Columbo S3E8: English vocabulary

to stay hidden and wait for a chance to act

full of longing or sadness for someone or something

pretending to be shy or modest in a way that is meant to attract attention

to make someone suddenly feel shocked or alarmed

covered with a protective outer layer

a statement or quote from someone saying that a person or thing is good

used to get someone's attention, or to show mild embarrassment or disapproval

a person who sends workers, vehicles, or emergency services to where they are needed

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

to ask questions about someone’s private life in a way that is annoying or rude

a slender candle

the process of removing bones from meat or fish

a person who sells illegal drugs

to spread out and gradually disappear

made up of different kinds of things

an opinion or judgment about the value, quality, or condition of something

kissing and touching someone in a sexual way

a type of brandy made in the Cognac region of France

the process of covering a surface with tiles

British slang for a pound sterling

a mixture of different kinds of things

to form a clear picture of something in your mind

locked with a key

a breed of cat with a pale coat and dark points, often blue-eyed

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

the late hours of the night

the act of following someone closely in order to watch them or spy on them

shameless boldness

to hear something spoken by someone else without meaning to or without being invited to listen

to end well or be resolved successfully

to talk in a casual, lively way

the equipment and setup used to make products in a factory

to make it possible for something to happen

a dangerous condition in which fluid collects in the lungs

to wait for someone in order to surprise or attack them

the act of demanding money or something else by threatening to reveal damaging information

a fence made of upright wooden stakes

the act of being dismissed from a job

to move closer to a target or goal and focus on it

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

a mischievous or cheeky person, especially a child

to indicate or suggest something

relating to the lungs

the act of postponing a proposal or motion for later discussion

the sound a cat makes

a small decorative box for jewelry, letters, or other valuables

used to say that you agree to something, often reluctantly

to make something more difficult or harder to understand

to land or settle lightly on something

to hit a surface with short, quick knocks

to balance or reduce the effect of something

imagined rather than real

the crime of getting into a building illegally in order to steal or commit another crime

a device for controlling the flow of water from a pipe

the act of giving something to a person, group, or purpose

in a strange or unusual way

the friendly feeling of being with someone and enjoying their company

the older central part of a city, often with poorer housing and crowded streets

proof that someone was somewhere else when a crime happened

at a very short distance; with little space between things

a machine with keys that prints letters and numbers on paper

separated from the rest by cutting

a large, expensive car, often driven by a chauffeur

a chemical element used in bleach, swimming pools, and water treatment

to start doing something with energy and enthusiasm

Used to tell someone that they can do what they want, especially when you think it is a bad idea

the act of combining money, resources, or efforts for a shared purpose

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

made so that water cannot get through

a formal charge that someone has committed a serious crime

to seem reasonable or consistent

used to show surprise, disbelief, or agreement that something is obvious

to stay in one place in the air

a valley

in a way that is more difficult than necessary

to move or act quickly, especially because you are in a hurry