Appraisal, praise and criticism

C2 · 100 entries · Five themes

Appraisal, praise and criticism

Created by , British English teacher.

Open a theme, then select a word or phrase for its meaning, example and pronunciation.

1. Expressing admiration (20 entries)
  1. ingratiating flattery
  2. unreserved admiration
  3. make one's influence felt
  4. qualified enthusiasm
  5. put in a good word for
  6. ingratiate yourself with
  7. throw one's weight about
  8. tempered enthusiasm
  9. cultivate a useful contact
  10. have someone's ear
  11. ingratiate
  12. exercise soft power
  13. bring someone round to one's way of thinking
  14. enthuse
  15. hit home with someone
  16. unite behind a rallying cry
  17. emulate
  18. curry favour with
  19. appeal across party lines
  20. lavish
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2. Measured and qualified praise (20 entries)
  1. much to commend it
  2. commend the merits of
  3. damning praise
  4. acclaim
  5. workmanlike
  6. damn with faint praise
  7. single out for praise
  8. meticulous
  9. impeccable
  10. extol
  11. unqualified endorsement
  12. bloodless
  13. exalted
  14. sing someone's praises
  15. damn someone with faint praise
  16. laud
  17. eminent
  18. a counsel of perfection
  19. mediocrity
  20. get people singing from the same hymn sheet
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3. Contempt and condemnation (20 entries)
  1. censure
  2. pointed disapproval
  3. berate
  4. disdainful
  5. chide
  6. vilify
  7. castigate
  8. contemptuous
  9. pour scorn on
  10. reprimand
  11. deplore
  12. admonish
  13. vouch for
  14. dismiss out of hand
  15. denunciation
  16. upbraid
  17. confer distinction on
  18. decry
  19. remonstrance
  20. a term of opprobrium
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4. Credibility and sincerity (20 entries)
  1. insincerity
  2. disingenuousness
  3. forthrightness
  4. artfulness
  5. ingenuousness
  6. frankness
  7. bad faith
  8. credulity
  9. veneer
  10. have one's confidence shaken
  11. give a good account of oneself
  12. come clean about a mistake
  13. take something on trust
  14. a disingenuous assurance
  15. rebuild confidence from the ground up
  16. make a frank admission
  17. be above board
  18. break a confidence
  19. make a clean breast of something
  20. give someone the runaround
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5. Ambivalent reactions (20 entries)
  1. aversion
  2. antipathy
  3. revulsion
  4. averse
  5. antithetical
  6. hindrance
  7. antithesis
  8. in the teeth of opposition
  9. deprecate
  10. discontent
  11. a necessary evil
  12. malice
  13. menace
  14. antidote
  15. preoccupation
  16. exultation
  17. venomous
  18. indolent
  19. tantamount
  20. cordon
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