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bleak

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adjective British English pronunciation: bleak /bliːk/ 
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adjectivebleak
comparativebleaker
superlativebleakest
  1. 1
    without any reasons to feel happy or hopeful

    Things look very bleak for the team.

    Textile workers face a bleak future.

    paint a bleak picture (=say that the situation is not hopeful):

    The survey paints a bleak picture of an ill and ageing population.

derived word

bleakness

noun [uncountable]

cyberloafing

using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

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higgledy-piggledy

mixed together in a way that is not planned, organized, or tidy

Open Dictionary

show a bit of ankle

… to reveal a small part of your intentions in order to attract support, without actually committing yourself to doing anything

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