Vocabulary Unit 7 Theme: Chicken Run

The chickens obviously abhor the vile Mrs The chickens obviously abhor the vile Mrs. Tweedy, especially after they discover her plan to turn them into chicken pies.

to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply Abhor to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply

The chickens had to amend their plans for building a flying machine several times.

to change in a formal way; to change for the better Amend to change in a formal way; to change for the better

If the automatic pie machine didn’t kill the chickens immediately, it would certainly buffet them about.

Buffet (v.) to slap or cuff; to strike repeatedly; to drive or force with blows; to force one's way with difficulty; (n.) a slap or blow

When the chickens first learn of their possible fate, chaos temporarily ensues.

great confusion, disorder chaos great confusion, disorder

Even though it is essentially a prison, the chicken coop is actually quite commodious, leaving lots of room for celebrations.

commodious roomy, spacious

Rocky’s abandonment of the chickens could have had a corrosive effect on their morale, but thanks to Ginger they do not let it eat away at their determination to escape.

eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic corrosive eating away gradually, acidlike; bitterly sarcastic

By sneaking out of the coop and other clever plans, the chickens are able to discern Mrs. Tweedy’s diabolical plan.

to see clearly, recognize discern to see clearly, recognize

Unfortunately, the poster for Rocky’s short time in the circus is still extant, leading the chickens to believe he can fly.

still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost extant still existing; not exterminated, destroyed, or lost

If the chickens were caught red handed by Mrs If the chickens were caught red handed by Mrs. Tweedy, they would clearly be implicated in their escape scheme.

to involve in; to connect with or be related to implicate to involve in; to connect with or be related to

When a chicken “misbehaves”, as Ginger often does, the Tweedys inter them in coal in the coal box.

to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion inter to bury, commit to the earth; to consign to oblivion

Mrs. Tweedy is clearly a martinet, demanding that the chickens comply by her rules or face harsh penalties.

a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules martinet a strict disciplinarian; a stickler for the rules

In order to obviate the possibility of ending up in a pie, the chickens embark on their daring escape.

to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of obviate to anticipate and prevent; to remove, dispose of

While he is temporarily a renegade, Rocky returns to the group of chickens when he sees the poster advertising Tweedy’s pies.

renegade (n.) one who leaves a group; a deserter, outlaw; (adj.) traitorous, unconventional, unorthodox

Though his leaving was reprehensible, Rocky makes up for it by returning and assisting the chickens’ escape.

deserving blame or punishment reprehensible deserving blame or punishment

The chickens were in a somber mood after learning of the pie machine, but shake off their gloomy attitude to hatch their plan.

dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit somber dark, gloomy; depressed or melancholy in spirit

A chicken coop is normally a squalid place full of filth and waste, but this one is quite nice.

filthy, wretched, debased squalid filthy, wretched, debased

It must have been a turbulent ride on the airplane as the chickens escaped.

disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy turbulent disorderly, riotous, violent; stormy

Babs is a particularly vociferous chicken, constantly talking and asking “are we going on holiday?”

loud and noisy; compelling attention vociferous loud and noisy; compelling attention

The voluminous plans drawn up for the flying machine, taking up pages and pages, paid off in a successful escape.

of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length voluminous of great size; numerous; writing or speaking at great length

The chickens refuse to waive their right to decide their future and fight the evil Tweedys’ plan.

to do without, give up voluntarily, to put off temporarily, defer waive to do without, give up voluntarily, to put off temporarily, defer