F2F Class Notes (Ben)

Vocabulary

a smooth-talker = someone who talks smoothly but doesn’t necessarily take the actions that match
The stereotype about Italians is that they are smooth-talkers and can always talk their way out of a situation.

thrive = develop well
Many families who moved to the US thrived and became rich.

assume = take on, handle (usually used with ‘power’)
The president assumed power very young.

nihil = nothing
nihilism = the idea that nothing makes sense. You can kill and rob all you want.
annihilate = reduce to nothing, to destroy
The war totally annihilated the city. Not a building was still standing after the war.

provoke = try to make someone react by being offensive, rude or by teasing them
As the child was getting louder and louder, the dad shouted “Don’t provoke me or you’re gonna regret!”
Many people claim North Korea’s threats are nothing more than empty provocations.