[5words] 20121220

shroud

/ʃraʊd/ (v)

to hide something by covering or surrounding it:

• Visitors have complained about the scaffolding that shrouds half the castle.
• Suddenly all the lights went out and the house was shrouded in darkness.
• The mist shrouding the valley had lifted by eight o'clock.

Idiom: be shrouded in secrecy/mystery: to be a matter about which very little is known or understood:

• Her whereabouts have been shrouded in secrecy since she received the death threat.
• Zsa Zsa Gabor is believed to have been 99 when she died... but the exact year she was born is still shrouded in mystery. See more at http://tungnvn.blogspot.co.uk/p/tv-showbiz.html

biased 

/ˈbaɪ.əst/ (a)
(C1) showing an unreasonable like or dislike for a person based on personal opinions: thành kiến

• The newspapers gave a very biased report of the meeting.
• I think she's beautiful but then I'm biased since she's my daughter.

unbiased

/ʌnˈbaɪəst/
(C2) able to judge fairly because you are not influenced by your own opinions: không thành kiến, không thiên vị

• unbiased advice
• an unbiased opinion

prejudiced

/ˈpredʒ.ə.dɪst/
(C1) showing an unreasonable dislike for something or someone: thành kiến

• The campaign is designed to make people less prejudiced about AIDS.
• The media has been accused of presenting a prejudiced view of people with disabilities.
• Some companies are prejudiced against taking on employees who are over the age of 40.

slippery

(C1) /ˈslɪp.ər.i/ (a)

>> If something is slippery, it is wet or smooth so that it slides easily or causes something to slide: trơn trượt

• The slippery struggle of this cat fishing on ice.
  See the video.
• slippery soap
• a slippery floor
• The road was wet and slippery.

>> Someone who is slippery cannot be trusted: một người lươn lẹo là một người không thể tin tưởng.

• He's as slippery as an eel (Anh ta lươn lẹo như con lươn) - you can never get a straight answer out of him.
• He's a slippery customer (= person), and I've never felt comfortable with him.
  Anh ta là một người lươn lẹo, lẽo mép, và tôi chưa bao giờ cảm thấy thoải mái với anh ta.

bumper

/ˈplʌm.ər/
(B2) a person whose job is to supply and connect or repair water pipes, baths, toilets, etc.:

• When is the plumber coming to repair the burst pipe?
• We'll have to get a plumber in to look at that water tank.
• Did you remember to get on to the plumber about the shower?
• The plumber is coming tomorrow to install the new washing machine.
• The plumber came to mend the burst pipe.
• He's a plumber by trade.

in the air

If something is in the air, you feel that it is happening or about to happen. This phrase is used for saying that people all have a similar feeling, especially a feeling that something exciting or new is happening. Everywhere (không khí khắp nơi); all about (gần đến rồi).

• There was a feeling in the air that it was time for a change.
• Love/Change/Spring/Christmas is in the air.
• Heartwarming Christmas moments are in the air.
• Spring is in the air, and many people's thoughts are turning to travel.
• There is such a feeling of joy in the air.
• We felt a sense of tension in the air.

castles in the air: plans or hopes that have very little chance of happening (aka dreams about future success).
She tells me she's planned out her whole career, but as far as I can see it's all just castles in the air.
Before you start building castles in the air, just think how much all this is likely to cost.
one's nose in the air (also known have one's nose in the air): haughty or disdainful: khinh thường, miệt thị, khinh khỉnh, xem thường

• She thinks she's so smart; she's always walking around with her nose in the air.

up in the air (about sb or sth): undecided/not decided/not completely developed/not settled/uncertain about somebody or something

• I don't know what Sally plans to do. Things were sort of up in the air the last time we talked.
• Let's leave this question up in the air until next week.
• We have no idea which school she'll be attending in September - everything is still up in the air.
• Will a strike take place? That's up in the air.

revel

/ˈrev.əl/ (v)
to dance, drink, sing, etc. at a party or in public, especially in a noisy way

reveler 

/ˈrev.əl.ər/ (n)
On New Year's Eve, thousands of revellers fill Trafalgar Square.

• Saigon revelers leave piles of trash after Christmas Eve. Xem video.
• Revellers left behind after an illegal rave on Dartmoor, have told BBC Spotlight's Clare Woodling they are sorry for any disruption caused. Xem video.

revel in sth

to get great pleasure from a situation or an activity:

• She's revelling in her newly found freedom.
• He revelled in his role as team manager.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/dutch-mother-with-two-british-children-told-to-leave-uk-after-24-years-a3428991.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/12/28/watch-carrie-fisher-roast-george-lucas-2005-award-ceremony/
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/carrie-fisher-star-wars-actress-dies-aged-60-after-suffering-cardiac-arrest-on-flight-from-london-a3428686.html