Learn English trough Listening & Reading
1. Garters
Meaning / Definition
Straps or elastic bands used to hold up stockings or socks.
Historically, part of formal clothing.
Example Sentences
- The
old-fashioned costume included stockings held up by garters.
- He
tugged at his garters, trying to keep his socks from slipping down.
2. Conjuror
Meaning / Definition
A magician; someone who performs tricks or illusions.
Example Sentences
- The conjuror
amazed the children by pulling a coin from behind their ears.
- Everyone
gasped as the conjuror made the rabbit disappear.
3. Barrack (verb)
Meaning / Definition
To jeer, shout, or loudly criticize; often used in sports
contexts.
In Australian English, “barrack for” means to support or cheer.
Example Sentences
- The
crowd began to barrack the referee after a bad call.
- In
Australia, people barrack for their favorite footy teams
passionately.
4. Busted
Meaning / Definition
Caught doing something wrong; broken or damaged.
Example Sentences
- He
tried to sneak cookies, but his mom busted him.
- My
phone is completely busted after falling into the sink.
5. Espionage
Meaning / Definition
The act of spying, especially to obtain secret information
(political, military, corporate).
Example Sentences
- The
agent was arrested for espionage after stealing classified
documents.
- During
the Cold War, espionage was at its peak.
6. Denizens
Meaning / Definition
Inhabitants, residents, or people/creatures that live in a
particular place.
Example Sentences
- The
forest’s denizens include foxes, owls, and deer.
- Night-time
denizens filled the city streets with noise.
7. Charlatan
Meaning / Definition
A fraud; someone who pretends to have skills or knowledge
they do not actually possess.
Example Sentences
- The
so-called healer turned out to be a charlatan.
- People
quickly realized the “expert” was a charlatan after his predictions
failed.
8. Ruse
Meaning / Definition
A clever trick or plan used to deceive or mislead someone.
Example Sentences
- The
thief used a ruse to distract the guard.
- Her
kind smile was just a ruse to gain their trust.
9. Shuddered
Meaning / Definition
Shook in fear, disgust, or cold.
Example Sentences
- She
shuddered when she heard the creepy noise.
- He shuddered
at the memory of the accident.
10. Bayonet
Meaning / Definition
A blade attached to the end of a rifle, used in close
combat.
Example Sentences
- Soldiers
fixed bayonets and prepared to charge.
- The
museum displayed an antique rifle with a bayonet still attached.
11. Saboteur
Meaning / Definition
A saboteur is a person who deliberately damages,
destroys, or obstructs something—often to prevent it from working properly.
This can refer to someone sabotaging equipment, plans, or even another person’s
efforts.
Example Sentences
- The
factory suspected there was a saboteur after several machines
mysteriously broke down.
- She
felt like her own fear was acting as a saboteur, holding her back
from success.
- The
security team caught a saboteur trying to tamper with the power
lines.
12. Contraband
Meaning / Definition
Contraband refers to goods that are illegal to
import, export, own, or sell.
Common examples: illegal drugs, smuggled items, banned weapons.
Example Sentences
- The
officers searched the vehicle and found contraband hidden under the
seats.
- During
the war, even simple items like sugar were considered contraband.
- Students
were warned not to bring contraband such as fireworks to school.
13. Chattel
Meaning / Definition
Chattel means personal property that you can
move—like furniture, livestock, or tools.
Historically, the word was also used to refer to enslaved people as property (a
painful and outdated usage).
Example Sentences
- When
she moved houses, all her chattel had to be packed into two small
trucks.
- The
farm’s chattel, including cows and horses, were listed separately
from the land.
- In
the 1800s, enslaved people were wrongly and cruelly classified as chattel
under the law.
14. Gallows
Meaning / Definition
The gallows is a wooden structure used historically
to hang people who were sentenced to death.
Example Sentences
- The
prisoner walked toward the gallows with surprising calmness.
- The
old gallows in the town square now serve as a historical reminder
of past punishments.
- He feared that his crimes would one day lead him to the gallows.
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✨
Dialogue Using All 14 Words
· Here is a fun, clear dialogue using all 14 words naturally in context. It’s written like a short scene from a magical–mystery adventure.
· Setting:
Two investigators, Lena and Marco, enter an old underground
theatre rumored
· Lena:
I still can’t believe the report said a saboteur
was hiding down here among the denizens of this abandoned theatre. The
place gives me chills.
Marco:
Stay close. Last week, we busted a
whole ring smuggling magical contraband. Wouldn’t be surprised if this
is connected to espionage.
Lena:
(Points to the stage)
Look—someone left a pair of garters hanging from that spotlight. Why
would anyone do that?
Marco:
Probably a ruse by that so-called conjuror.
Honestly, I think he’s a charlatan—pretending to do magic while stealing
artifacts on the side.
Lena:
(Shudders)
Well, whatever he is, I hope he’s not the one who turned people into chattel
using illegal spells. That’s dark magic—punishable by the gallows.
Marco:
(Stops suddenly)
Did you hear that? Someone’s coming from the barrack behind the stage.
Lena:
(Whispers)
Is that a… soldier? Why is he holding a bayonet?
Marco:
Relax. It’s an illusion. See the flicker?
Definitely the conjuror’s cheap trick.
(A hooded figure jumps out.)
Conjuror:
You fools! You fell right into my trap!
Lena:
(Hands on hips)
Trap? Please. That illusion with the soldier was the weakest ruse I’ve ever
seen. My grandmother’s candle shadow is scarier.
Marco:
You’re under arrest. And don’t even try
another trick—we’ve reinforced the anti-magic field.
Conjuror:
(Deflates)
Fine! I defer to your authority… for now.
These words are from Skip's ESL BITS - English Language Learning - ESL Listening Stories, Songs, Audiobooks, chapter 10 of Code Name: Lise - The True Story of the Woman Who Became WWII's Most Highly Decorated Spy. The story can be found in http://Skip's ESL BITS - English Language Learning - ESL Listening Stories, Songs, Audiobooks
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