bluff

bluff

= to deceive someone by pretending to have more strength 

Don’t trust him. He is just bluffing.

The company tried to bluff investors into thinking they were profitable, but the financials told a different story.

During the negotiation, she attempted to bluff to gain leverage, but the other party saw through her tactics.

When his friends challenged him about his knowledge, he tried to bluff but quickly ran out of things to say.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "bluff":

Synonyms

Deceive

Pretend

Mislead

Fake 

Trick

Antonyms

Be honest

Reveal

Disclose

Truthful

Authentic

Sincere

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

What does "bluff" mean in the sentence:

"The company tried to bluff investors into thinking they were profitable, but the financials told a different story."

#English

A) To deceive or mislead

B) To offer advice

C) To increase profits

D) To report honestly

 

square the circle

square the circle 

(phrase)

= to do something that is impossible

Examples

Don’t try to square the circle. It’s a waste of time.

Developing a good system in a short period of time can feel like squaring the circle.

Finding a good balance between work and personal life can feel like squaring the circle.

Reference

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/square-the-circle

Here are more examples of using "square the circle":

Trying to please everyone in the office often feels like squaring the circle.

Designing a perfect product that meets all customer needs may seem like squaring the circle.

Balancing a tight budget while expanding services can feel like squaring the circle.

Writing a comprehensive report in just one day is like trying to square the circle.

Some synonyms for the phrase "square the circle":

Achieve the impossible

Do the unachievable

Solve the unsolvable

Attempt the impossible

Reach for the unattainable

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

What does "to square the circle" imply?

#English 

A) Achieving the impossible

B) A waste of effort

C) Perfecting a design

D) Solving complex problems

 

bespoke

bespoke

= custom-made or tailored specifically for a particular person or their individual requirements

Mark ordered a bespoke suit from a famous tailor, ensuring it fit him perfectly.

Emily commissioned a bespoke bookshelf to fit the unique dimensions of her living room.

For their anniversary, she received bespoke jewelry designed to reflect her personal style and preferences.

The athlete ordered bespoke cycling gear that enhanced performance while reflecting his personal style.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "bespoke":

Synonyms

Custom-made

Tailored

Personalized

Made-to-order

Individualized

Crafted

Specialized

Antonyms

Ready-made

Standardized

Generic

Mass-produced

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

In the sentence, "Mark ordered a bespoke suit from a famous tailor, ensuring it fit him perfectly," what does "bespoke" imply about the suit?

#English

A) Standardized design

B) Uniquely tailored

C) Mass-produced

D) Fashionable trend

 

blunder

blunder

= a serious mistake 

The company’s blunder in handling the financial crisis cost it a few million dollars.

His blunder during the presentation led to a significant loss of client trust.

The IT team’s blunder in the software update caused a system-wide outage.

The referee's blunder in making the wrong call turned the game in favor of the opposing team.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "blunder":

Synonyms

Mistake

Error 

Misstep 

Antonyms

Success

Accuracy

Achievement

Correctness

Precision 

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

In the sentence, "The company’s blunder in handling the financial crisis cost it a few million dollars," what is a synonym for "blunder"?

#English

A) Triumph

B) Mishap

C) Trend

D) Plan

 

under someone's spell

 

under someone's spell

=  to be very attracted to or fascinated by someone, as if they have a magical influence over you

When he smiled, she felt like she was under his spell.

After their first meeting in the restaurant, she felt like she was under his spell.

The magician put the audience under his spell with his tricks.

From the moment he spoke, she was under his spell, captivated by his charm.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "under someone's spell":

Synonyms  

Enchanted by  

Charmed by

Fascinated by

Antonyms  

Indifferent to

Unimpressed by  

Dismayed by

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

"From the moment he spoke, she was under his spell, captivated by his charm."

How did she feel after he spoke?

#English

A) Enchanted

B) Disinterested

C) Confused

D) Disappointed

tread water

tread water

= to maintain a current state without making any forward progress

The stock price continued to tread water for the entire month.

Even with new product launches, the stock price seems to be treading water instead of rising.

After several months of uncertainty, the company’s stock price has continued to tread water, showing no significant gains.

After launching the new marketing campaign, the company felt like it was just treading water, with no increase in customer engagement.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "tread water":

Synonyms 

Remain stagnant 

Maintain the status quo

Hold steady

Stand still

Antonyms 

Make progress

Advance

Move forward 

Grow

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

"The stock price continued to tread water for the entire month."

What does "tread water" mean in the context of stock prices?

#English

A) Increase significantly

B) Maintain current state

C) Decrease sharply

D) Become volatile

 

on paper

 

on paper

(phrase)

= something that looks good in theory

Examples

Smith: What are your mum’s plans for investment?

Jeffrey: It’s still on paper!

The merger looks great on paper, but achieving a synergistic effect in the short term will not be easy.

The new proposal looks good on paper, but we need to test it in the market.

Reference

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/on-paper

Here are more examples of using "on paper":

On paper, the project is well-funded, but we lack the necessary resources to carry it out.

The team's strategy looks solid on paper, yet they struggle to execute it during games.

This investment opportunity appears attractive on paper, but we should conduct thorough research.

The schedule seems manageable on paper, but unexpected delays could complicate things.

Some synonyms for the phrase "on paper":

In theory

In principle

Theoretically

On the surface

In an ideal world

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

 

"The merger looks great on paper, but achieving a synergistic effect in the short term will not be easy."

What does "on paper" mean in this context?

#English

A) Difficult to read

B) Appears good in theory

C) Used for writing

D) Requires approval

be all the rage

 

be all the rage

= to be very popular at a particular time  

Oversized jackets were all the rage last year.

Online learning platforms are all the rage now, providing flexibility for students of all ages.

Eco-friendly products are all the rage, with consumers increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchases.

 

Minimalist home decor is all the rage this year, with people opting for simplicity and functionality.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the phrase "be all the rage":

Synonyms

Be very popular

Be in vogue

Be trendy

Be fashionable

Be the talk of the town

Be in style

Be all the buzz

Antonyms

Be out of fashion

Be unpopular

Be disregarded

Be uncool

Be outdated

Be in decline

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

"Eco-friendly products are all the rage, with consumers increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchases."

 

What trend is noted about consumers?

#English

A) Eco-products decline.

B) Sustainability matters.

C) Luxury rules.

D) Impulse buying.

nail jelly to the wall

nail jelly to the wall

= something is very difficult or nearly impossible to do

Getting a perfect score in bowling is just like nailing jelly to the wall.

Convincing her to change her mind on that topic was like nailing jelly to the wall.

Trying to keep the kids quiet during the meeting is like nailing jelly to the wall.

Asking him to finish the project on time felt like nailing jelly to the wall.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "nail jelly to the wall":

Synonyms 

Impossible task

Like herding cats

Trying to catch smoke

A daunting challenge

Antonyms 

Easily achievable

Simple task

Straightforward

Manageable

Doable

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

"Getting a perfect score in bowling is just like nailing jelly to the wall."

In this sentence, what does "nailing jelly to the wall" mean?

#English

A) Simple task.

B) Impossible feat.

C) Requires skill.

D) Common goal.

 

blindside

 

blindside

= to surprise someone in a way that has negative or harmful consequences 

The body check report blindsided Susan because she had always considered herself healthy.

The staff was blindsided by the sudden announcement of budget cuts, which affected their year-end bonuses.

The team was blindsided by the referee's controversial call in the final minutes of the game.

The diagnosis blindsided her, as she had been feeling fine and had no symptoms of illness.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "blindside":

Synonyms

Surprise 

Unexpected

Catch off guard 

Antonyms

Forewarn

Inform

Prepare

Anticipate

Expect

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

"The body check report blindsided Susan because she had always considered herself healthy."

What does the body check report reveal about Susan's situation?

#English

A) She was caught off guard.

B) She was fully prepared.

C) She felt very confident.

D) She received good news.

obstruct

obstruct

= to block or hinder progress, movement, or action 

The flooding obstructed road traffic for several hours.

The fallen tree obstructed the path, making it difficult to pass through.

The medication may obstruct the absorption of certain nutrients in the body.

Their unwillingness to compromise may obstruct the peace talks.

Some synonyms and antonyms for the word "obstruct":

Synonyms:

Block

Hinder

Interfere

Prevent

Delay

Deter

Antonyms:

Aid

Assist

Facilitate

Advance

Promote

Support

Encourage

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

In the sentence, "The fallen tree obstructed the path, making it difficult to pass through," what does "obstructed" mean?

#English

A) Blocked movement

B) Helped progress

C) Made clear

D) Opened way

 

lure

lure 

(verb)

= to persuade someone to do something

Examples

We designed a colorful advertisement to lure customers into buying our products.

At Christmas, some shops try to lure customers with special promotions and discounts.

The bright yellow color of the bait is designed to lure fish into swallowing it.

Reference

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lure

Here are more examples of using "lure":

The promise of adventure lured them to explore the uncharted territory.

She used her charm to lure him into joining the project.

The bright lights and music lured people to the carnival.

They set a trap to lure the raccoon away from their garden.

Some synonyms for the verb "lure":

Entice

Attract

Tempt

Seduce 

Bait

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

We designed a colorful advertisement to lure customers into buying our products.

In the context of the advertisement, what does "lure" most closely imply about the customers' response?

#English

A) They may ignore it.

B) They will be confused.

C) They will be misled.

D) They will be attracted.

 

at the end of one's rope

 

at the end of one's rope

= feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or out of options in a challenging situation

After working late every night for weeks, I felt I was at the end of my rope.

With mounting debts and no job, she realized she was at the end of her rope.

With the kids constantly fighting, she felt at the end of her rope and needed a break.

After failing several exams, he was at the end of his rope and considered dropping out.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "at the end of one's rope":

Synonyms:

At one's wit's end

Out of options

Reached a breaking point

At the limit 

Antonyms:

Having solutions

In control

Full of options

Resilient

Hopeful

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

"After working late every night for weeks, I felt I was at the end of my rope."

In the context of the sentence, what does "at the end of my rope" imply?

A) No more patience

B) Gaining strength

C) Feeling hopeful

D) Enjoying work

#English

keep it at bay

keep it at bay

= to control something unwanted so it doesn't become a problem

He puts his phone away to keep distractions at bay while studying.

I budget carefully to keep my spending habits at bay and avoid accumulating debt.

Open communication can help keep misunderstandings and conflicts at bay in a team.

Regular meditation helps keep negative thoughts at bay, allowing for better focus.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "keep it at bay":

Synonyms:

Control

Manage 

Prevent

Hold back

Antonyms:

Let in

Allow to escalate

Encourage 

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

Regular meditation helps keep negative thoughts at bay, allowing for better focus.

What does meditation help?

#English

A) Focus

B) Negativity

C) Distraction

D) Effort

 

bland

 

bland

= to describe something that lacks a strong flavor, distinctive characteristics, or vibrant qualities

The dish was so bland that I had to spice it up with some sauce and seasoning.

The soup was so bland that I added salt and pepper to enhance its flavor.

Her outfit was quite bland, consisting of a plain white shirt and gray pants, so she accessorized with a bright scarf.

The party felt a bit bland since there was no music or themed decorations to create an atmosphere.

Some synonyms and antonyms for "bland":

Synonyms

Mild 

Dull

Flavorless

Characterless

Unremarkable

Uninspired

Plain

Antonyms 

Spicy

Vibrant 

Exciting

Dynamic

Distinctive

Engaging

#English #Vocabulary #EnglishLearning #Grammar #英単語 #英語学習 #TOEIC #IELTS

In the sentence "The party felt a bit bland since there was no music or themed decorations to create an atmosphere," what does "bland" mean?

#English 

 

A) Exciting

B) Uninteresting

C) Overwhelming

D) Colorful