.
/ She gave a zestful performance.
… His zestful attitude inspired others.
/ His zestful attitude inspired others.
W 19 … malleable
… malleable
… Gold is a malleable metal.
… Young minds are malleable.
… malleable
/ malleable
… Gold is a malleable metal.
/ Gold is a malleable metal.
… Young minds are malleable.
/ Young minds are malleable.
W 20 … ardor
… ardor
… He spoke with ardor about his dream.
… Her ardor for learning was clear.
… ardor
/ ardor
… He spoke with ardor about his dream.
/ He spoke with ardor about his dream.
… Her ardor for learning was clear.
/ Her ardor for learning was clear.
W 21 … cut down on
… cut down on
… I’m trying to cut down on sugar.
… We need to cut down on expenses.
… cut down on
/ cut down on
… I’m trying to cut down on sugar.
/ I’m trying to cut down on sugar.
… We need to cut down on expenses.
/ We need to cut down on expenses.
W 22 … abnegation
… abnegation
… His abnegation of comfort was admirable.
… She practiced abnegation in daily life.
… abnegation
/ abnegation
… His abnegation of comfort was admirable.
/ His abnegation of comfort was admirable.
… She practiced abnegation in daily life.
/ She practiced abnegation in daily life.
W 23 … lament
… lament
… They lamented the loss of tradition.
… She lamented her missed opportunity.
… lament
/ lament
… They lamented the loss of tradition.
/ They lamented the loss of tradition.
… She lamented her missed opportunity.
/ She lamented her missed opportunity.
W 24 … yeoman
… yeoman
… The yeoman worked the land diligently.
… He performed yeoman’s service for the team.
… yeoman
/ yeoman
… The yeoman worked the land diligently.
/ The yeoman worked the land diligently.
… He performed yeoman’s service for the team.
/ He performed yeoman’s service for the team.
W 25 … grapple with
… grapple with
… She grappled with the complex problem.
… He grappled with grief.
… grapple with
/ grapple with
… She grappled with the complex problem.
/ She grappled with the complex problem.
… He grappled with grief.
/ He grappled with grief.
W 26 … garrulous
… garrulous
… The garrulous neighbor talked for hours.
… He’s garrulous but kind.
… garrulous
/ garrulous
… The garrulous neighbor talked for hours.
/ The garrulous neighbor talked for hours.
… He’s garrulous but kind.
/ He’s garrulous but kind.
W 27 … obviate
… obviate
… This solution obviates the need for extra steps.
… Early action can obviate disaster.
… obviate
/ obviate
… This solution obviates the need for extra steps.
/ This solution obviates the need for extra steps.
… Early action can obviate disaster.
/ Early action can obviate disaster.
W 28 … bilk
… bilk
… He bilked investors out of millions.
… The scammer bilked dozens of victims.
… bilk
/ bilk
… He bilked investors out of millions.
/ He bilked investors out of millions.
… The scammer bilked dozens of victims.
/ The scammer bilked dozens of victims.
W 29 … jocose
… jocose
… His jocose remarks lightened the mood.
… She has a jocose personality.
… jocose
/ jocose
… His jocose remarks lightened the mood.
/ His jocose remarks lightened the mood.
… She has a jocose personality.
/ She has a jocose personality.
W 30 … yonder
… yonder
… Look at the hills yonder.
… The castle lies yonder.
… yonder
/ yonder
… Look at the hills yonder.
/ Look at the hills yonder.
… The castle lies yonder.
/ The castle lies yonder.
W 31 … dodge a bullet
… dodge a bullet
… We really dodged a bullet with that decision.
… He dodged a bullet by leaving early.
… dodge a bullet
/ dodge a bullet
… We really dodged a bullet with that decision.
/ We really dodged a bullet with that decision.
… He dodged a bullet by leaving early.
/ He dodged a bullet by leaving early.
W 32 … cavalcade
… cavalcade
… A cavalcade of cars followed the parade.
… The cavalcade moved through the city.
… cavalcade
/ cavalcade
… A cavalcade of cars followed the parade.
/ A cavalcade of cars followed the parade.
… The cavalcade moved through the city.
/ The cavalcade moved through the city.
W 33 … hubris
… hubris
… His hubris led to his downfall.
… The novel explores the dangers of hubris.
… hubris
/ hubris
… His hubris led to his downfall.
/ His hubris led to his downfall.
… The novel explores the dangers of hubris.
/ The novel explores the dangers of hubris.
W 34 … malice
… malice
… He spoke with clear malice.
… She bore no malice toward her rival.
… malice
/ malice
… He spoke with clear malice.
/ He spoke with clear malice.
… She bore no malice toward her rival.
/ She bore no malice toward her rival.
W 35 … ravenous
… ravenous
… I’m ravenous after that hike.
… The ravenous wolves devoured the meat.
… ravenous
/ ravenous
… I’m ravenous after that hike.
/ I’m ravenous after that hike.
… The ravenous wolves devoured the meat.
/ The ravenous wolves devoured the meat.
W 36 … chalk up to
… chalk up to
… Let’s chalk it up to experience.
… He chalked the loss up to bad luck.
… chalk up to
/ chalk up to
… Let’s chalk it up to experience.
/ Let’s chalk it up to experience.
… He chalked the loss up to bad luck.
/ He chalked the loss up to bad luck.
W 37 … nebula
… nebula
… The telescope captured a distant nebula.
… A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space.
… nebula
/ nebula
… The telescope captured a distant nebula.
/ The telescope captured a distant nebula.
… A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space.
/ A nebula is a cloud of gas and dust in space.
W 38 … allay fears
… allay fears
… The doctor tried to allay her fears.
… The announcement helped allay public fears.
… allay fears
/ allay fears
… The doctor tried to allay her fears.
/ The doctor tried to allay her fears.
… The announcement helped allay public fears.
/ The announcement helped allay public fears.
W 39 … fit as a fiddle
… fit as a fiddle
… He’s 80 but fit as a fiddle.
… After the surgery, she felt fit as a fiddle.
… fit as a fiddle
/ fit as a fiddle
… He’s 80 but fit as a fiddle.
/ He’s 80 but fit as a fiddle.
… After the surgery, she felt fit as a fiddle.
/ After the surgery, she felt fit as a fiddle.
W 40 … on the fence
… on the fence
… I’m still on the fence about the offer.
… She remained on the fence during the debate.
… on the fence
/ on the fence
… I’m still on the fence about the offer.
/ I’m still on the fence about the offer.
… She remained on the fence during the debate.
/ She remained on the fence during the debate.
W 41 … emaciated
… emaciated
… The stray dog looked emaciated.
… He became emaciated after the illness.
… emaciated
/ emaciated
… The stray dog looked emaciated.
/ The stray dog looked emaciated.
… He became emaciated after the illness.
/ He became emaciated after the illness.
W 42 … at the drop of a hat
… at the drop of a hat
… She’ll travel at the drop of a hat.
… He gets angry at the drop of a hat.
… at the drop of a hat
/ at the drop of a hat
… She’ll travel at the drop of a hat.
/ She’ll travel at the drop of a hat.
… He gets angry at the drop of a hat.
/ He gets angry at the drop of a hat.
W 43 … gauche
… gauche
… His gauche manners embarrassed everyone.
… She felt gauche at the formal dinner.
… gauche
/ gauche
… His gauche manners embarrassed everyone.
/ His gauche manners embarrassed everyone.
… She felt gauche at the formal dinner.
/ She felt gauche at the formal dinner.
W 44 … enervate
… enervate
… The heat enervated the players.
… A long illness can enervate the body.
… enervate
/ enervate
… The heat enervated the players.
/ The heat enervated the players.
… A long illness can enervate the body.
/ A long illness can enervate the body.
W 45 … brush aside
… brush aside
… He brushed aside the criticism.
… She brushed aside his concerns.
… brush aside
/ brush aside
… He brushed aside the criticism.
/ He brushed aside the criticism.
… She brushed aside his concerns.
/ She brushed aside his concerns.
W 46 … flabbergast
… flabbergast
… I was flabbergasted by the news.
… His sudden resignation flabbergasted the team.
… flabbergast
/ flabbergast
… I was flabbergasted by the news.
/ I was flabbergasted by the news.
… His sudden resignation flabbergasted the team.
/ His sudden resignation flabbergasted the team.
W 47 … mawkish
… mawkish
… The movie was too mawkish for my taste.
… He wrote a mawkish love letter.
… mawkish
/ mawkish
… The movie was too mawkish for my taste.
/ The movie was too mawkish for my taste.
… He wrote a mawkish love letter.
/ He wrote a mawkish love letter.
W 48 … sully
… sully
… The scandal sullied his reputation.
… Don’t sully her good name.
… sully
/ sully
… The scandal sullied his reputation.
/ The scandal sullied his reputation.
… Don’t sully her good name.
/ Don’t sully her good name.
W 49 … guffaw
… guffaw
… He let out a loud guffaw.
… The joke made everyone guffaw.
… guffaw
/ guffaw
… He let out a loud guffaw.
/ He let out a loud guffaw.
… The joke made everyone guffaw.
/ The joke made everyone guffaw.
W 50 … queue
… queue
… We waited in a long queue.
… Please queue up at the entrance.
… queue
/ queue
… We waited in a long queue.
/ We waited in a long queue.
… Please queue up at the entrance.
/ Please queue up at the entrance.
