ATTITUDE - BEHAVIOUR
attitude /ˈætɪtuːd/ (n):
# [countable] the way that you think and feel about somebody/something; the way that you behave towards somebody/ something that shows how you think and feel; a feeling or opinion about something or someone, or a way of behaving that is caused by this.
attitude problem /ˈætɪtjuːd prɒbləm/ (n):
# if somebody has an attitude problem they do not behave in a way that is acceptable to other people but do not see why they need to change their behaviour.
Teachers complained of her attitude problem.
A lot of drivers have a serious attitude problem.
attitudinal /ˌætɪˈtjuːdɪnl/ (adj):
# (formal) related to the attitudes that people have.
attitudinal changes in society.
behaviour /bɪˈheɪvjər/ (n):
# (US English behavior) [uncountable] the way that somebody behaves, especially towards other people.
be on your best behaviour (idiom):
# to behave in the most polite way you can (do).
stroke /strəʊk/ (v):
# stroke somebody (especially North American English, informal): to be very nice to somebody, especially to get them to do what you want.
flake out /fleɪk/ (phrasal verb):
# to do something strange or not do what you are expected to do.
I'm tired of relying on other people - they keep flaking out on me.
crash /kræʃ/ (v):
# [transitive] crash something (informal): gatecrash (= to go to a party or social event without being invited).
We tried to crash the party, but the bouncers wouldn't let us in.
gatecrash /ˈɡeɪtkræʃ/ (v):
# [transitive, intransitive] gatecrash (something): to go to a party or social event without being invited.
He decided to gatecrash the wedding.
gentility /dʒenˈtɪləti/ (n):
# [uncountable] (formal) very good manners and behaviour; the fact of belonging to a high social class; the quality of being genteel.
He took her hand with discreet gentility.
She thinks expensive clothes are a mark of gentility.
an air (= manner) of gentility.
discreet /dɪˈskriːt/ (adj):
# careful in what you say or do, in order to keep something secret or to avoid causing difficulty for somebody or making them feel embarrassed.
SYNONYM tactful;
He was always very discreet about his love affairs.
You ought to make a few discreet enquiries before you sign anything.
A discreet glance at the clock told me the interview had lasted an hour.
discreetly /dɪˈskriːtli/ (adv):
# in a careful way, in order to keep something secret or to avoid causing difficulty for somebody or making them feel embarrassed.
SYNONYM tactfully;
She coughed discreetly to announce her presence.
tactful /ˈtæktfl/ (adj):
# careful not to say or do anything that will annoy or upset other people.
SYNONYM diplomatic;
OPPOSITE tactless;
That wasn't a very tactful thing to say!
I tried to find a tactful way of telling her the truth.
It might be more tactful if you didn’t come to the wedding.
tactfully /ˈtæktfəli/ (adv):
# in a way that is careful not to say or do anything that will annoy or upset other people.
a tactfully worded reply
I tactfully suggested he should see a doctor.
OPPOSITE tactlessly;
tactlessly /ˈtæktləsli/ (adv):
# in a way that is likely to annoy or to upset people.
tactlessness /ˈtæktləsnəs/ (n):
# [uncountable] the fact of saying or doing things that are likely to annoy or upset other people.
diplomatic /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪk/ (adj):
# connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy).
a diplomatic crisis.
Attempts are being made to settle the dispute by diplomatic means.
to break off/establish/restore diplomatic relations with a country
# having or showing skill in dealing with people in difficult situations.
SYNONYM tactful;
a diplomatic answer;
You could try being a little more diplomatic this time.
diplomatically /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪkli/ (adv):
# in a way that is connected with managing relations between countries (= diplomacy).
The country remained diplomatically isolated.
# in a way that shows skill in dealing with people in difficult situations.
SYNONYM tactfully;
‘Why don't we take a break for coffee?’ she suggested diplomatically.
flatter /ˈflætə(r)/ or /ˈflætər/ (v):
# [transitive] flatter somebody: to say nice things about somebody, often in a way that is not sincere, because you want them to do something for you or you want to please them.
Are you trying to flatter me?
#[transitive] flatter yourself (that…): to choose to believe something good about yourself and your abilities, especially when other people do not share this opinion.
‘How will you manage without me?’ ‘Don't flatter yourself.’
queer /kwɪə(r)/ or /kwɪr/ (adj):
#(taboo, offensive, slang) an offensive way of describing a gay person, especially a man, which is, however, also used by some gay people about themselves.
gallant /ˈɡælənt/ (adj):
# (old-fashioned or literary) brave, especially in a very difficult situation.
SYNONYM heroic;
gallant soldiers.
She made a gallant attempt to hide her tears.
# giving polite attention to women; (of a man) polite and kind towards women, especially when in public.
‘I left her standing in the rain.’ ‘That wasn’t very gallant of you.’
half-hearted /ˌhæf ˈhɑːrtɪd/ (adj):
# done without enthusiasm or effort.
He made a half-hearted attempt to justify himself.
He made a half-hearted attempt to clear up the rubbish.
half-heartedly /ˌhɑːf ˈhɑːtɪdli/ (adv):
# without enthusiasm or effort.
I half-heartedly joined a gym to get fit.
cautious /ˈkɔːʃəs/ (adj):
# being careful about what you say or do, especially to avoid danger or mistakes; not taking any risks.
The government has been cautious in its response to the report.
They've taken a very cautious approach.
They expressed cautious optimism about a solution to the crisis.
cautious about somebody/something | cautious about doing something: He was very cautious about committing himself to anything.
strong-arm /ˈstrɒŋ ɑːm/ (adj):
# [only before noun] (disapproving) using threats or violence in order to make people do what you want.
to use strong-arm tactics against your political opponents.
genteel /dʒenˈtiːl/ (adj):
# (sometimes disapproving) (of people and their way of life) quiet and polite, often in an exaggerated way; from, or pretending to be from, a high social class.
a genteel manner.
Her genteel accent irritated me.
He lived in genteel poverty (= trying to keep the style of a high social class, but with little money).
mysterious /mɪˈstɪəriəs/ /mɪˈstɪriəs/ (adj):
# (especially of people) strange and interesting because you do not know much about them.
SYNONYM enigmatic
She meets a mysterious stranger who offers to help her.
Her last years remain somewhat mysterious.
# (of people) not saying much about something, especially when other people want to know more.
He was being very mysterious about where he was going.
Why are they being so mysterious?
mysteriously /mɪˈstɪriəsli/ (adv):
# in a strange and interesting way.
SYNONYM enigmatically
a mysteriously beautiful Moroccan woman.
# without saying much about something, especially when other people want to know more.
She was silent, smiling mysteriously.
mysteriousness /mɪˈstɪriəsnəs/ (n):
# [uncountable] the quality of being strange and interesting because people do not know much about you.
He was drawn to her poetic mysteriousness.
# the fact of not saying much about something, especially when other people want to know more.
I was expecting someone amazing, from his mysteriousness about her, but she proved to be very ordinary.
weird out (phrasal verb):
# weird somebody out l (informal) to seem strange to somebody and make them feel worried or uncomfortable.
The whole concept really weirds me out.
I have nothing to do and it weirds me out.
Driving on the left still weirds me out.
dignity /ˈdɪɡnəti/ (n):
# [uncountable, singular] a calm and serious manner that deserves respect.
She accepted the criticism with quiet dignity.
He brings a quiet dignity to the role.
His aristocratic voice gives him an air of dignity and power.
# [uncountable] the fact of being given honour and respect by people.
the dignity of work.
The terminally ill should be allowed to die with dignity.
# [uncountable] a sense of your own importance and value.
It's difficult to preserve your dignity when you have no job and no home.
beneath your dignity (idiom):
# below what you see as your own importance or worth.
He clearly regarded manual work as beneath his dignity.
stand on your dignity (idiom):
# (formal) to demand to be treated with the respect that you think that you deserve.
Our teacher never stands on her dignity with us, but treats us all as friends and colleagues.
She was never one to stand on her dignity.