Unit 51

quash / squash / quench / squelch / quell

quash v. 废止，使无效 (to annul or put an end to) / kwäSH /

• Our hopes for a white Christmas were quashed when the meteorologist predicted temperatures in the 80s.

squash v. 把…压扁，把…压变形 (to press something so that it becomes soft, damaged or flat, or changes shape)

• The smell from Marsha's couch turned out to be a rotting banana that had been squashed underneath the cushions several days previously.

quench v. 平息，镇压 (to stop a fire from burning) / kwɛn(t)ʃ /

• The firemen quenched the blazes with thousands of gallons of water that spurted out from their hoses.

squelch v. 制止，遏制 (to stop some from continuing by doing or saying something) / skwɛltʃ /

• Daisy's excitement about going to the concert was squelched after her parents insisted that they accompany her to the show.

quell v. 压制，镇压 (to end or stop (something), usually by using force) / kwel /

• The Philippines' President Maduro has ordered the use of force to quell the onslaught of drugs and drug dealers within the country's borders.

obviate / obliterate / obligate / oblivious / obvious

obviate v. 免除 (to make (something) no longer necessary) / ˈäbvēˌāt /

• The preponderance of mobile phones have obviated any need for land lines.

obliterate v. 抹去，使...消失 (to destroy (something) completely so that nothing is left) / əˈblidəˌrāt /

• ISIS has all but obliterated many archaeological relics, including the Hellenistic city of Palmyra in the Syrian desert.

obligate v. 使负责任 (to do something because the law requires it or because it is the right thing to do) / ˈäbləɡāt /

• Domestic maven Martha Stewart was obligated to spend five months in federal prison for lying and obstruction of justice.

oblivious adj. 无意识的，遗忘的 (not conscious or aware of someone or something) / əˈblivēəs /

• Although Candice was the prettiest girl in class, she appeared to oblivious to her good looks.

obvious adj.明显的，显著的 (easy for the mind to understand or recognize) / ˈɑbviəs /

• Occam's Razor states that the simplest and most obvious solution is usually correct.