Columbo S3E4: English vocabulary

good at understanding people and situations and making smart decisions

causing a lot of pain or suffering

to tell a story or describe events in speech or writing

full of longing or sadness for someone or something

a band worn around the head to hold hair back or as an accessory

the process of checking or adjusting a measuring device so it gives accurate results

increasing as more things are added over time

to question someone closely for a long time, especially in an official or forceful way

something that makes a surface, line, or shape even or level

so useful or valuable that you could not manage without it

the practice of selling unpaid bills to get money before they are paid

very dry because there is little rain

great intelligence, skill, or talent

the process of combing and separating wool or other fibers

a tree or shrub with large, often fragrant flowers

a person or thing that eats

the showing of a film or TV program to an audience

a small, tight group or mass of things

locked with a key

to a very great degree; extremely

the act of telling a story or describing events

used to ask what something really means or is, especially in British English

pregnant, used about a female animal

only just; almost not

a person who strongly supports and works for a cause

an informal way to say someone is very loyal, helpful, or supportive

to send something to a different place, person, or direction

A strong sexual desire for someone

in a situation where failure or disaster seems certain

to fall forward and land face first

a circuit that is complete so electricity can flow through it

a game in which a player or side must reach five points before the other side does

to attack someone or something, or start arguing with them

past tense and past participle of shoot

the act of postponing a proposal or motion for later discussion

after something has already happened or been decided

a device that changes one form of electricity or signal into another

a machine that shines images, video, or slides onto a screen or wall

to do something with full effort or confidence

happening in the mind without you being aware of it

causing a sudden unpleasant feeling because it does not fit well with what is around it

proof that someone was somewhere else when a crime happened

to shoot and kill someone with a gun

very beautiful, delicate, or finely made

to start doing something with energy and enthusiasm

a guess made with very little information or chance of being right

easy to see because it is not hidden

an official who investigates deaths that are sudden, violent, or unexplained

careful behavior or speech that avoids offending people or revealing private information

to expect something or think it will happen

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

a building or room where members of a club meet and spend time together

for now; until something changes

to drive a vehicle very fast, especially by pressing the accelerator hard

a group of wild boars

to give someone a reason or desire to do something

the process of shaping metal or other material with machine tools

the quality or level of someone's skill, ability, or character

to stop fighting, arguing, or refusing to give in

used to say that something should have happened earlier

the local office that handles police work in a town or city

used to say that an attempt was not successful

to end a romantic relationship with someone

to suddenly develop a rash or spots on your skin

to expect something to happen or to plan for it

a phone call that the person receiving it has to pay for

a room used for showing films to a small private audience

a person who is killed because of their religious or political beliefs

a person who plays golf

to be unable to stop yourself from doing something

a rude way of asking why someone is bothering or interrupting you

to appear or happen, especially by chance

to depend on something

to behave in a silly or playful way, especially when you should be serious

the way something is presented so that people understand it in a particular way

to be found to be true, real, or the case