Objective Proficiency p 62. Vocabulary

Ex 1

• Cliché /ˈkliːʃeɪ/ a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting. E.g. She trotted out the old cliché that ‘a trouble shared is a trouble halved.’a cliché-ridden style (contains a lot of clichés). His speeches tend to be boring and cliché-ridden. It has become a cliché to say that Prague is the most beautiful city in Europe. Tired clichés like ‘the information revolution’

a twee picture of a kitten inside a valentine pink basket with flower petals

• twee: very pretty, in a way that you find unpleasant and silly; appearing sentimental. E.g. The room was decorated with twee little pictures of animals. 
• Bow: /bəʊ/ a knot with two loops and two loose ends which is used for decoration on clothes, in hair, etc. or for tying shoes. E.g. to tie your shoelaces in a bow. Her hair was tied back in a neat bow.a dress decorated with bows and ribbons.

 

This image is so posed. When would a kitten sit like that of its own accord?

• pose (for somebody/something) to sit or stand in a particular position in order to be painted, drawn or photographed. E.g. The delegates posed for a group photograph. They posed briefly for photographs before driving off.

• Of your own accord: without being asked, forced or helped. E.g. Por decisión propia, espontáneamente. E.g. He came back of his own accord. The symptoms will clear up of their own accord.

a clichéd image of two people dressed as punks
clichéd /ˈkliːʃeɪd/ adjective. E.g. a clichéd view of upper-class life

a hackneyed picture of the global business handshake

a hackneyed greeting card, showing a still life

• hackneyed: /ˈhæknid/ used too often and therefore boring. Clichéd. E.g. a hackneyed phrase/subject.

Ex 2 

• Somebody's pet hate: (British English) (North American English somebody's pet peeve) something that you particularly dislike.
• Deem: to have a particular opinion about something. Consider. E.g. The evening was deemed a great success. I deem it an honour to be invited. She deemed it prudent not to say anything. They would take any action deemed necessary.
• Merit: to do something to deserve praise, attention, etc. E.g. He claims that their success was not merited. The case does not merit further investigation. 
• Hell-bent on something/on doing something: determined to do something even though the results may be bad. E.g. He seems hell-bent on drinking himself to death.  
• Walk off with something: (informal) to win something easily.
• Slavish:/ˈsleɪvɪʃ/ following or copying somebody/something exactly without having any original thought at all. Falto de originalidad. E.g. a slavish adherence to the rules. Slavish obedience. A slavish imitation of Hitchcock's films.