Columbo S4E4: English vocabulary

to hide something in your hand, especially secretly

the act or process of becoming less clear or transparent

short pants that end below the knee or above the ankle

a person who does not easily believe things and wants proof first

the science of how bullets, shells, and other projectiles move through the air

a small ape with very long arms that swings through trees

more able or skilled than someone or something else

happening immediately; done in no time

a substance that makes the body or brain more active

a short break between parts of a play, concert, or other performance

showing disrespect or contempt

good at judging people and situations accurately; clever and practical

a formal lunch, especially one held for a special event or business purpose

the ability to think of clever, original solutions

a change in size, amount, or level that goes up and down repeatedly

information that you heard from other people, not from direct knowledge or proof

the light that comes from stars

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

written or marked lightly with a pencil

sexually unconventional or involving unusual sexual practices

a soft black or gray mineral used in pencils and in making things like lubricants

a chemical salt or ester of nitric acid

having a lot of thick hair, fur, or branches

feeling sleepy and unable to stay fully awake

to make someone very angry or annoyed

the process of combing and separating wool or other fibers

seeming reasonable or likely to be true

having a narrow cut or opening

impossible to deny or question

the beginning of something

to move very slowly and carefully in a particular direction

helpful and willing to make things easier for other people

to keep someone or something within limits or in one place

locked with a key

an event where people buy tickets for a chance to win prizes

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

made hard or tougher by heat, cold, use, or time

a man or boy

moving or walking with quick, light steps

deserving respect and approval

the equipment and setup used to make products in a factory

to keep a situation under control or handle your part of it

a special table on a cruise ship where the captain eats with selected guests

to make someone so excited or emotional that they lose control

very busy and full of activity, often in a rushed or confusing way

the act of drinking a drink in honor of someone or something

a person or thing that cuts or trims something

careful about what you say or do, especially to keep something private

the act of taking an amount away from a total, especially for tax or pay

past tense and past participle of shoot

the act of postponing a proposal or motion for later discussion

a piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes or other items

a device that makes a buzzing sound, often to signal something

to end up in a situation by accident or because of circumstances

to subtract an amount from a total

toward the back of a ship or aircraft

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

to record that you have started work or a shift

the officer who is second in command on a ship or aircraft

something you do to prevent harm or trouble

to shoot and kill someone with a gun

to add something to a design or system so it is included from the start

relating to diabetes or to people who have diabetes

used to say that something is not surprising

used to show strong surprise, anger, or emphasis in a question

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

to discover or learn something, especially by asking or checking

to think that something is probably true or will happen

something that is not possible or not acceptable

believing that something is true, often when it is not

used to introduce a frank or honest opinion

a group of wild boars

the open sea far from land

a small amount of something that is left after the rest has been removed or used

moving by making small jumps on one foot

the process of shaping metal or other material with machine tools