Objective Proficiency p 39 Ex 6. Reviews. Students' Contributions

Liliana's contribution
The oncoming financial catastrophe.
Oncoming: /ˈɒnkʌmɪŋ/ coming towards you. Approaching. E.g. Always walk facing the oncoming traffic.

Providing a revealing and fascinating insight into the psychological pressures.
Insight into: an understanding of what something is like. E.g. The book gives us fascinating insights into life in Mexico. I hope you have gained some insight into the difficulties we face.

It translates the language into layman's wording.
Layman: a person who does not have expert knowledge of a particular subject. E.g. a book written for professionals and laymen alike. To explain something in layman's terms (= in simple language). In very simple and layman's wording let me try and explain it.

Obviously another remarkable strength of the film lies in its second to none cast including actors such as.
Second to none: E.g. As a dancer, he is second to none (= nobody is a better dancer than he is). 

Hats off also to the first-time director J.C. Chandor who has made the most compelling Wall Street movie out of a modest budgeted drama.
I take my hat off to somebody/ hats off to somebody  (informal) used to say that you admire somebody very much for something they have done.
Compelling: that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting. E.g. Her latest book makes compelling reading.

Junie's contribution
Highly recommend
Set in the future
Sentient: able to see or feel things through the senses. E.g. Man is a sentient being. A sentient race.
Relatively unknown Australian actor.
It caters for everyone's tastes as it has a good helping of everything.
Out of this world computerized special effects.
Endearing: /ɪnˈdɪərɪŋ/ causing people to feel affection. Lovable. Entrañable. e.g. A very endearing love story. An endearing habit.
Has truly surpassed himself
In this day and age

Isabel's contribution
His cigarette butt
Butt: the part of a cigarette or cigar that is left after it has been smoked. E.g. an ashtray full of cigarette butts.
Out of the blue: unexpectedly; without warning. E.g. The decision came out of the blue. 
His plea for a free ride 
Plea: an urgent emotional request 
The rear-view mirror: e.g. a mirror in which a driver can see the traffic behind
Squeal of the brakes
Squeal: a long high cry or sound
Astonished: very surprised. E.g. My parents looked astonished at my news


Emilio's contribution



It's about/high time: (informal) used to say that you think somebody should do something soon. E.g. It's about time you cleaned your room!
Somebody's jaw dropped/fell/saggedused to say that somebody suddenly looked surprised, shocked or disappointed.

The gem of an advert
Gem: /dʒem/ a person, place or thing that is especially good. E.g. This picture is the gem (= the best) of the collection. A gem of a place. She's a real gem!

This advert shows some world-beating statistics
World-beater: a person or thing that is better than all others. World-beating (adj)

It was very satisfying taking part in this worthwhile project

Undertaking: a task or project, especially one that is important and/or difficult. Venture. E.g. He is interested in buying the club as a commercial undertaking. In those days, the trip across country was a dangerous undertaking.

It aims at upholding core beliefs
Uphold something: to support something that you think is right and make sure that it continues to exist. Sostener. E.g. We have a duty to uphold the law. The regime has been criticized for failing to uphold human rights. 

The catchy tune unleashes a comfortable wave of optimism
Unleash something (on/upon somebody/something) to suddenly let a strong force, emotion, etc. be felt or have an effect. E.g. The government's proposals unleashed a storm of protest in the press. 

Music and words go hand in hand
Hand in hand: if two things go hand in hand, they are closely connected and one thing causes the other. E.g. Poverty and poor health often go hand in hand.

Unarguably, this ad does not merge into insignificance and indifference
Merge (into something) if two things merge, or if one thing merges into another, the differences between them gradually disappear so that it is impossible to separate them. E.g. The hills merged into the dark sky behind them. 

They have given a dazzling display of their talents.
Dazzle somebody to impress somebody a lot with your beauty, skill, etc. E.g. He was dazzled by the warmth of her smile. 

This advert will exceed all your expectations

This commercial is appointed to contrive a coveted sense of well-being.
Contrive: to succeed in making something happen despite difficulties. Lograr, conseguir. E.g. I decided to contrive a meeting between the two of them.
Covet: /ˈkʌvət/ to want something very much, especially something that belongs to somebody else.Codiciar. E.g.  He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. They are this year's winners of the coveted trophy (= that everyone would like to win).
 





Nieves's contribution 
A new pandemic is battering the world
Batter: to hit somebody/something hard many times, especially in a way that causes serious damage. Golpear, apalear, maltratar. E.g. She battered at the door with her fists. He had been badly battered about the head and face. Her killer had battered her to death. Severe winds have been battering the north coast.  

The incessant barrage of advertising
Incessant: /ɪnˈsesnt/
Barrage of sth: /ˈbærɑːʒ/ a large number of something, such as questions or comments, that are directed at somebody very quickly, one after the other, often in an aggressive way. E.g. a barrage of questions/criticisms/complaints. The media's barrage of attacks on the President's wife.


Our urban scenery is overstocked with them
Overstock: 1. to buy or make more of something than you need or can sell. 2. to put too many animals in a place where there is not enough room or food for them.

Ads are a double-edged sword
To be a double-edged sword/weapon: to be something that has both advantages and disadvantages.

The query permeates deeply inside the contestant's head
Query: /ˈkwɪəri/
Permeate: /ˈpɜːmieɪt/ to spread to every part of an object or a place. E.g. The smell of leather permeated the room.

An imaginative gimmicky test
Gimmickan unusual trick or unnecessary device that is intended to attract attention or to persuade people to buy something. E.g. A promotional/publicity/sales gimmick. We don't use gimmicks to sell our products.
 Gimmicky: (adj) E.g. a gimmicky idea.

Our self-esteem smashed to smithereens
Smash, blow, etc. something to smithereens: /ˌsmɪðəˈriːnz/ (informal) to destroy something completely by breaking it into small pieces. E.g. The bomb blew the car to smithereens.

It is hard to recover from a wounded pride
Wounded pride: lost face. E.g. My wounded pride never recovered from her rejection. She is suffering from no more than wounded pride.

A valuable find
A find: a thing or person that has been found, especially one that is interesting, valuable or useful. E.g. an important archaeological find. Our new babysitter is a real find.

 








Maria's contribution
The average person is exposed to dozens of ludicrous and dull adverts
Ludicrous: /ˈluːdɪkrəs/ unreasonable; that you cannot take seriously. Absurd. Ridiculous. E.g. a ludicrous suggestion. It was ludicrous to think that the plan could succeed. He is paid a ludicrous amount of money. Ludicrously expensive.

Kept me totally enthralled from the beginning to the end.
Enthral: /ɪnˈθrɔːl/ if something enthrals you, it is so interesting, beautiful, etc. that you give it all your attention. Cautivar. E.g. The child watched, enthralled by the bright moving images. This book will enthral readers of all ages. An enthralling performance.

An intricate landscape of waterfalls and bridges
Intricate: /ˈɪntrɪkət/ having a lot of different parts and small details that fit together. Intricate patterns. An intricate network of loyalties and relationships.

Fire-spitting dragons kindle the still located in a huge hall guarded ceremoniously by white-clad lined-up men and decorated with white banners exhibiting Japanese ideograms.
Kindle: to start burning; to make a fire start burning. E.g. We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 
Ideogram: /ˈɪdiəɡræm/

A large group of revellers are enjoying themselves 
Reveller: /ˈrevələ(r)/ a person who is having fun in a noisy way, usually with a group of other people and often after drinking alcohol.

The lush imagery of the state-of-the-art animation is absolutely superb  
Lush: beautiful and making you feel pleasure; seeming expensive. E.g. a lush apartment
Imagery: /ˈɪmɪdʒəri/ pictures, photographs, etc. E.g. Satellite imagery (= for example, photographs of the earth taken from space)

The lack of a voice-over is judiciously replaced by the dramatic effect of the powerful drumming 
Judicious: /dʒuˈdɪʃəs/ careful and sensible; showing good judgement. Acertado, sensato. E.g. It is curable with judicious use of antibiotics. A judiciously worded letter.

Common tricks of the trade include pulling our heartstrings by drawing us into a story and making us feel good.
Heartstrings: /ˈhɑːtstrɪŋz/ strong feelings of love or pity. Tocarle la fibra sensible a alguien. E.g. to tug/pull at somebody's heartstrings (= to cause such feelings in somebody)



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