Unit 4A

Palabra

Definición

Ejemplo

haunting

poignant and evocative; difficult to ignore or forget

It was a haunting story - frightening and sad. It won't be easy to forget

moving

making you feel strong emotions, especially sadness or sympathy

Bayman's book about his illness is deeply moving

heart-warming

seeming to be something positive and good and therefore causing feelings of pleasure and happiness

The sight of elderly people in love is heart-warming.

fast-moving

rapid in movement or action

Action movies tend to rely on fast-moving stories

intriguing

arousing one's curiosity or interest; fascinating

The magazine carries an intriguing mixture of high fashion, gossip and racing

thought-provoking

stimulating interest or thought

It's a thought-provoking essay. It raises many interesting questions

creepy

strange or unnatural and making you feel frightened

Hanging a giant flag from your house is a little bit creepy

implausible

(of an argument or statement) not seeming reasonable or probable; failing to convince

The story was highly implausible. I didn't believe it for a minute

scarce

if something is scarce, there is not very much of it available

As raw materials became scarce, synthetics were developed

déjà vu

a feeling of having already experienced the present situation

I had a feeling of deja vu

faux pas

an embarrassing mistake in a social situation

Blowing your nose on a train is a cultural faux pas in Japan.

cliche

a phrase or idea that is boring because people use it a lot and it is no longer original

It's a cliche, but it's true: 'You never get a second chance to make a first impression'.

tsunami

a very large wave, usually caused by an earthquake, which can cause a lot of damage when it reaches land

The tsunami swept away all the buildings on the coast

al dente

(of food, typically pasta) cooked so as to be still firm when bitten

The eggs created a rich coating for the al dente spaghetti

aficionado

someone who is very interested in and enthusiastic about a particular subject

He joined a club for model railway aficionados

debacle

a sudden disastrous collapse or defeat, esp one involving a disorderly retreat; rout

The Libya debacle is not merely a case of inadequate security.