Objective Proficiency p 99. Vocabulary

Shaking Hands

• Grip (on somebody/something): an act of holding somebody/something tightly; a particular way of doing this. E.g. Keep a tight grip on the rope. To loosen/release/relax your grip.
• Limp: not stiff or firm. Sp. flojo. E.g. The hat had become limp and shapeless.
• Clammy: damp in an unpleasant way. Humedo. E.g. His skin felt cold and clammy. Clammy hands.
• Pulverise: /ˈpʌlvəraɪz/ 1. to crush something into a fine powder. Sp. Pulverizar. 2. to defeat or destroy somebody/something completely. E.g. We pulverized the opposition..
• Purposeful: /ˈpɜːpəsfl/ having a useful purpose; acting with a clear aim and with determination. Sp. resuelto, decidido. E.g. Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. She looked purposeful and determined.
• Urge: to advise or try hard to persuade somebody to do something. E.g. urge somebody to do something. She urged him to stay.
• Get/take a grip (on yourself): to improve your behaviour or control your emotions after being afraid, upset or angry. E.g. I have to take a grip on myself, he told himself firmly. (informal) Get a grip! (= make an effort to control your emotions).
• Unshakeably: With determination. In a determined way. Firmly. E.g. A firm handshake seems unshakeably linked to a good first impression. 
• Bear somebody/something out: (bear /beə(r)/, bore /bɔː(r)/, borne / bɔːn/) to show that somebody is right or that something is true. Sp. corroborar, confirmar. E.g. The other witnesses will bear me out. The other witnesses will bear out what I say.
• Scrutiny: /ˈskruːtəni/ careful and thorough examination. E.g. The situation is bound to come under the scrutiny of the public health authorities. 
• Any old…: (informal) any item of the type mentioned (used when it is not important which particular item is chosen). E.g. Any old room would have done.
• School: to train somebody/yourself/an animal to do something. E.g. She had schooled herself in patience. 
• Let loose:  to do something or to happen in a way that is not controlled. E.g. Teenagers need a place to let loose.
• Trait: a particular quality in your personality. E.g. personality traits. Awareness of class is a typically British trait.
• Confound: / kənˈfaʊnd/ to prove somebody/something wrong. E.g. to confound expectations. She confounded her critics and proved she could do the job.
• Lukewarm: 1 slightly warm. Tepid. E.g. Our food was only lukewarm. Heat the milk until it is just lukewarm. 2 not interested or enthusiastic. E.g. a lukewarm response. Lukewarm about somebody/something: She was lukewarm about the plan.

Questions

• Offhand: /ˌɒfˈhænd/  not showing much interest in somebody/something. Sp. sin mostrar interés. E.g. an offhand manner. He was very offhand with me.
• Pun: the clever or humorous use of a word that has more than one meaning, or of words that have different meanings but sound the same. E:g. ‘The violinist spent the night in a vile inn’, vile inn (=poor hotel) sounds like violin.