Vocabulary ladder

The Great Gatsby

I

False friends70 entries

You know these words. In this book they mean something else.

in a reserved way
saying little and showing little
many curious natures
many strange sorts of people
veteran bores
dull people who have had years of practice at it
being a politician
someone who makes friends everywhere for his own gain
the confidences
the private things people told me in trust
intimate revelation
a telling of something deeply private
the terms in which
the words they choose to use
obvious×2
plain to anyone who looks
gorgeous
grand and dazzling to see in a man
is dignified under the name of
called by a fine name to make it sound better
creative temperament
the flattering name given to an artist's nature
the actual founder of my line
the man who really started the family
grave
serious, with no smile
that familiar conviction
that same firm belief he knew well
natural curiosities
odd things in the land worth looking at
a courtesy bay
a stretch of water too small for the grand name it is given, called that only to be polite
domesticated
tamed, made as safe as a farm animal
in every particular
in every detail
tag
a short name used as a label
factual
exact, true to the original
overlooked
passed by without notice
the courtesy bay
the stretch of water too small for the grand name it is given, called that only to be polite
physical accomplishments
skills of the body
acute×2
sharp and intense
no particular reason
no special reason
overlooking
having a view down over
brick walks
paths of brick laid across a garden
The front was broken by
the flat face of the house was cut across by
strained
pulled tight
husky
deep and a little rough in sound
intimate
close as friends
in its sweep
in the wide movement of his arm
stationary
not moving
about the room
around the room
criticism
a remark finding fault
exhibition
a showing of the way a person behaves
gay
merry, full of fun
cried×2
said it loudly
shortly
in few words, sharply
I started
I jumped in surprise
stiff
sore and hard to move after lying still
an erect carriage
the straight upright way she held her body
demanded×2
asked sharply
fastened
fixed themselves
specimen
an example of a type, said here of a person
presently
soon, a little later
its close
its end
sheer
pure, nothing but
nothing in particular
nothing special
pathetic
sad, moving one to pity
position
his job
mounted
rose and grew louder
grasped
understood
mastered
learned and made her own
hardy
tough, able to stand hard use
intriguing
interesting in a puzzling way
possessed her
had filled her completely
abandoned
left alone by everyone
the most advanced people
the most modern in their thinking
Sophisticated
knowing the world and no longer surprised by it
exact
take from me by force
distinguished×2
of high standing, much respected
critical
finding fault with her
lightly
in an easy, joking way
touched me
made me feel something for them
my estate
the piece of ground my house stands on
organ
a large church instrument that makes sound by blowing air through pipes
regarding
looking at
the secure position
the firm way his feet were planted
minute
very small

Idioms72 entries

Fixed expressions with a settled meaning of their own. Worth learning once.

In consequence
and so
not a few
quite a lot of
it came about that
it happened that
a matter of infinite hope
believing that anyone may still become better than they seem
well-to-do
having plenty of money
I’m supposed to look like him
people say I look like him
with special reference to
and people point in particular to
hard-boiled
tough, showing no soft feeling
weather-beaten
worn rough by years of rain and sun
at the last minute
just before it was too late
rather literary
very interested in writing and books
not a little
very
spanking new
brand new
took your breath away
was startling in its size
were rich together
shared the same easy life that money buys
I had no sight into Daisy’s heart
I could not see what Daisy really felt
established dominance over his face
took charge of his face, so that they ruled the whole of it
hated his guts
hated him deeply
Now
used here to open the remark, close to 'listen'
extended full length
lying stretched right out
out of the corner of her eyes
by looking sideways without turning her head
surprised into
so startled that I nearly did it without meaning to
p-paralysed with happiness
a joking way of saying she is too glad to move
That was a way she had.
she often behaved like that
At any rate
anyway
something of a fright
a small scare
arose to my lips
came up ready to be spoken
draws a stunned tribute from me
makes me admire it in silent surprise
just a while since
a short time ago
sent their love through me
asked me to bring her their good wishes
How gorgeous!
what wonderful news
Who with?
which firm do you work for
a God damned fool
a complete idiot, said with a strong swear
I’m absolutely in training
I am keeping strictly fit for my sport
is beyond me
I cannot understand it
black and blue
marked dark by a knock
in kidding
as a joke
at once
at the same time as each other
in the absence of all desire
wanting nothing from anyone there
from phase to phase
from one stage of it to the next
talk about crops or something
talk farming, the way a plain country man would
going to pieces
breaking apart and failing
Why, no
a small sound of surprise before answering, not a question
Well,×2
a word used to open a remark, close to 'now then'
It’s up to us
it is our job
go to make
together build
Things went from bad to worse×2
it got steadily worse
excused herself
said something polite and left the table
consciously devoid of meaning
empty on purpose, saying nothing at all
Why—
a hesitating sound before answering, not a question
got some woman
keeps another woman as a lover
It couldn’t be helped!
there was no way to stop it
for a minute
for a short time
vanished into air
disappeared completely
the candles being lit again, pointlessly
someone made the candles burn again, and for nothing
avoid all eyes
not look anyone in the face
out of mind
away, and stop thinking about it
needless to say
of course
Evidently she had reason to be.
clearly she had good cause to feel that way
God knows where
nobody knew where
sure enough
and it happened just as I expected
held us silent for a moment
kept us from speaking for a moment
asserted itself
showed itself plainly
run around the country
travel about on her own
a little heart to heart talk
an open, private talk about feelings
first thing you know
before you have time to notice
started my motor
set the car's engine running
on account of
because of
less remotely rich
rich in a way that no longer held them at a distance from me
“had some woman in New York”
kept a lover in the city
that would do for an introduction
that was enough of a reason to speak to him
I could have sworn
I was almost certain

Phrasal verbs34 entries

A verb and a small word that together mean something the two words do not.

turning over in my mind
thinking about again and again
opened up
made people show me their real selves
parcelled out
shared out in portions
turned out
proved to be, in the end
preyed on
fed on and wore down
closed out
shut off, ended
carries on
still runs today
talked it over
discussed it among themselves
bring back
start doing again
jut out
reach far from the shore into
drift on
keep moving with no plan
buoyed up
raised and carried as if floating on water
died out
faded away to nothing
cared for
loved
stopped off
stayed a short while on the way
stood up into the room
stood up from the sofa and so became part of the room and the people in it
took down
swallowed
snapped them out
put the flames out with her fingers
put away
finished with and set aside
taken up
caught hold of and carried further
broke out
suddenly said loudly
look out
be careful
worked out
reasoned it all through
watch out
be careful
seized upon
took hold of quickly
give up
leave, and not go back
singing away
singing on and on
woke up
came out of sleep
broke off
stopped suddenly
fling you together
push the two of you into each other's company
crept up on us
arrived without our noticing
going with
seeing a girl as more than a friend
had blown off
had died away to nothing
stretched out
put his arms out to their full length

Noun phrases14 entries

A group of words naming a person or a thing, explained together.

reserve all judgements
not deciding whether people are good or bad
a hostile levity
joking in an unfriendly way, to stop the other person coming closer
successful gestures
moves and words that all go right, one after another
a romantic readiness
always ready to believe that something wonderful is coming
body of salt water
stretch of sea water
affair by any standard
a building of huge size, however you measure it
savours of
has the flavour of, seems like
his freedom with money
the careless way he spent it
tense gaiety
cheerful on the surface, with strain underneath
God,
a cry of feeling, not talk about religion
this good girl
herself, said as a joke
the sporting life
the rich leisure world around games and racing
child in arms
carrying the baby with her
physical egotism
the certainty about himself that came from his strong body

Old word forms12 entries

Old forms of words you know. Learn them once.

for×2
here this word means 'because'
What’ll
what will
I’ve gotten to be
I have become
of old
in the past
whereupon
and then
in the room beyond
in the next room
at table
during the meal
I’ve gotten to feel
I now feel
anon
soon
oughtn’t×2
ought not
was passed together there
was spent together there
for he gave
because he gave

Words318 entries

In the order you will meet them.

communicative
open with each other
inclined
in the habit of
detect
notice, pick out
unjustly
wrongly, with no fair cause
privy
allowed to know something secret
griefs
the things that hurt them most
unsought
not asked for by me
feigned
pretended
preoccupation
the look of a mind full of something else
unmistakable
that could not be read any other way
revelations
things told that were hidden before
plagiaristic
copied from what others have said
marred
spoiled
suppressions
things left out on purpose
Reserving judgements
the name the narrator gives his own rule: he lets a person's character stay an open questionan ordinary word the author has stipulated a meaning for
snobbishly
in a way that looks down on people below you
fundamental
most basic
decencies
the plain right ways of treating people
unequally
in different amounts to different people
exempt
left out, not included
my reaction
the way the narrator had turned away from all of it
unbroken
with no gaps in it
heightened
raised above the normal level
sensitivity
the power to feel very small changes
responsiveness
being so quick to feel things
flabby
soft and weak
impressionability
a nature that takes its feeling from whatever is nearest
temporarily
for a time only
abortive
coming to nothing
clan
a large family group that holds together
descended
born in a line coming down from
in fifty-one
in the year 1851money
wholesale hardware business
a firm selling tools and metal goods in large amounts to shopsthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
counter-raid
the attack made back at the enemy
thoroughly
completely, all the way through
restless×2
unable to settle or stay still
the bond business
the trade in bonds: papers a company or a government sells when it borrows moneythe working vocabulary of a trade or field
a prep school
a private school that gets boys ready for universityan object or practice the period took for granted
Why—ye-es
a small hesitating sound, then a long doubtful agreementEnglish respelled to carry an accent
hesitant
unsure and slow to answer
twenty-two
the year 1922money
at eighty a month
eighty dollars a month, a cheap rentmoney
muttered
said in a low voice, half to herself
helplessly×2
as if lost and unable to manage
casually×2
without thinking about it
investment securities
papers showing money lent out or a share owned in a companythe working vocabulary of a trade or field
solemn
very serious in tone
editorials
opinion pieces written for a newspaperthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
epigram
a short clever saying
communities
places where people live together as a group
slender×3
long and narrow
riotous
wild and out of hand
formations
shapes the land has taken
identical
exactly the same
contour
the line of the outer edge
ovals
rounded shapes longer than they are wide
resemblance
the way they look the same
perpetual
never-ending
gulls
large grey and white sea birds
overhead
above, in the sky
dissimilarity
how unlike each other they are
superficial
going no deeper than the surface
bizarre
very strange
sinister
giving the feeling that something is wrong
fifty yards
about forty-five metresmoney
squeezed
pressed in tightly
twelve or fifteen thousand a season
twelve to fifteen thousand dollars for one summer, an enormous rentmoney
colossal
huge
imitation
a copy of something else
forty acres
about sixteen hectares, a very large piece of groundmoney
lawn×4
an area of cut grass around a house
mansion×3
a very large grand house
inhabited
lived in
eyesore
something ugly to look at
consoling
comforting
proximity
being close by
millionaires
people with a million dollars or more
glittered
shone with many small points of light
powerful ends
players in one of the positions on an American football teamthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
anticlimax
a weak, flat ending after something big
enormously
very greatly
wealthy
having a great deal of money
reproach
blame spoken out loud
a string of polo ponies
a set of small horses kept for a rich man's game played on horseback with long sticks and a ballan object or practice the period took for granted
drifted
moved about with no plan
unrestfully
without ever settling anywhere
polo
a game played on horses with long sticks and a ballan object or practice the period took for granted
wistfully
with a sad longing
irrecoverable
gone, and never to be had again
scarcely
hardly, almost not
a quarter of a mile
about four hundred metresmoney
sundials
stone clocks that tell the time by a shadowan object or practice the period took for granted
drifting
moving slowly and with no direction
vines
climbing plants
French windows×2
tall glass doors that open onto a gardenan object or practice the period took for granted
glowing×3
giving off a soft warm light
porch×5
a covered platform at the door of a house
sturdy×2
strongly built
supercilious
looking down on everyone
shining
bright
arrogant
sure of being better than others
aggressively
in a pushing, ready-to-fight way
effeminate
more like a woman than a man
swank
show-off style
glistening
shining as if wet
the top lacing
the cords that tie riding boots at the topan object or practice the period took for granted
shifting×2
moving from one place to another
leverage
force got by pushing against something
gruff
rough and low
tenor
the higher singing range for a man; here the pitch of his voicethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
fractiousness
being quick to quarrel
paternal
like a father's
contempt
the feeling that someone is worth nothing
the same senior society
a private students' club at Yale for men in their last yearan object or practice the period took for granted
defiant×2
with a stubborn edge, as if daring to be refused
wistfulness
a sad wish for something missing
restlessly×2
without staying still
vista
a long open view
a sunken Italian garden
a shaped garden set lower than the ground around it, in the Italian stylean object or practice the period took for granted
a half acre
about two thousand square metresmoney
pungent
with a strong sharp smell
motorboat
a small boat driven by an engine
offshore
out from the land, on the water
abruptly
suddenly and sharply
hallway
a passage inside the front door
rosy-coloured×2
pale pink
ajar
open a little way
gleaming
shining brightly
rippled
moved in small waves
rug
a thick floor covering
anchored
held in one place by a weight
rippling
moving in small waves
fluttering
moving quickly to and fro
rear×2
back
rugs
thick floor coverings
divan
a long low seat with no backan object or practice the period took for granted
hint
a small sign
murmuring
saying in a low soft voice
conscientious
careful to do the right thing
absurd
silly, not sensible
charming×3
pleasing and attractive
witty
clever and funny
hinted
said in an indirect way
murmur×2
a low soft voice
irrelevant
having nothing to do with the point
fluttered
moved quickly and lightly
imperceptibly
so slightly it could hardly be seen
tottered
wobbled as if about to fall
self-sufficiency
needing nobody else at all
thrilling×3
exciting to hear
passionate
full of strong feeling
whispered×3
spoken in a very soft breath
hovering×2
waiting close by in the air
ecstatically
with wild delight
a mourning wreath
a ring of leaves and flowers hung on a door to show a death in the housean object or practice the period took for granted
persistent×2
going on and on without stopping
wail
a long high cry of grief
irrelevantly
with no link to what came before
What you doing
what are you doing, with the word 'are' dropped in careless speechEnglish respelled to carry an accent
a bond man
a man who sells bonds, the papers a company or a government issues when it borrowsthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
decisively×2
in a firm way that closed the matter
alert
watchful, ready to notice
suddenness
how quickly and without warning it came
uttered
spoken
Evidently
clearly
yawned×2
opened her mouth wide because she was sleepy
deft
quick and neat
retorted
answered sharply
cocktails
mixed alcoholic drinksan object or practice the period took for granted
pantry
a small room where food and drink are kept
incredulously
as if he could not believe her
accentuated
made more noticeable
backward
towards the back
cadet
a young man in training to become an army officerrank
reciprocal
given back in return
wan
pale and tired-looking
discontented
not happy with things as they are
contemptuously
as if it were worth nothing
wedging
pushing tightly into a narrow space
imperatively
as an order not to be refused
compelled×2
forced
a checker
a flat round piece used in a simple board game, moved from square to squarean object or practice the period took for granted
preceded
went in front of
flickered
burned with a shaky light
diminished
made smaller and weaker
frowning
making an unhappy face
radiantly
with a bright happy look
awed
filled with wonder
knuckle
the joint of a finger
accusingly
as if blaming him
brute
a rough violent man
hulking×3
big and heavy in a clumsy way
crossly
in an annoyed way
unobtrusively
without drawing notice
bantering
light teasing
inconsequence
a way of talking where nothing follows from anything
chatter
quick light talk about nothing
impersonal
showing no feeling for the person in front of them
sharply
very clearly
anticipation
waiting for something to come
dread
deep fear
uncivilized
rough, without manners
confessed
admitted
corky
tasting wrong, because the wine has spoiled in the bottlethe working vocabulary of a trade or field
claret
a red wine from the Bordeaux region of Francean object or practice the period took for granted
pessimist
someone who expects the worst
utterly×3
completely
submerged
buried under the numbers of other peoples and wiped away
profound
saying deep, serious-sounding things
unthoughtful
with no thought behind it
impatiently
showing he did not want to wait
winking
shutting one eye quickly as a private sign
ferociously
in a wild, fierce way
fervent
burning hot
infinitesimal
extremely small
hesitation
a short pause of doubt
winked
shut one eye quickly as a private sign
complacency
being pleased with himself
rang×2
sounded its bell
butler×3
the chief male servant of a rich housean object or practice the period took for granted
momentary
lasting only a very short time
interruption
a break that stops what is going on
enthusiastically
with eager delight
a butler
the chief male servant of a rich housean object or practice the period took for granted
the silver polisher
the servant whose whole job was rubbing the silver until it shonean object or practice the period took for granted
a silver service
a full set of silver knives, forks and dishes for the tablean object or practice the period took for granted
polish
rub until it shines
breathlessly
with my breath held
glow
the soft warm light
lingering
slow to leave
murmured
said in a low soft voice
frowned
made an unhappy face
quickened
made livelier
untrue
false
faintly
even slightly
extemporizing
making it up as she spoke
concealed
hidden
alertly
quickly and watchfully
Sh
a sound telling someone to be quiet
subdued
kept low and quiet
impassioned
full of strong feeling
audible
loud enough to be heard
unashamed
with no shame about it
verge
the very edge
coherence
words clear enough to make sense
ceased
stopped
inquired×2
asked
innocently
as if I knew nothing about it
hesitantly
with an unsure pause
blankly
with no expression at all
decency
the plain good manners to do right
flutter×2
a quick light movement
crunch
a crushing sound on the ground
searchingly
looking hard for something in their faces
miserably
in a low, sad way
the stables
the building where the horses are keptan object or practice the period took for granted
startlingly
in a way that made them jump
squarely
straight and full in the face
scepticism
a habit of not believing things easily
shrill
high and sharp in sound
metallic
like the sound of metal
urgency
the pressing need to be answered
temperament
sort of nature
instinct
the feeling that comes without thinking
twilight
the last weak light after the sun goes down
strolled
walked slowly and easily
verandas
open covered walkways along the outside of a housean object or practice the period took for granted
gloom
near darkness
a wicker settee
a bench made of woven thin sticksan object or practice the period took for granted
turbulent
wild and rough
sedative
meant to calm her
cynical
expecting people to act only for themselves
feebly
weakly
absently
with her mind elsewhere
out of the ether
the gas the doctors gave her so she would sleep through the birthan object or practice the period took for granted
wept
cried
scorn
the feeling that something deserves no respect
ceasing
stopping
compel
force
insincerity
not meaning what she said
contributory
given as my share
smirk
a small pleased, knowing smile
asserted
claimed
crimson
deep red
murmurous
low and soft-sounding
uninflected
flat, with no rise or fall
The lamplight
the light from the lamp
glinted
flashed in small quick points
in our very next issue
in next week's copy of the magazine, quoting the line printed at the end of a story that continuesan object or practice the period took for granted
ceiling
the upper surface of a room
the tournament
a sports competition with many rounds
contemptuous
showing that others are worth nothing
rotogravure pictures
photographs printed in the picture pages of a newspaperan object or practice the period took for granted
linen closets
small cupboards where sheets and towels are keptan object or practice the period took for granted
coldly
with no warmth
veranda
an open covered walkway along the outside of a housean object or practice the period took for granted
peremptorily
in a sharp way that expects no argument
corroborated
said the same thing
libel
a lie printed about someone, which the law punishesthe working vocabulary of a trade or field
vaguely
even slightly
disgusted
filled with dislike
nourished
fed
peremptory
used to being obeyed
roadhouse
an eating and drinking place out on a main roadan object or practice the period took for granted
wayside
beside the road
shed
a small rough building for storing things
an abandoned grass roller
a heavy garden cylinder pushed over grass to press it down, left standing therean object or practice the period took for granted
silhouette
a dark outline shape
wavered
moved in a shaky line
moonlight
the light of the moon
fifty feet away
about fifteen metres awaymoney
leisurely
slow and easy
intimation
a small sign
Involuntarily
without deciding to
seaward
out towards the sea
dock
a landing place where boats tie up
vanished
gone completely from sight
unquiet
restless, not still

Words inside the phrases84 entries

These were explained above as part of a longer phrase. Here is what each one means on its own.

accomplishments
things a person has learned to do well
acre
a piece of land about four thousand square metres
arose
came up, rose
ballooned
swelled out into a round soft shape
barnyard
the open ground round a farm building where animals are kept
bellows
a bag with handles, squeezed to blow air onto a fire
bloomed
opened out like a flower
bores
dull people who tire others
bumped
knocked lightly against
bungalow
a house all on one floor
buoyed
lifted and kept up on top of water
candles
sticks of wax burned to give light
cardboard
stiff thick paper used for boxes
commuting
travelling each day between home and work
compulsion
a force inside that makes a person do something
conferred
gave as an honour
couldn
the first part of 'could not', written short
crept
moved slowly and quietly
curiosities
odd things worth looking at
curtains
cloth hung at a window
desolate
empty and sad
devoid
with none of it at all
dignified
given a fine-sounding name
dominance
the position of having control over others
drift
to move slowly with no plan
dusk
the half-dark just after the sun goes down
egotism
a high opinion of one's own importance
elations
bursts of high happiness
erect
straight up
ether
a gas once breathed in to make a patient sleep during an operation
excursions
short trips out
fling
to throw with force
floated
rested on top of water or air
fragilely
in a way that could break easily
fragments
small broken pieces
frosted
covered with a white icy-looking coat
gaiety
a merry, light-hearted air
gestures
movements of the hands or body that carry meaning
girlhood
the years when a female is still young
glimpses
quick short looks
groan
a long low sound of complaint
intricate
made of many small parts fitted together
judgements
decisions about whether something is good or bad
lacing
cords threaded through holes to fasten something
lamplight
the glow given off inside a room at night
languidly
slowly and without energy
lawns
areas of cut grass
levity
light joking that does not take things seriously
linen
cloth for sheets and towels
marshes
low wet ground that is soft to walk on
mint
the place where coins are made
mourning
the showing of grief after a death
needless
not needed
nibble
to take small bites
nightingale
a small brown bird that sings at night
paralysed
unable to move at all
parcelled
divided into shares
pathfinder
the first person to find a way through new country
ponies
small horses
prep
a school that gets young pupils ready for a bigger one
preyed
hunted and fed on
quivering
shaking with small quick movements
ragged
torn and uneven at the edge
readiness
the state of being prepared for what comes
revelation
something hidden that is now told
rotogravure
a way of printing photographs in newspapers
rumoured
talked about without proof
savours
has the taste of
settee
a long seat for two or more people
spanking
completely, used only to strengthen the word after it
stale
old and no longer fresh
stirring
moving the feelings
stunned
too surprised to speak
sunken
set lower than the ground around it
sweep
a wide curving movement
sworn
past form of swear: said as a firm promise
tangible
solid enough to touch
unaffected
real, not for show
velvet
a soft thick cloth that feels smooth to the hand
vigil
sitting up through the night to watch over someone
wholesale
sold in large amounts to shops rather than to single buyers
wicker
thin sticks woven together to make furniture
wingless
without wings
wreath
a ring of leaves and flowers