Philosophy & Psychology — Set 1: Meanings flashcards
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The 75 most common of the 150 Philosophy & Psychology words, from free will and golden mean to straw man and self-esteem: pronunciation, a plain definition and three example sentences.
Learn deck · part of Philosophy & Psychology · written against: 150 words of knowledge, ethics, belief, the mind and everyday reasoning; not clinical advice. Updated 2026-10-10.
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know-it-all (n.) · NOH-it-awlsomeone who shrugs off advice and correction because they're sure they already know best about everythingKnowledge & Truth
A know-it-all in the group chat corrected everyone's spelling.
Dev played the know-it-all on the class trip, then got everyone lost.
In seminars, ask questions so you don't come across as a know-it-all. -
food for thought (n.) · FOOD for THAWTan idea or remark that stays with you and invites further reflectionKnowledge & Truth
The guest speaker's talk gave the whole class plenty of food for thought.
Her question about what makes a promise binding was food for thought.
That documentary about city water is real food for thought. -
free will (n.) · FREE WILfreedom from fate and from any chain of earlier causes when deciding what to do; (of your own free will) voluntarilyEthics & Values
Philosophers still debate whether humans truly have free will.
Nobody forced him; he volunteered for the cleanup of his own free will.
If every event has a cause, can free will exist at all?
Watch out: the one-word adjective freewill means voluntary, as in a freewill offering. -
high road (n.) · HIGH ROHDthe honorable course of action, especially refusing to answer an insult or unfair act in kindEthics & Values
When her rival mocked her online, Lucia took the high road and stayed silent.
Taking the high road is hard when you've been treated unfairly.
Both candidates promised to stay on the high road during the campaign.
Watch out: in older or chiefly British use, a high road is simply a main road or highway. -
human nature (n.) · HYOO-muhn NAY-churthe instincts, emotions and habits of mind believed to be common to everyone simply because they are humanBeliefs & Schools
Most of us long to belong to a group; that's just human nature.
Hobbes believed that without government, human nature would lead to constant conflict.
Great novels can teach us a lot about human nature. -
type A (adj.) · TIGHP AYdescribing a person who is always in a hurry, highly competitive and hard-driving about getting aheadMind & Self
My type A sister plans her vacations down to the minute.
Even on weekends, Marcus is type A about his to-do list.
Researchers once linked type A behavior to a higher risk of heart disease.
Watch out: a popular label, not a diagnosis; type B describes a relaxed, easygoing personality. -
peace of mind (n.) · PEES uhv MIGHNDinner calm that comes when nothing is weighing on you, especially concerns about safety or the futureFeelings & Coping
Leaving a spare key with a neighbor gives me peace of mind.
For peace of mind, Ana backed up every photo twice.
Insurance can't stop a flood, but it buys some peace of mind. -
black-and-white (adj.) · blak-uhn-WIGHTallowing only two possibilities, good or bad, right or wrong, with nothing in betweenThinking Errors
Black-and-white thinking turns one mistake into total failure.
Real moral choices are rarely as black-and-white as slogans suggest.
To a five-year-old, fairness is often black-and-white.
Watch out: in its everyday sense it means monochrome, the colorless look of old movies and early TV. -
in-group (n.) · IN-groopa group a person belongs to and feels loyal to, often favored over outsidersGroups & Influence
People tend to trust members of their in-group more than strangers.
The band's in-group laughed at jokes newcomers couldn't follow.
Studies show people favor their in-group even when teams are assigned at random. -
second nature (n.) · SEK-uhnd NAY-chura skill or habit, built up by long practice, that now runs on autopilot and comes naturallyHabits & Learning
For new drivers, checking the mirrors soon becomes second nature.
Saying "please" and "thank you" is second nature to Grandma.
For a seasoned nurse, staying calm in emergencies is second nature.
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Senses, parts of speech and pronunciations checked against Merriam-Webster.com, the American Heritage Dictionary and the Oxford Learner's, Longman and Cambridge learner's dictionaries; all definitions, notes and example sentences are original.
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