Objective Proficiency 2002 p 24. Vocabulary

Ex 1

• Refraction: /rɪˈfrækʃn/ the change in direction of a wave due to a change in its speed. E.g The red sky at night is something to do with the refraction of ice crystals in the atmosphere.

Ex 2

• Rain goose: E.g. The rain goose's behaviour is surprising.

• Lore: knowledge and information related to a particular subject, especially when this is not written down; the stories and traditions of a particular group of people. Tradición popular. E.g. Weather lore. Celtic lore. Traditional lore.
• Come out with: to say something, especially something surprising or rude. E.g. He came out with a stream of abuse. She sometimes comes out with the most extraordinary remarks.
• “If birds fly low, expect rain and a blow.” When the air pressure is high, it is easier for birds to fly at a higher altitude. If the air pressure is low, indicating bad weather, birds can’t fly as high because the air is less dense.
• Sceptical: /ˈskeptɪkl/ having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something will happen. E.g. I am sceptical about his chances of winning. The public remain sceptical of these claims. She looked highly sceptical. The announcement was greeted sceptically by the press.
• Bite: to have an unpleasant effect. E.g. The recession is beginning to bite.
• Swift: a small bird with long narrow wings, similar to a swallow. Vencejo. E.g. Birds that fly very high like swifts and swallows (golondrinas) stand very little chance of survival if they get caught in a bad storm.

Swift: 

 

Swallow:

• Starling: a common bird with dark shiny feathers and a noisy call. Estornino. E.g.  a murmuration of starlings (a flock of starlings)
• Feeder: an animal or plant that eats a particular thing or eats in a particular way. E.g. The swallows are insect feeders.
• Imminent: /ˈɪmɪnənt/ likely to happen very soon. E.g. The imminent threat of invasion. The system is in imminent danger of collapse. An announcement about his resignation is imminent.
• Water- repellent: /ˌwɔːtə rɪˈpelənt/a material, etc. that is water-repellent is specially treated so that water runs off it rather than going into it. E.g. a water-repellent spray. 
• Get up: if the sea or wind gets up, it increases in strength and becomes violent. E.g. The wind started to get up.
• Gale: an extremely strong wind. E.g. The gale blew down hundreds of trees. Gale-force winds.
• Due: arranged or expected. E.g. A gale was due from the north.
• Doom and gloom: a general feeling of having lost all hope, and of pessimism (= expecting things to go badly). Todo negro. E.g. Despite the obvious setbacks, it is not all doom and gloom for the England team.
• Brighten (up): (of the weather) to improve and become brighter. Despejarse. E.g. According to the forecast, it should brighten up later. 
• Set off: to begin a journey. E.g. We set off for London just after ten.
• Breeding: the producing of young animals, plants, etc. Cría. E.g. The breeding season. Some birds set off for their breeding grounds.
• Harvesting: the act of cutting and gathering crops. E.g. You just have to wait and watch and then plan your harvesting.
• Intrinsically linked: belonging to or part of the real nature of something/somebody. E.g. Farming and weather are intrinsically linked.   
• A vested interest: a personal reason for wanting something to happen, especially because you get some advantage from it. E.g. They have a vested interest in keeping the club as exclusive as possible. She thinks that lawyers have a vested interest in making the legal process move slowly.
• Clutch at straws: to try all possible means to find a solution or some hope in a difficult or unpleasant situation, even though this seems very unlikely. Aferrarse desesperadamente a una esperanza. E.g. I know I'm just clutching at straws here, but is it possible that the doctors are wrong? They were really clutching at straws when they observed animal and bird behaviour and linked it to the weather.

Idiom spot

• Give and take: to be willing, in a relationship, to accept what somebody else wants and to give up some of what you want. E.g. You're going to have to learn to give and take. There needs to be a bit of give and take in every relationship.
• Time and again: used for saying that something happens many times. E.g. I've told you time and again, you must wear a helmet. Time and again, we see this pattern of behaviour repeating itself.
• High and dry: 1 (of a boat, etc.) in a position out of the water. Encallado, varado. E.g. Their yacht was left high and dry on a sandbank. 2 in a difficult situation, without help or money. A la buena de Dios. E.g.  All my workers quit and left me high and dry. All the children ran away and left Billy high and dry to take the blame for the broken window.
• Fame and fortune: E.g. She went to Hollywood in search of fame and fortune. 
• Flesh and blood: when you say that somebody is flesh and blood, you mean that they are a normal human with needs, emotions and weaknesses. De carne y hueso. E.g. Listening to the cries was more than flesh and blood could stand. 
• Your (own) flesh and blood: a person that you are related to. De tu propia sangre. E.g. You can't do that to your own flesh and blood!
• At sixes and sevens: in confusion; not well organized. Estar hecho un lío. E.g. I haven't had time to clear up, so I'm all at sixes and sevens. The house is at sixes and sevens while it's being decorated.
• (In) black and white: in a way that makes people or things seem completely bad or good, or completely right or wrong. E.g. It's a complex issue, but he only sees it in black and white. This is not a black-and-white decision (= where the difference between two choices is completely clear).
• In black and white: in writing or in print. Por escrito. E.g. I never thought they'd put it in black and white on the front page.
• Through thick and thin: Even when there are problems or difficulties. Tanto en las duras como en las maduras. E.g. He's supported the team for over ten years through thick and thin. In marriage, you have to stick together through thick and thin.
• Touch and go: used to say that the result of a situation is uncertain and that there is a possibility that something bad or unpleasant will happen. Estado inseguro. Situación crítica. E.g. She's fine now, but it was touch-and-go for a while (= there was a possibility that she might die). It was touch-and-go whether they'd allow him into the country or not. It was touch and go whether we would arrive at the airport in time
• Safe and sound: E.g. They turned up safe and sound.  
• First and foremost: more than anything else. Antes que nada. E.g. He does a little teaching, but first and foremost he's a writer. First and foremost, let's review the minutes from last week's meeting. 
• The life and soul of the party, etc.: the most amusing and interesting person at a party, etc. E.g. My brother James is the life and soul of any family party.