Oxford Word Skills, English Vocabulary, Advanced by Ruth Gairns & Redman (complete set), Oxford Word Skills Advanced - Units 14-26

He speaks with a strong accent.

# slight accent; a very noticeable accent

occupational hazard

(=a danger that exists in a job) Divorce seems to be an occupational hazard for politicians.

take a chance on sth

(=accept an opportunity) If I was offered the chance to be in the team, I'd take it.

negative/ detrimental effect

(=bad or harmful) the negative effects of low rainfall

against all odds

(=despite something seeming very unlikely) Against all odds, he recovered from his illness.

take action

(=do something to deal with a problem) The government must take action to control inflation.

be bored out of your mind

(=extremely bored) In some of the lessons, I was bored out of my mind.

be bored stiff/ silly/ rigid

(=extremely bored) Patti was bored stiff with small-town Massachusetts life.

be bored to tears/ to death

(=extremely bored) Rob was bored to tears trailing around the shops.

in decline/ on the decline

(=falling) the widely held belief that educational standards are in decline

positive/ beneficial effect

(=good, or helping someone or something in some way) The incident had a very positive effect on his career.

take no notice/ not take any notice

(=ignore something or someone) The other passengers took no notice of what was happening.

at the very least

(=not less than and probably much more than) It would cost $1 million at the very least.

meet/satisfy a need

(=provide something that people want or need) The charity exists to meet the needs of elderly people. Schools must satisfy the needs of their pupils. We have loans to meet your every need.

in no condition to do something

(=too drunk, ill, or upset to be able to do something) I was in no condition to cope with a train journey. Mark can't possibly drive home in that condition (=when he is so drunk, ill, or upset).

visually/ hearing/ mentally etc impaired

(=used to describe someone who cannot see, hear etc well)

prevention is better than cure

(=used to say that it is better to prevent illness than to cure it)

adversary /ˈædvəsəri/

(formal) a country or person you are fighting or competing against SYN opponent his old adversary

trait

(formal) a particular quality in someone's character: personality/ character traits a mental illness associated with particular personality ... .

trek

(informa)l a distance that seems long when you walk it: I'm afraid it's a bit of a trek to the station.

chill out

(informal) to relax completely instead of feeling angry, tired, or nervous: 'Hold it! Just chill for a second, won't you!' I spent the afternoon chilling out in front of the TV.

fishy

(informal) seeming bad or dishonest SYN suspicious There's something very fishy about him.

rubbish

(informal)an idea, statement, etc that is rubbish is silly or wrong and does not deserve serious attention SYN nonsense garbageAmE: You do talk rubbish sometimes. That's a load of rubbish. The suggestion is absolute rubbish.

vile

(informal)extremely unpleasant or bad SYN horrible This coffee tastes really vile. a vile smell She has a vile temper.

gallop

(of a horse or rider) run quickly The horse ... across the field. The horses broke into a ... when the gun fired.

pent-up

... feelings or energy have not been expressed or used for a long time: years of ... anger and frustration It can lead to severe anxiety and depression if you don't learn how to release your ... emotions.

precise

... information, details etc are exact, clear, and correct: It was difficult to get precise information.

applause

the sound of many people hitting their hands together and shouting, to show that they have enjoyed something: She got a round of applause (=a short period of applause) when she finished. rapturous/ enthusiastic applause He left the stage to rapturous applause. thunderous applause

fate

the things that happen to someone or something, especially unpleasant things that end their existence or end a particular period: I wouldn't wish such a fate on my worst enemy. fate of No one knows what the fate of the hostages will be.

aims and objectives

the things you hope to achieve) These aims and objectives are set out in chapters two and three.

innermost thoughts

the thought which are most personal and private

Chemotherapy

the use of drugs to control and try to cure cancer

The situation needs careful handling

the way sb deals with sth/sb

spin

the way someone, especially a politician or business person, talks about information or a situation, especially in order to influence the way people think about it: They tried to put a positive spin on the sales figures.

The children had a narrow escape.

they were lucky to get away safely.

interchangeable

things that are ... can be used instead of each other: These two words are almost ... .

value sb/sth

think that sb /sth is important to think that someone or something is important: Shelley valued her privacy. value somebody/ something for something Mr. Yeo valued Jan for her hard work.

in retrospect /ˈretrəspekt/

thinking back to a time in the past, especially with the advantage of knowing more now than you did then: In retrospect, I wonder if we should have done more.

conceited

thinking you are very important, clever

scatter sth

throw or drop things in different directions over a wide area

maternity / paternity leave

time that a mother is allowed to spend away from work when she has a baby➔ paternity leave: on maternity leave Karen will be on maternity leave next month.

creep

tiptoe I crept up the stairs, so that I wouldn't wake anyone.

drowsy

tired and almost asleep SYN sleepy The drug can make you drowsy.

live with sth

to accept a difficult situation that is likely to continue for a long time SYN put up with, tolerate You have to learn to live with stress. He has lived with his illness for most of his life.

take something lying down

to accept bad treatment without complaining: I'm not going to take this lying down!

condone sth /kənˈdəʊn/

to accept or forgive behaviour that most people think is morally wrong: I cannot condone the use of violence under any circumstances.

idolize sb

to admire and love someone so much that you think they are perfect: They had one child, a girl whom they ... .

eat your words

to admit that what you said was wrong: I'm going to make you eat your words.

get (right) up somebody's nose (BrE)

to annoy someone very much: I wish he wouldn't keep interrupting. It really ... .

interrogate /ɪnˈterəgeɪt/

to ask someone a lot of questions for a long time in order to get information, sometimes using threats SYN question The police interrogated the suspect for several hours. —interrogator noun[countable]: He refused to tell his interrogators anything.

wriggle out of sth

to avoid doing something by using clever excuses SYN get out of something Don't try to wriggle out of your responsibilities.

get out of sth

to avoid doing something you have promised to do or are supposed to do: See if you can ... that meeting tomorrow. He's trying to ... tidying his room.

sit on the fence

to avoid saying which side of an argument you support

gloss over sth

to avoid talking about something unpleasant, or to say as little as possible about it SYN skirt She glossed over the details of her divorce.

embody /ɪmˈbɒdi/

to be a very good example of an idea or quality SYN represent She embodies everything I admire in a teacher.

sick and tired of

to be angry or bored with something that has been happening for a long time: I'm sick and tired of your excuses. I am sick of working for other people

take exception to something

to be angry or upset because of something: Tom took great exception to my remark about Americans.

on the verge of sth/ doing sth

to be at the point where something is about to happen: Jess seemed on the verge of tears. an event which left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown Mountain gorillas are on the verge of extinction. be on the verge of doing something The show was on the verge of being canceled due to low ratings.

dare

to be brave enough to do something that is risky or that you are afraid to do - used especially in questions or negative sentences: He wanted to ask her, but he didn't dare. 'I'll tell Dad.' 'You wouldn't dare!' dare (to) do something I daren't go home. Only a few journalists dared to cover the story. She hardly dared hope that he was alive. Dare we admit this?

be drawn against somebody (BrE)

to be chosen by chance to play or compete against someone: England have been drawn against France in next month's game.

be intent on/ upon (doing) something /ɪnˈtent/

to be determined to do something or achieve something: She was intent on pursuing a career in business.

a good laugh

to be enjoyable or amusing: It's Hazel's party tomorrow. Should be good for a laugh.

have an eye / a good eye for sth

to be good at noticing a particular type of thing, especially something attractive, valuable, of good quality etc: Ernest has an eye for detail. She's definitely got a good eye for a bargain.

be out of your depth

to be involved in a situation or activity that is too difficult for you to understand or deal with: I felt completely out of my depth at the meeting.

be inclined to do something/ inclined to something

to be likely to do something or behave in a particular way: Commandos are inclined to shoot first and ask questions later. He was inclined to self-pity.

be after sth /sb

to be looking for someone or something: That boy's always in trouble - the police are after him again. 'Were you after anything in particular?' 'No, we're just looking.'

outweigh

to be more important or valuable than something else: The benefits of the scheme outweigh the disadvantages.

command sb / sth

to be responsible for giving orders to a group of people in the army, navy etc➔ commander: He commands the 4th Battalion.

get /be carried away

to be so excited, angry, interested etc that you are no longer really in control of what you do or say, or you forget everything else: It's easy to get carried away when you can do so much with the graphics software.

get (somebody/ something) through (something)

to be successful in a test or competition, or to make sure that someone or something is successful: I finally managed to get through my driving test. I knew it was going to be difficult to get the car through its MOT test. get through to Liverpool have got through to the final of the FA Cup.

second to none

to be the best: The quality of Britain's overseas aid programme is second to none.

spark sth (off)

to be the cause of something, especially trouble or violenceSYN provoke The police response sparked outrage in the community. A discarded cigarette sparked a small brush fire. 2spark somebody's interest hope curiosity etc to make someone feel interested, hopeful etc topics that spark children's imaginations

be the last thing on somebody's mind

to be the thing that someone is least likely to be thinking about: Insurance was .... when we set off that day.

be in two minds about sth

to be unable to decide what to do, or what you think about something: I was ... about whether to go with him.

not have the heart to do something

to be unable to do something because it will make someone unhappy: I didn't have ... to tell her that her beautiful vase was broken.

tied up

to be very busy, so that you cannot do anything else: I can't see you tomorrow - I'll be ... all day.

be rushed/ run off your feet

to be very busy: Before Christmas, most salespeople are rushed off their feet.

lodged in sth

to become firmly stuck somewhere, or to make something become stuck OPP dislodge lodge in The fishbone lodged in her throat. be lodged in/ between/ behind etc something The bullet was lodged in his spine.

intervene

to become involved in an argument, fight, or other difficult situation in order to change what happens: intervene in The police don't usually like to intervene in disputes between husbands and wives. The army will have to intervene to prevent further fighting.

poke/stick your nose into sth

to become involved in something that does not concern you, in a way that annoys people ➔ nosy: She always has to stick her nose into matters that do not concern her.

go from strength to strength

to become more and more successful: For several years, the business went from strength to strength.

liven sth up

to become more exciting, or to make an event become more exciting: The party really livened up when Mattie arrived. liven something ↔ up Why don't we invite Jane? That'll liven things up!

settle down

to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm: When the children had ..., Miss Brown gave out the new reading books. She breathed deeply to ... her nerves (=stop herself from feeling worried or frightened).

strengthen

to become stronger or make something stronger OPP weaken Our friendship has steadily strengthened over the years. Steve's opposition only strengthened her resolve to go ahead. strengthen something's ties/ bonds/ links etc The university hopes to strengthen its ties with the local community. The company plans to strengthen its hand (=make itself more powerful) in Europe by opening an office in Spain.

acclimatized /əklaɪmətaɪz/

to become used to a new place, situation, or type of weather, or to make someone become used to it: acclimatize to Runners had to acclimatize to the humid tropical conditions. acclimatize yourself (to something) I found it hard to acclimatize myself to working at weekends. get acclimatized to sth

stray

to begin to deal with or think about a different subject from the main one, without intending to: stray into/ onto/ from We're straying into ethnic issues here. This meeting is beginning to stray from the point.

cotton to somebody/ something take to sb/ sth

to begin to like a person, idea etc I didn't ... her at first, but she's really nice.

raise

to begin to talk or write about a subject that you want to be considered or a question that you think should be answered SYN bring up He did not raise the subject again. I'd like to raise the issue of publicity. Betty raised the important question of who will be in charge.

be on your best behavior

to behave as well and politely as you can in order to please someone: I want you both to be on your best behaviour at Grandad's.

interpretation

to believe that something someone does or something that happens has a particular meaning: His refusal to work late was ... as a lack of commitment to the company.

sniff

to breathe air into your nose noisily, for example when you are crying or have a cold: Margaret sniffed miserably and nodded. Stop sniffing and blow your nose.

snap sth up

to buy something immediately, especially because it is very cheap: People were snapping up bargains.

squander

to carelessly waste money, time, opportunities etc The home team squandered a number of chances in the first half. squander something on something They squandered the profits on expensive cars.

revert back to sth

to change back to a situation that existed in the past SYN go back to The city reverted to its former name of St Petersburg. After a few weeks, everything reverted to normal.

switch to sth

to change from doing or using one thing to doing or using another: switch to She worked as a librarian before switching to journalism. switch from something to something Duval could switch easily from French to English. switch between something and something He switches between TV and theatre work. The terrorists will switch tactics. switch sides/ allegiance (=start supporting a different person, party etc) He switched sides just days before the election.

reverse sth

to change something, such as a decision, judgment, or process so that it is the opposite of what it was before: reverse a decision/ verdict/ policy etc The decision was reversed on appeal. reverse a trend/ process/ decline etc More changes are required to reverse the trend towards centralised power.

divert sth (from sth)

to change the use of something such as time or money: divert something into/ to/ (away) from etc something The company should divert more resources into research. Officials diverted revenue from arms sales to the rebels.

turn over a new life

to change the way you behave and become a better person: I see fatherhood as a chance to turn over a new leaf.

deviate /ˈdiːvieɪt/

to change what you are doing so that you are not following an expected plan, idea, or type of behaviour: deviate from The plane had to deviate from its normal flight path.

rip sb off

to charge someone too much money for something SYN overcharge The agency really ripped us off.

go down that road

to choose a particular course of action: Is there any scope for going down that road in the future? It depends which road you want to go down.

miscast

to choose an unsuitable actor to play a particular character in a play or film➔ cast: She was hopelessly miscast in her last film.

single sb out

to choose one person or thing from among a group because they are better, worse, more important etc than the otherssingle for I don't see why he should be singled out for special treatment. single as One programme was singled out as being particularly good

pick and choose

to choose only the best people or things, or only the ones that you really like: Come on, you haven't got time to pick and choose.

winds sth up

to close down a company or organization: Our operations in Jamaica are being wound up.

pool

to combine your money, ideas, skills etc with those of other people so that you can all use them: Investors agreed to pool their resources to develop the property. The students worked together, pooling their knowledge.

reoffend

to commit a crime or crimes: Many of the young men here are likely to offend again.

convey

to communicate or express something, with or without using words: All this information can be conveyed in a simple diagram. Ads convey the message that thin is beautiful. He was sent to convey a message to the UN Secretary General.

shop around

to compare the price and quality of different things before you decide which to buy: shop around for Take time to shop around for the best deal.

transform sth

to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it: Increased population has transformed the landscape. transform somebody/ something (from something) into something The movie transformed her almost overnight from an unknown schoolgirl into a megastar.

eradicate sth

to completely get rid of something such as a disease or a social problem: eradicate something from something We can eradicate this disease from the world. an attempt to eradicate inflation This problem has now been completely eradicated.

assimilate sth

to completely understand and begin to use new ideas, information etc SYN absorb It will take time to assimilate all these facts.

confound /kənˈfaʊnd/

to confuse and surprise people by being unexpected: His amazing recovery confounded the medical specialists.

puzzle sb

to confuse someone or make them feel slightly anxious because they do not understand something a question that continues to puzzle scientists He was puzzled by the reactions to his remark. What puzzles me is why his books are so popular

comprise /kəmˈpraɪz/

to consist of particular parts, groups etc: The house comprises two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. be comprised of somebody/ something The committee is comprised of well-known mountaineers. ⚠ Do not say that something 'comprises of' things or people.

pursue sth

to continue doing an activity or trying to achieve something over a long period of time➔ pursuit: She plans to pursue a career in politics. Students should pursue their own interests, as well as do their school work. pursue a goal/ aim/ objective etc companies that pursue the traditional goal of profits a campaign promise to pursue policies that will help the poor

dominate

to control someone or something or to have more importance than other people or things: The industry is dominated by five multinational companies. New Orleans dominated throughout the game. Her loud voice totally dominated the conversation. Education issues dominated the election campaign.

imitate

to copy something because you think it is good: vegetarian products which imitate meat The Japanese have no wish to imitate Western social customs and attitudes. I've always been excited by the idea of a garden which imitates the best of nature.

amend sth

to correct or make small changes to something that is written or spoken: The law was amended to include women. The defendant later amended his evidence. 'Steve stole it - or rather borrowed it,' he amended. —amended adjective: an amended version

mow

to cut grass using a machine It's time to mow the lawn again

prune

to cut off some of the branches of a tree or bush to make it grow better: The roses need pruning.

dent

to damage or harm something: The scandal has dented his reputation. A bad experience like that can dent your confidence

put sth right remedy

to deal with a problem or improve a bad situation SYN put right To remedy the situation, the water must be chemically treated.

stick up for sb

to defend someone who is being criticized, especially when no one else will defend them: You're supposed to be ...ing ... for me!

procrastinate /prəˈkræstɪəneɪt/

to delay doing something that you ought to do, usually because you do not want to do it SYN put off People often procrastinate when it comes to paperwork.

let sleeping dogs die

to deliberately avoid mentioning a subject, so that you do not cause any trouble or argument

interfere /ɪntəfɪə/

to deliberately get involved in a situation where you are not wanted or needed SYN meddle My daughter-in-law said that I was interfering, but I was only trying to help. interfere in It's not the church's job to interfere in politics.

prolong sth

to deliberately make something such as a feeling or an activity last longer SYN lengthen I was trying to think of some w

bottle up sth

to deliberately not allow yourself to show a strong feeling or emotion: It is far better to cry than to ... your feelings.

portray sb/sth /pɔːˈtreɪ/

to describe or show someone or something in a particular way, according to your opinion of them SYN depict Romantic artists portrayed nature as wild and powerful. The President likes to portray himself as a friend of working people.

outline

to describe something in a general way, giving the main points but not the details: The new president outlined plans to deal with crime, drugs, and education.

wipe sb/sth out

to destroy, remove, or get rid of something completely: Whole villages were wiped out by the floods. Nothing could wipe out his bitter memories of the past.

evolve

to develop and change gradually over a long period of time: The school has evolved its own style of teaching. Businesses need to evolve rapidly. evolve out of The idea evolved out of work done by British scientists. evolve into The group gradually evolved into a political party.

stem from sth

to develop as a result of something else: His headaches stemmed from vision problems.

be opposed to something

to disagree with something such as a plan or system: Most of us are opposed to the death penalty.

disappear/ vanish into thin air

to disappear completely in a mysterious way: Victor and his kidnappers had ... .

die out

to disappear or stop existing completely: The wild population of koalas is in danger of dying out. There will be outbreaks of rain, gradually dying out later.

frown on/ upon sth/sb

to disapprove of someone or something, especially someone's behaviour: Even though divorce is legal, it is still frowned upon.

verify

to discover whether something is correct or trueverify that whether A computer program verifies that the system is working. American forces will remain to verify compliance with the treaty

explore

to discuss or think about something carefully SYN look at Management need to explore ways of improving office security. I'm going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.

despise

to dislike and have a low opinion of someone or something: She ... her neighbours.

not put a foot wrong

to do everything right and make no mistakes, especially in your job

loosen up/ limber up

to do gentle exercises so that your muscles are warm and not tight before you begin a more active exercise: The footballers were ... before a training session.

stick to sth

to do or keep doing what you said you would do or what you believe in, even when it is difficult SYN keep to Have you been sticking to your diet? stick to your decision/ principles etc Miguel was determined to stick to his decision. It looks as if Nick will stick to his word this time.

retaliate /rɪtælieɪt/

to do something bad to someone because they have done something bad to you➔ hit back: retaliate by doing something The British government retaliated by breaking off diplomatic relations. retaliate against The army began to retaliate against the civilian population.

bail sb out

to do something to help someone out of trouble, especially financial problems: Some local businesses have offered to bail out the museum. Sutton bailed his team out with a goal in the last minute.

be cruel to be kind

to do something to someone that will make them upset or unhappy in order to help them in another way

comply /kəmˈplaɪ/

to do what you have to do or are asked to do➔ compliance, compliant: comply with Failure to comply with the regulations will result in prosecution. The newspaper was asked by federal agents for assistance and agreed to comply.

pull your weight

to do your full share of work: He accused me of not pulling my weight.

egg sb on

to encourage someone to do something, especially something that they do not want to do or should not do: Bob didn't want to jump, but his friends kept egging him on.

settle a dispute

to end an argument or solve a disagreement. Rodman met with Kreeger to try and ... over his contract.

let your hair down

to enjoy yourself and start to relax, especially after working very hard: The party gave us all a chance to really let our hair down.

put something under the microscope

to examine a situation very closely and carefully: Our prison system is being put under the microscope after an alarming number of suicides.

be confined to somebody/ something

to exist in or affect only a particular place or group: The risk of infection is confined to medical personnel. in the past, if you needed a major operation, you would be confined to bed for weeks.

anticipate

to expect that something will happen and be ready for it: Sales are better than anticipated. anticipate changes/ developments The schedule isn't final, but we don't anticipate many changes. anticipate problems/ difficulties We don't anticipate any problems. A good speaker is able to anticipate an audience's needs and concerns. anticipate (that) This year, we anticipate that our expenses will be 15% greater. It is anticipated that the research will have many different practical applications. anticipate doing something I didn't anticipate having to do the cooking myself!

encounter

to experience something, especially problems or opposition: encounter problems/ difficulties They encountered serious problems when two members of the expedition were injured. encounter opposition/ resistance The government has encountered strong opposition to its plans to raise income tax. The doctor had encountered several similar cases in the past.

spell sth out

to explain something clearly and in detail: spell out how/ what etc The report spelled out in detail what the implications were for teacher training.

release

to express or get rid of feelings such as anger or worry: Physical exercise is a good way of ... stress.

articulate /ɑːˈtɪkjʊəleɪt/

to express your ideas or feelings in words: Many people are unable to articulate the unhappiness they feel.

anchor sth

to fasten something firmly so that it cannot move The shelves should be securely anchored to the wall

nurture

to feed and protect, bring up, educate sb

nurture

to feed and take care of a child or a plant while it is growing: plants ... ed in the greenhouse

resent sb

to feel angry or upset about a situation or about something that someone has done, especially because you think that it is not fair: ... (somebody) doing something I ... having to work such long hours.

take offence (at sth)

to feel offended because of something someone says or does: I think he ... at my lack of enthusiasm.

be / feel like a fish out of water

to feel uncomfortable because you feel you do not belong in a place or situation I felt like a fish out of water in my new school

clinch sth

to finally agree on something or get something after trying very hard: a young salesman eager to clinch the deal clinch a match/ championship/ victory etc A last-minute touchdown clinched the game.

give in to (sb/sth)

to finally agree to do or accept something that you had at first opposed, especially because someone has forced or persuaded you to: Eventually I gave in and accepted the job on their terms. Bob's wife went on at him so much that eventually he gave in. give in to The government refused to give in to their demands.

resolve

to find a satisfactory way of dealing with a problem or difficulty SYN solve ➔ settle: resolve a dispute/ conflict/ problem etc The crisis was resolved by negotiations. Barnet was desperate for money to resolve his financial problems.

get hold of somebody

to find and speak to someone about something: I must get hold of Vanessa to see if she can babysit.

determine sth /dɪˈtɜːmɪən/

to find out the facts about something SYN establish Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. determine how/ what/ who etc The aim of the inquiry was to determine what had caused the accident. determine that Experts have determined that the signature was forged.

trace sth back to sth

to find the origins of when something began or where it came from: trace something (back) to something They've traced their ancestry to Scotland. The style of these paintings can be traced back to early medieval influences.

coerce (into doing sth) /ˈkoʊɜːrs/

to force someone to do something they do not want to do by threatening them: coerce somebody into (doing) something The rebels coerced the villagers into hiding them from the army.

jump/leap to conclusions

to form an opinion about something before you have all the facts: There may be a simple explanation. Let's not ... .

frighten/ scare/ terrify somebody out of their wits informal

to frighten someone very much: I was terrified out of my wits at the very idea.

discard

to get rid of something SYN throw away ... any old cleaning materials. ... ed paper

dedicate yourself/ your life to something

to give all your attention and effort to one particular thing: ... yourself/ your life to something The actress now ...s herself to children's charity work.

justify

to give an acceptable explanation for something that other people think is unreasonable: Ministers must appear before Parliament and justify their actions. justify doing something How can we justify spending so much money on arms? justify yourself (=prove that what you are doing is reasonable) I don't have to justify myself to you or anyone else.

exemplify

to give an example of something: Problems are exemplified in the report.

delegate /ˈdelɪəgeɪt/

to give part of your power or work to someone in a lower position than you: A good manager knows when to delegate. It takes experience to judge correctly how much power should be delegated. delegate something to somebody Minor tasks should be delegated to your assistant.

underpin

to give strength or support to something and to help it succeed: the theories that underpin his teaching method America's wealth is underpinned by a global system which exploits the world's poor.

abandoned

to go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay SYN leave We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way. Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.

head for/towards

to go or travel towards a particular place, especially in a deliberate way: head for/ towards/ back etc The ship was heading for Cuba. It's about time we were heading home.

gatecrash

to go to a party that you have not been invited to —gatecrasher noun

adapt to sth

to gradually change your behaviour and attitudes in order to be successful in a new situation: adapt to The children are finding it hard to adapt to the new school. flowers which are well adapted to harsh winters The ability to adapt is a definite asset in this job.

mount up

to gradually increase in amount: At £6 a ticket, the cost quickly mounts up.

undermine sb/sth

to gradually make someone or something less strong or effective: economic policies that threaten to undermine the health care system undermine somebody's confidence/ authority/ position/ credibility etc The constant criticism was beginning to undermine her confidence.

encroach on/upon sth

to gradually take more of someone's time, possessions, rights etc than you should: encroach on/ upon Bureaucratic power has encroached upon the freedom of the individual.

slash sth

to greatly reduce an amount, price etc - used especially in newspapers and advertising SYN cut The workforce has been slashed by 50%.

coincide with sth

to happen at the same time as something else, especially by chance➔ coincidence: coincide with His entry to the party coincided with his marriage. When our vacations coincided, we often holidayed together. planned/ timed/ arranged to coincide The show is timed to coincide with the launch of a new book.

get away from it all

to have a relaxing holiday: You need to get away from it all for a couple of weeks.

have your cake and eat it

to have all the advantages of something without its disadvantages The trouble with Sarah is she always wants to have her cake and eat it

make a /the difference

to have an important effect or influence on something or someone: Whatever she did, it made no difference.

be in the process of (doing) something

to have started doing something and not yet be finished: The company is in the process of moving to new offices.

foster

to help a skill, feeling, idea etc develop over a period of time SYN encourage, promote The bishop helped foster the sense of a community embracing all classes.

assist sb in/with sth

to help someone to do something: assist (somebody) with/ in something You will be employed to assist in the development of new equipment. ⚠ Do not say 'assist someone to do something'. Say assist someone with something or assist someone in doing something: The teacher assists the children with their tasks.| someone who can assist them in planning their careers

rehabilitate /ˌriːhəˈbɪlɪəteɪt/

to help someone to live a healthy, useful, or active life again after they have been seriously ill or in prison: a special unit for rehabilitating stroke patients

conceal

to hide something carefully: The shadows ... her as she crept up to the house. The path was ... by long grass. a ...ed weapon

bury your head in the sand

to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will stop if you do not think about it

Poaching

to illegally catch or shoot animals, birds, or fish, especially on private land without permission: Deer have been poached here for years.

reform sth

to improve a system, law, organization etc by making a lot of changes to it, so that it operates in a fairer or more effective way: plans to radically reform the tax system

enhance

to improve something: Good lighting will ... any room. The publicity has ... his reputation.

enrich

to improve the quality of something, especially by adding things to it: Add fertilizer to enrich the soil. Education can greatly enrich your life.

encompass sth

to include a wide range of ideas, subjects, etc: The study encompasses the social, political, and economic aspects of the situation.

pile sth up

to increase in quantity or amount, in a way that is difficult to manage: SYN accumulate It wasn't long before the debts were piling up. The traffic starts piling up around this time. The work has a tendency to pile up if I'm not careful.

maximize

to increase something such as profit or income as much as possible OPP minimize maximize profit/ revenue etc The company's main function is to maximize profit.

step sth up

to increase the amount of an activity or the speed of a process in order to improve a situation: The health department is stepping up efforts to reduce teenage smoking. stepped-up security at airports

tip the balance

to influence the result of an event: The dignity and courage shown by the President may tip the balance in his party's favour. The city's transport links could tip the balance in their favor.

make light of sth

to joke about something or treat it as not being very serious, especially when it is important: She tried to make light of the situation, but I could tell that she was worried.

breed

to keep animals or plants in order to produce babies or new plants, especially ones with particular qualities: These dogs were originally bred in Scotland to round up sheep.

police

to keep control over a particular area in order to make sure that laws are obeyed and that people and property are protected, using a police or military force: The army was brought in to police the city centre.

fiddle with sth

to keep moving and touching something, especially because you are bored or nervous: Stop ..., will you! I sat and ... at the computer for a while. fiddle with She was at her desk in the living room, ... with a deck of cards.

confine sb /sth in sth

to keep someone in a place that they cannot leave, such as a prison: confine somebody to something Any soldier who leaves his post will be confined to barracks (=made to stay in the barracks). be confined in something He was allegedly confined in a narrow dark room for two months.

retain

to keep something or continue to have something: You have the right to retain possession of the goods. The state wants to retain control of food imports.

set sth aside

to keep something, especially money, time, or a particular area, for a special purpose: set aside for Try to set aside some time each day for exercise. a room that had been set aside for visitors

mock

to laugh at someone or something and try to make them look stupid by saying unkind things about them or by copying them SYN make fun of It's easy for you to ..., but we put a lot of work into this play.

giggle

to laugh quickly, quietly, and in a high voice, because something is funny or because you are nervous or embarrassed If you can't stop giggling youll have to leave the room

desert /dɪˈzɜːt/

to leave someone or something and no longer help or support them SYN abandon Helen was deserted by her husband. Many of the party's traditional voters deserted it at the last election. The price rise caused many readers to desert the magazine. desert somebody for somebody He deserted her for another woman. 2[transitive] to leave a place so that it is completely empty SYN abandon The birds have deserted their nest.

flee

to leave somewhere very quickly, in order to escape from danger: His attackers turned and fled. Masaari spent six months in prison before fleeing the country. flee to/ from/ into Many German artists fled to America at the beginning of World War II.

step down

to leave your job or official position, because you want to or because you think you should: Morris should step aside until the investigation is completed. step down as Eve Johnson has stepped down as chairperson. step down from He was forced to step down from his post.

indulge in sth

to let yourself do or have something that you enjoy, especially something that is considered bad for you: indulge in Most of us were too busy to indulge in heavy lunchtime drinking. Eva had never been one to indulge in self-pity.

restrict sth to sth

to limit or control the size, amount, or range of something: The new law restricts the sale of hand guns. You may need to restrict access to certain files (=limit the number of people who can read them). The agreement will restrict competition. restrict something to something In future we will restrict class sizes to 20 students.

eye sb/sth

to look at someone or something carefully, especially because you do not trust them or because you want something: The man behind the desk ... us suspiciously. A crowd of local children gathered around, ... ing us in silence.

browse

to look at the goods in a shop without wanting to buy any particular thing: browse around The trip allows you plenty of time for browsing around the shops. tourists browsing the boutiques and souvenir stalls

exacerbate /ɪg'zæsəbeɪt/

to make a bad situation worse: The recession has exacerbated this problem. I don't want to exacerbate the situation.

clear sth up

to make a place look tidier by putting things back where they belong: I don't mind you using the kitchen as long as you clear up afterwards. clear something ↔ up Adam, clear up this mess before your father sees it. clear up after I get really tired of clearing up after you (=tidying places that you have made untidy).

highlight

to make a problem or subject easy to notice so that people pay attention to it: Your résumé should highlight your skills and achievements.

rumble

to make a series of long low sounds, especially a long distance away from you: We could hear thunder ... in the distance.

puncture sth

to make a small hole in something: One bullet punctured his lung. Pressurized container - do not puncture.

squelch

to make a sucking sound by walking or moving in something soft and wet: My hair was dripping and my shoes ... as I walked. ... through/ along/ up We ... across the field.

pencil sb/sth in

to make an arrangement for a meeting or other event, knowing that it might have to be changed later: Pickford has been pencilled in as Robson's replacement.

ensure

to make certain that something will happen properly SYN make sure facilities to ensure the safety of cyclists ensure (that) The hospital tries to ensure that people are seen quickly.

facilitate sth

to make it easier for a process or activity to happen: Computers can be used to facilitate language learning.

enforce sth

to make people obey a rule or law: enforce a law/ ban etc Governments make laws and the police enforce them. Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced.

reconciled to sth

to make someone able to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation: He tried to reconcile his father to the idea of the wedding. reconcile yourself to something Henry had more or less reconciled himself to Don's death.

provoke sb into doing sth

to make someone angry, especially deliberately: The dog would not have attacked if it hadn't been provoked. provoke somebody into (doing) something Paul tried to provoke Fletch into a fight.

mislead sb

to make someone believe something that is not true by giving them information that is false or not complete: ... somebody about/ over something Politicians have ... the public over the dangers of these chemicals. Don't be ... by appearances, he's a good worker.

prompt

to make someone decide to do something: prompt somebody to do something What prompted you to buy that suit?

pass the buck

to make someone else responsible for something that you should deal with

humiliate /hjuː'mɪlieɪt/

to make someone feel ashamed or stupid, especially when other people are present SYN embarrass Her boss humiliated her in front of all her colleagues. —humiliated adjective: I've never felt so humiliated in all my life.

reassure sb

to make someone feel calmer and less worried or frightened about a problem or situation: Teachers reassured anxious parents. reassure somebody (that) He tried to reassure me that my mother would be okay.

get sb down

to make someone feel unhappy and tired: His lack of social life was beginning to get him down.

deport

to make someone leave a country and return to the country they came from, especially because they do not have a legal right to stay

be uprooted

to make someone leave their home for a new place, especially when this is difficult or upsetting: He rejected the idea of uprooting himself and moving to America. following the flooding, many villagers were uprooted

catch sb out

to make someone make a mistake, especially deliberately and in order to prove that they are lying: The interviewer may try to catch you out.

endow sb/sth with sth /ɪn'daʊ/

to make someone or something have a particular quality, or to believe that they have it: Her resistance to the Nationalists endowed her with legendary status.

send somebody/ something flying/ sprawling/ reeling etc

to make someone or something move quickly through the air or across something: The explosion ... glass ... everywhere.

talk sth up

to make something appear more important, interesting, successful etc than it really is: Jones talked up the idea at the meeting.

sustain

to make something continue to exist or happen for a period of time SYN maintain She found it difficult to sustain the children's interest. He was incapable of sustaining close relationships with women. the policies necessary to sustain economic growth

bring sth about

to make something happen SYN cause How can we bring about a change in attitudes? A huge amount of environmental damage has been brought about by the destruction of the rain forests.

trigger sth

to make something happen very quickly, especially a series of events: The assassination triggered off a wave of rioting. Certain forms of mental illness can be triggered by food allergies. trigger a memory (=make you suddenly remember something) His action triggered a massive response from the government.

disclose sth to sb

to make something publicly known, especially after it has been kept secret SYN reveal Some companies have already voluntarily ... similar information. He refused to ... the identity of the politician. ... that It was ... that £3.5 million was needed to modernize the building.

restore sth

to make something return to its former state or condition: restore something to something The government promises to restore the economy to full strength. She was hoping that the Mediterranean climate would restore her to full health. The National Guard was called in to restore order (=make people stop fighting and breaking the law) when riots broke out. initiatives to restore peace in the Middle East

fuel sth

to make something, especially something bad, increase or become stronger SYN provoke His words fuelled her anger still more. fuel speculation/ rumours/ controversy etc Progress was slow, fueling concerns that the stadium would not be finished on time. The situation is fueling fears that prices could rise again.

transplant

to move an organ, piece of skin etc from one person's body and put it into another as a form of medical treatment

stray

to move away from the place you should be: stray into/ onto/ from Three of the soldiers strayed into enemy territory.

take sth in your stride

to not allow something to annoy, embarrass, or upset you: When the boss asked Judy to stay late, she took it in stride.

out of touch (with sth)

to not have the latest knowledge about a subject, situation, or the way people feel: touch with I'm out of touch with modern medicine. The party cannot afford to lose touch with political reality.

not have the faintest idea

to not know anything at all about something: I don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about.

misinterpret

to not understand the correct meaning of something that someone says or does, or of facts that you are considering SYN misread, misconstrue Some parts of the report could be ... .

detect

to notice or discover something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear etc: Many forms of cancer can be cured if detected early. difficult/ impossible/ easy/ possible etc to detect detect a change/ difference Dan detected a change in her mood. detect a note of sarcasm/ irony/ excitement etc Do I detect a note of sarcasm in your voice?

acquire sth

to obtain something by buying it or being given it: Manning hoped to acquire valuable works of art as cheaply as possible. She has acquired an email address and a site on the WorldWide Web.

detain

to officially prevent someone from leaving a place: Two suspects have been detained by the police for questioning. She was detained in hospital with a suspected broken leg.

lay sth down

to officially state something or say that rules, principles etc must be obeyed: He had already clearly laid down his view in his opening speech. lay down that The contract laid down that the work must be completed before 2025.

neglect /nɪˈglekt/

to pay too little attention to something: Many of these ideas have been neglected by modern historians. The police officer was accused of neglecting his duty (=not doing everything he should).

entice sb to do sth

to persuade someone to do something or go somewhere, usually by offering them something that they want: entice into/ away/ from etc The birds were enticed back into Britain 40 years ago. entice somebody/ something to do something Our special offers are intended to entice people to buy.

lure sb

to persuade someone to do something, especially something wrong or dangerous, by making it seem attractive or exciting: lure somebody into (doing) something People may be lured into buying tickets by clever advertising. lure somebody away Computer games are luring youngsters away from their lessons.

schedule

to plan that something will happen at a particular timebe scheduled for June Monday etc The elections are scheduled for mid-June. be scheduled for release publication completion etc Her first album is scheduled for release in September. be scheduled to do something Meetings are scheduled to take place all over the country

halt sth

to prevent someone or something from continuing - used especially in news reports SYN stop The government has failed to halt economic decline. Safety concerns have led them to halt work on the dam.

disrupt

to prevent something from continuing in its usual way by causing problems: Traffic was disrupted by a hoax bomb. Climate change could disrupt the agricultural economy.

generate

to produce or cause something SYN create a useful technique for generating new ideas The program would generate a lot of new jobs. generate revenue/ profits/ income etc Tourism generates income for local communities. generate excitement/ interest/ support etc The project generated enormous interest.

guarantee

to promise to do something or to promise that something will happen: guarantee (that) I guarantee you'll love this film. guarantee somebody something If you send the application form in straight away, I can guarantee you an interview. guarantee to do something I cannot guarantee to work for more than a year. The law guarantees equal rights for men and women.

shelter

to provide a place where someone or something is protected, especially from the weather or from danger: Collins was arrested for sheltering enemy soldiers. shelter somebody/ something from somebody/ something Plant herbs next to a wall to shelter them from the wind. 2[intransitive] to stay in or under a place where you are protected from the weather or from danger: shelter from We sat in the shade, sheltering from the sun.

fund

to provide money for an activity, organization, event etc: The project is jointly funded by several local companies. government-funded research

lay sth on

to provide something for a group of people

lay sth on (BritE)

to provide something such as food, entertainment, or transport for a group of people: They laid on a buffet for his farewell party. A bus has been laid on to take you home.

push and shove

to push someone or something in a rough or careless way, using your hands or shoulders: He shoved her towards the car. Everyone was pushing and shoving to see the prince.

lock somebody ↔ up

to put someone in prison SYN lock away Rapists should be locked up.

qualify for sth

to reach the necessary standard to enter or continue in a competition or sports event: qualify for She qualified for a spot on the U.S. Olympic speed skating team.

overreact

to react to something with too much emotion, or by doing something that is unnecessary: overreact to You always overreact to criticism. Many investors overreacted to the stock market crash.

distinguish between people or things

to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people SYN differentiate: distinguish between His attorney argued that Cope could not distinguish between right and wrong. distinguish somebody/ something from a method of distinguishing cancer cells from normal tissue

curtail /kɜːˈteɪl/

to reduce or limit something SYN cut The new law will curtail police powers. severely/ drastically curtail Budget cuts have drastically curtailed training programs.

counteract sth /ˌkaʊntərˈækt/

to reduce or prevent the bad effect of something, by doing something that has the opposite effect: They gave him drugs to counteract his withdrawal symptoms.

economize

to reduce the amount of money, time, goods etc that you use SYN cut down: economize on Higher taxes encourage people to economize on fuel.

defy sth/sb /dɪˈfaɪ/

to refuse to obey a law or rule, or refuse to do what someone in authority tells you to do➔ defiance: people who openly defy the law

laze around

to relax and enjoy yourself in a lazy way: laze in We spent the afternoon lazing in the sun. laze about/ around We lazed around, gazing at the views.

unwind

to relax and stop feeling anxious: a beautiful country hotel that is the perfect place to unwind

put your feet up

to relax, especially by sitting with your feet supported on something Nothing is better than a cup of tea in a garden while you put your feet up and enjoy the garden.

outlive

to remain alive after someone else has died: She outlived her husband by 20 years.

stay put (spoken)

to remain in one place and not move: Stay put until I get back.

weed

to remove unwanted plants from a garden or other place weeding noun

renovate sth

to repair a building or old furniture so that it is in good condition again: The hotel has been renovated and redecorated.

recondition /ˌriːkənˈdɪʃən/

to repair something, especially an old machine, so that it works like a new one: a reconditioned engine

distort

to report something in a way that is not completely true or correct: His account was badly distorted by the press.

recharge your batteries

to rest or relax in order to get back your energy: A week in the mountains should recharge my batteries. Im going to spend a week in the mountains to recharge my batteries

put your foot in it put your foot in your mouth especially AmE

to say something without thinking carefully, so that you embarrass or upset someone: I've really put my foot in it this time. I didn't realize that was her husband!

condemn sth /kənˈdem/

to say very strongly that you do not approve of something or someone, especially because you think it is morally wrong: Politicians were quick to condemn the bombing. condemn something/ somebody as something The law has been condemned as an attack on personal liberty. condemn somebody/ something for (doing) something She knew that society would condemn her for leaving her children.

hack into

to secretly find a way of getting information from someone else's computer or changing information on it: hack into Somebody hacked into the company's central database. He managed to hack the code.

catch a glimpse of sth/sb

to see sth for a very short time and not clearly or completely As we drove back down, I ... a waterfall and asked Marcelloto stop.

catch sight of sb/sth

to see them suddenly, often when you have been hoping to see them She ... her cousin in the crowd.

on the cards

to seem likely to happen: At 3-1 down, another defeat seemed to be on the cards.

emit sth

to send out gas, heat, light, sound etc: The kettle emitted a shrill whistle.

remand sb

to send someone back from a court of law, to wait for their trial: Smith was remanded in custody (=kept in prison) until Tuesday. He's been remanded on bail for a month (=allowed to leave the law court and go home to wait for trial).

expose sth

to show the truth about someone or something, especially when it is bad: The film exposes the utter horror of war. The report exposes the weaknesses of modern medical practice. expose somebody as something The baron was exposed as a liar and a cheat.

wear your heart on your sleeve

to show your true feelings openly

hum

to sing a tune by making a continuous sound with your lips closed: hum to yourself Tony was humming to himself as he drove along. He began to hum a tune.

soak up the sun/ rays/ sunshine etc

to sit outside for a long time enjoying the sun to enjoy a place by watching it or becoming involved in it: Go to a sidewalk café, order coffee, and soak up the atmosphere.

level with sb

to speak honestly to someone, after hiding some unpleasant facts from them: She decided to level with him and tell him how she felt.

outspend

to spend more money than another person or organization: In the Senate race, the Republican outspent his rival by nearly $2 million.

convalesce /ˌkɒnvəˈles/

to spend time getting well after an illness SYN recover the time needed to convalesce after an operation

socialize

to spend time with other people in a friendly way: socialize with People don't socialize with their neighbours as much as they used to.

resume

to start doing something again after stopping or being interrupted: She hopes to resume work after the baby is born. The rebels have resumed hostilities against government troops. resume doing something He will resume training as soon as the injury is better.

have second thoughts

to start having doubts about a decision you have made: You're not having ... , are you? ... about Shed had ... about the whole project.

embark on

to start something, especially something new, difficult, or exciting: He embarked on a new career as a teacher.

adopt sth

to start to deal with or think about something in a particular way: The courts were asked to adopt a more flexible approach to young offenders. The store recently adopted a drug testing policy for all new employees. California has adopted a tough stance on the issue.

assert sth

to state firmly that something is true: French cooking, she asserted, is the best in the world. assert that He asserted that nuclear power was a safe and non-polluting energy source.

accomplish sth

to succeed in doing something, especially after trying very hard SYN achieve We have accomplished all we set out to do. Mission accomplished (=we have done what we intended to do).

sink or swim

to succeed or fail without help from anyone else: They don't give you a lot of guidance - you're just left to sink or swim, really.

overcome sth

to successfully control a feeling or problem that prevents you from achieving something: He struggled to overcome his shyness. Her financial problems could no longer be overcome. I'm

sort sth out

to successfully deal with a problem or difficult situation: She went to a psychiatrist to try to sort out her problems. I'll be glad to get this misunderstanding sorted out. sort yourself out/ get yourself sorted out (=deal with all your problems) I'm staying with a friend until I manage to sort myself out.

plummet

to suddenly and quickly decrease in value or amount SYN plunge: plummet from something to something Profits plummeted from £49 million to £11 million. House prices have plummeted down.

slump

to suddenly go down in price, value, or number OPP soar Sales slumped by 20% last year. slump to The currency slumped to a record low.

stand up for sb/sth

to support or defend a person or idea when they are being attacked: It's time we stood up for our rights. Silvia is capable of standing up for herself.

subtract

to take a number or an amount from a larger number or amount➔ take sth away from sth subtract something from something If you subtract 30 from 45, you get 15.

implement sth

to take action or make changes that you have officially decided should happen: implement a policy/ plan/ decision etc We have decided to implement the committee's recommendations in full.

join in

to take part in something that a group of people are doing or that someone else does: In the evening there was a barbecue, with the whole village joining in the fun. He stared at them without joining in the conversation. He laughed loudly, and Mattie joined in.

distract be distracted by sth

to take someone's attention away from something by making them look at or listen to something else: Try not to distract the other students. distract somebody/ something from something Coverage of the war was used to distract attention from other matters.

confide in sb

to tell someone about something very private or secret, especially a personal problem, because you feel you can trust them: I've never felt able to ...in my sister.

give sth away

to tell someone something that you should keep secret: He ... as little information as possible. I don't want to ... exactly how the system works. I don't want to ... the game ... (=give information that should be secret) by saying too much.

keep your feet on the ground have/ keep both feet on the ground

to think in a sensible and practical way and not have ideas or aims that will be impossible to achieve: It was a great result, but we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground.

dream sth up

to think of a plan or idea, especially an unusual one: He was continually dreaming up new schemes to promote and enlarge the business.

rate

to think that someone or something has a particular quality, value, or standard: The company seems to rate him very highly (=think he is very good). be rated (as) something Rhodes is currently rated the top junior player in the country.

look down on sb

to think that you are better than someone else, for example because you are more successful, or of a higher social class than they are: Mr Garcia ... on anyone who hasn't had a college education.

tackle a problem

to try to deal with a difficult problem: There is more than one way to tackle the problem. It took twelve fire engines to tackle the blaze.

tackle sth /ˈtækəl/

to try to deal with a difficult problem: There is more than one way to tackle the problem. It took twelve fire engines to tackle the blaze.

fight a losing battle

to try to do something that you probably cannot succeed in doing: I'm fighting a losing battle on this diet.

pry

to try to find out details about someone else's private life in an impolite way: I don't want to pry, but I need to ask you one or two questions. pry into reporters prying into the affairs of celebrities

juggle sth

to try to fit two or more jobs, activities etc into your life, especially with difficulty: juggle something (with something) It's hard trying to juggle a job with kids and the housework.

resist sth

to try to prevent a change from happening, or prevent yourself from being forced to do something: He resisted pressure to resign. resist doing something For months the company has resisted changing its accounts system. strongly/ fiercely/ vigorously etc resist The proposal was strongly resisted by the police.

tighten your belt

to try to spend less money than you used to: Businesses were tightening their belts and cutting jobs.

get to grips with sth

to understand or deal with something difficult: I've never really got to grips with this new technology.

conserve sth

to use as little water, energy etc as possible so that it is not wastedconservation the need to conserve energy

allocate /ˈæləkeɪt/

to use something for a particular purpose, give something to a particular person etc, especially after an official decision has been made: allocate something to somebody/ something the importance of allocating resources to local communities You should allocate the same amount of time to each question. allocate something for something One million dollars was allocated for disaster relief. allocate somebody/ something something Several patients were waiting to be allocated a bed.

maximize

to use something in a way that gives you the greatest practical value or the best results: We need to maximize the space. maximize opportunities/ chances etc The career center will help you maximize your opportunities.

wander around /in go for wonder (around/in)

to walk slowly across or around an area, usually without a clear direction or purpose: wander in/ through/ around etc I'll wander around the mall for half an hour. She wandered aimlessly about the house. Ana wandered off to get a drink. He was found wandering the streets of New York.

caution sb

to warn someone that something might be dangerous, difficult etc: caution (somebody) against something Business leaders are cautioning against hasty action that would hamper flexibility. caution (somebody) that Officials were quick to caution that these remarks did not mean an end to the peace process. caution somebody to do something He cautioned them to avoid the forest at night.

jot sth down

to write a short piece of information quickly: Let me jot down your number and I'll call you tomorrow.

negligible /ˈneglɪdʒɪəbəl/

too slight or unimportant to have any effect SYN insignificant The damage done to his property was negligible.

confide in sb

trust in, trustfully tell a secret

pushy

trying hard to get what you want, esp. in a rude manner

pretentious

trying to appear important, intelligent to impress others

representative of sth/sb

typical of a particular group or thing: representative of The latest incident is representative of a wider trend.

hysterical

unable to control your behaviour or emotions because you are very upset, afraid, excited etc: Janet became ... and began screaming. Everyone in the studio burst into ... laughter.

hard of hearing

unable to hear very well

as blind as a bat

unable to see well - used humorously Im as blind as a bat without my glasses

tongue-tied

unable to talk in a relaxed way because you feel nervous or embarrassed: When adults spoke to her, she became ... and shy.

dazed

unable to think clearly, especially because of a shock, accident etc: Dazed survivors staggered from the wreckage. dazed look/ expression etc Her face was very pale and she wore a dazed expression.

awkward

uncomfortable, not graceful

motion /ˈməʊʃən/

uncountable] the process of moving or the way that someone or something moves: motion of the motion of the planets The rocking motion of the boat made Sylvia feel sick. Newton's first law of motion

underlying

underlying cause/ principle/ problem etc the cause, idea etc that is the most important, although it is not easily noticed: the underlying causes of her depression There is an underlying assumption that younger workers are easier to train.

aloof

unfriendly and deliberately not talking to other people: remain/ stay aloof (from somebody) They worked hard, but tended to stay ... from the local inhabitants. keep/ hold yourself ... (from somebody) She had always kept herself ... from the boys in class. Beneath that ... exterior, Gayle is a warm, sympathetic person.

dejected /dɪˈdʒektɪəd/

unhappy, disappointed, or sad: The unemployed stood at street corners, dejected.

safe and sound

unharmed, especially after being in danger) The missing children were found safe and sound.

till you drop

until you are too tired to continue doing something: We're going to shop till we drop!

exceptional

unusually good SYN outstanding an exceptional student exceptional bravery

cynical

unwilling to believe that people have good, honest, or sincere reasons for doing something: a ... view of human nature ... about The public is ... about election promises.

be put out

upset or offended: She felt put out that she hadn't been consulted. I think Julian will be put out if you leave the party early

endangered

used about a species of which there are very few still alive, so that it may soon not exist) The park is a sanctuary for 41 endangered species.

inevitably

used for saying that something is certain to happen and cannot be avoided: The decision will ... lead to political tensions. ...ly, the situation did not please everyone.

be economical with the truth

used humorously to say that someone is not telling the truth I was once ... on a job application form

a case of) the pot calling the kettle black informal

used humorously to say that you should not criticize someone for something, because you have done the same thing or have the same fault

in conclusion

used in a piece of writing or a speech to show that you are about to finish what you are saying SYN finally In conclusion, I would like to say how much I have enjoyed myself today.

albeit /ɔːlˈbiːɪət/

used to add information that reduces the force or importance of what you have just said SYN although He accepted the job, albeit with some hesitation. Chris went with her, albeit reluctantly.

incidentally /ˌɪnsɪəˈdentəli/

used to add more information to what you have just said, or to introduce a new subject that you have just thought of SYN by the way Incidentally, where were you born? The wine, incidentally, goes very well with a mature cheese.

on the contrary quite the contrary

used to add to a negative statement, to disagree with a negative statement by someone else, or to answer no to a question: It wasn't a good thing; on the contrary it was a huge mistake. 'I suppose your wife doesn't understand you.' 'On the contrary, she understands me very well.' 'Are they happy?' 'No, no, quite the contrary.'

I have to admit

used to agree reluctantly that sth is true

it's true

used to agree with an idea made by the previous speaker (but often before disagreeing) SYN I agree

what/ why/ how etc on earth...? spoken

used to ask a question when you are very surprised or angry: What on earth did you do that for?

by any chance

used to ask politely whether something is true: Are you Mrs Grant, by any chance?

somewhere in the region of

used to describe an amount of time, money etc without being exact: a grant somewhere in the region of £2,500

downright

used to emphasize that something is completely bad or untrue: Jed's downright lazy. It's downright disgusting!

every bit as important/ bad/ good etcespecially BrE

used to emphasize that something is equally important, bad etc as something else: Jodi plays every bit as well as the men.

you bet

used to emphasize that you agree with someone or are keen to do what they suggest: 'Going to the party on Saturday?' 'You bet!'

no way

used to emphasize that you will not agree or be able to do something: 'Are you going to offer to work over the weekend?' 'No way!' No way will we be finished by five o'clock. There's no way I'm going to pay £300 just for a weekend in Paris.

first and foremost

used to emphasize the most important quality, purpose, reason etc: Dublin is thought of first and foremost for its literary heritage.

one thing leads to another

used to explain how a series of events caused something to happen without giving any details: One thing led to another and, before I knew it, I had invited her family to stay.

alternatively

used to introduce an idea that is a second choice or possibility You can relax on the beach or alternatively try the bustling town centre.

even so

used to introduce something that is true although it is different from something that you have just said: I know he's only a child, but even so he should have known that what he was doing was wrong.

in view of

used to introduce the reason for a decision or action: In view of his conduct, the club has decided to suspend him.

it's no good (doing something)

used to say that an action will not achieve what it is intended to achieve: It's no g

better late than never

used to say that even if something happens late or someone arrives late, this is better than it not happening or their not arriving at all

blood is thicker than water

used to say that family relationships are more important than any other kind

beauty is only skin-deep

used to say that how someone looks is not as important as a good character

two wrongs don't make a right

used to say that if someone does something bad to you, you should not do something bad to them

practice makes perfect

used to say that if you do an activity regularly, you will become very good at it

once bitten, twice shy

used to say that if you have failed or been hurt once, you will be more careful next time

better safe than sorry

used to say that it is better to be careful, even if this takes time, effort etc, than take a risk that may have a bad result: Set the alarm clock - better safe than sorry!

alongside

used to say that people or things do something or exist together at the same time: Charles spent a week working alongside the miners. Organized crime continued to flourish alongside the mainstream economy.

out of sight, out of mind

used to say that people soon stop thinking about something or someone if they do not see them for a while

money talks

used to say that people with money have power and can get what they want

somebody's heart isn't in it

used to say that someone does not really want to do something: She's getting bored with the job and her ... is not in it.

sour grapes

used to say that someone is pretending that they dislike something because they want it but cannot have it - used to show disapproval

in a world of your own in your own little world

used to say that someone seems to spend a lot of time thinking or imagining things, and does not seem to notice what is happening around them: She was a shy child who seemed to live in a world of her own.

the end justifies the means

used to say that something bad is acceptable, if it achieves a good result) Their defence, that the end justifies the means, is not acceptable.

you never know

used to say that something which seems unlikely may happen: Try it! You never know, you might be lucky.

first come, first served

used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone: Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

easier said than done

used to say that something would be very difficult to do: Finding the perfect house was easier said than done.

at any rate

used to say that sth is true or sth will happen in spite of other things mentioned Well, at any rate, the next meeting will be on Wednesday.

give or take a few minutes/ a penny/ a mile etc spoken

used to say that the amount or figure that you have just mentioned is nearly correct, but not exactly: It'll be a £1,000, give or take £50 or so.

so far, so good

used to say that things have been happening successfully until now: We've reached the semi-finals. So far so good.

two heads are better than one

used to say that two people are more likely to solve a problem or think of an idea than one person working alone

actions speak louder than words

used to say that you are judged by what you do, and not by what you say

it's) no/ small/ little wonder (that) especially spoken

used to say that you are not surprised by something: No wonder you've got a headache, the amount you drank last night.

you never can tell you can never tell

used to say that you cannot be certain about what will happen in the future: The boy might turn out to be a genius. You never can tell.

live and let live

used to say that you should accept other people's behaviour, even if it seems strange

don't judge a book by its cover

used to say that you should not form an opinion based only on the way something looks

don't count your chickens (before they're hatched)

used to say that you should not make plans that depend on something good happening, because it might not: I wouldn't count your chickens, Mr Vass. I've agreed to sign the contract, but that's all.

presumably /prɪˈzjuːməbli/

used to say that you think something is probably true: It's raining, which presumably means that your football match will be cancelled. [sentence adverb] He's dead now, presumably?

no such luck

used to say you are disappointed because something good that you hoped would happen did not happen: 'Have you Sunday off?' 'No such luck.'

for some reason

used to say, often with slight annoyance, that you don't know the reason or don't understand it.

your guess is as good as mine [spoken]

used to tell someone that you do not know any more than they do about something

a likely story

used to tell someone you do not believe what they have just said

as a matter of fact

used when adding more details about what you have just said: 'Have you had many visitors yet?' 'No, as a matter of fact you're the first.' I knew him when we were in college - as a matter of fact we were on the same course.

your best bet

used when advising someone what to do: Your best bet is to put an advert in the local newspaper. The train might be a better bet.

by and large

used when making a general statement: By and large, the new arrangements have worked well.

mind you

used when saying something that is almost the opposite of what you have just said, or that explains or emphasizes it: SYN still He looks very young in this photo. Mind you, it was taken years ago. I love hot weather, but not too hot, mind.

namely

used when saying the names of the people or things you are referring to: Three students were mentioned, namely John, Sarah and Sylvia.

it's not your day

used when several unpleasant things have happened to someone in one day: It wasn't Chris's day - he overslept and then his car broke down.

no reason

used when someone asks you why you are doing something and you do not want to tell them: 'Why d'you want to go that way?' 'Oh, no reason.'

famous last words

used when someone has said too confidently that they can do something or that something will happen

the thing is

used when you are going to explain something, give the reason for something, or give an opinion: 'It sounds like a good idea. Why don't you invest?' 'Well, the thing is, I can't afford to.'

as for

used when you are starting to talk about someone or something new that is connected with what you were talking about before: Kitty's got so thin. And as for Carl, he always seems to be ill. You can ask the others, but as for myself, I'll be busy in the office.

needless to say

used when you are telling someone something that they probably know or expect: Needless to say, any contributions of money will be gratefully received.

... or something spoken

used when you cannot remember, or do not think it is necessary to give, another example of something you are mentioning: Her name was Judith, or Julie, or something. Here's some money. Get yourself a sandwich or something.

no news is good news

used when you have not received any news about someone and you hope this means that nothing bad has happened

by means of sth

using a particular method or system: The blocks are raised by means of pulleys.

thrifty

using money carefully and wisely SYN economical hard-working, thrifty people

be in/ out of season

vegetables and fruit that are in season are cheap and easily available because it is the time of year when they are ready to eat. If they are out of season, they are expensive or not available: Vine tomatoes are in season from April to October.

hectic

very busy or full of activity: I've had a pretty hectic day. a hectic social life

meticulous

very careful about small details, and always making sure that everything is done correctly: He kept meticulous accounts. Their planning and preparation were meticulous. He cleaned the tools with meticulous care. The book describes his journey in meticulous detail. meticulous in He was meticulous in his use of words. meticulous about He has always been so meticulous about his appearance.

diverse

very different from each other: subjects as diverse as pop music and archaeology

alien

very different from what you are used to, especially in a way that is difficult to understand or accept SYN strange the alien environment of the city be alien to somebody a way of life that is totally alien to us

gruelling

very difficult and tiring: The cast took a break from their gruelling schedule. a grueling journey

gutted

very disappointed I was ... when we lost the match.

as dry as a bone

very dry The path is dry as a bone =very dry.

passionate

very enthusiastic or interested in sth

on the edge of your seat

very excited and interested in sth

nail-biting

very exciting or worrying because you do not know how it will end

phenomenally

very great or impressive the phenomenal success of computer games in recent years phenomenal growth rise increase California had experienced a phenomenal growth in population. He has learned a phenomenal amount in the last two years. The results have been phenomenal. —phenomenally adv The group have been phenomenally successful in Europe

we had torrential rain last night.

very heavy rain

urgent

very important and needing to be dealt with immediately: He was in urgent need of medical attention. The report called for urgent action to reduce lead in petrol. an urgent message

deafening

very loud

fundamental

very necessary and important: fundamental human rights fundamental to Water is fundamental to survival.

insulting

very rude and offensive to someone: ... remarks

offensive

very rude or insulting and likely to upset people OPP inoffensive I found her remarks deeply offensive. offensive to crude jokes that are offensive to women offensive behaviour

cripling

very serious (crippling debts/disease) causing so much damage or harm that something no longer works or is no longer effective: the crippling effects of war on the economy

rigorous

very severe or strict: rigorous army training Do you set yourself rigorous time limits for tasks, and stick to them?

They are predicting gale-force winds tonight.

very strong winds

malicious

very unkind and cruel, and deliberately behaving in a way that is likely to upset or hurt someone: a ... girl malicious gossip/ rumour Who is responsible for these ... rumors?

bizarre /bɪəˈzɑː/

very unusual or strange: a bizarre coincidence dancers in rather bizarre costumes

road rage

violence and angry behaviour by car drivers towards other car drivers: Road rage seems to be on the increase. a road rage attack

stroll

walk casually for pleasure: we ... along the beach.

stagger

walk with difficulty, being almost unable to stand up. despite his injury, he ... to the nearest house and phoned for help

sought after

wanted by a lot of people but rare or difficult to get: much/ highly sought-after a much sought-after defense lawyer By the mid-1920s, she had become one of Broadway's most sought-after actresses.

are the injuries severe?

we don't know the severity of them yet.

should we try to simplify things?

we need a simplification of the rules.

outlook

what is expected to happen in the future: outlook for The outlook for the weekend is unsettled, with periods of heavy rain. The outlook for sufferers from this disease is bleak. economic/ financial/ political etc outlook a gloomy economic outlook in Western Europe

first resort

what you will do first before you try other things: In the past, your family was the first resort when looking for a job.

last/ final resort

what you will do if everything else fails: as a last resort Drug treatment should only be used as a last resort. of last resort a weapon of last resort in the last resortBrE: Economic sanctions will be used only in the last resort.

in any case

whatever happens or happened: I don't see why I couldn't do it. In any case, I'm going to try. He's too young to come and in any case I want him to spend the time with Mom.

closure

when a factory, school, hospital etc has to close permanently: Several military bases are threatened with closure. factory/ hospital/ school etc closure the problem of school closures closure of the closure of St Bartholomew's Hospital

abolition

when a law or a system is officially ended: abolition of the abolition of the death penalty

captivity

when a person or animal is kept in a prison, cage etc and not allowed to go where they want OPP freedom The hostages were released from captivity. in captivity animals bred in captivity

promotion

when a sports team moves into a better group of teams OPP relegation

on the surface

when not looked at or thought about carefully

integration

when people become part of a group or society and are accepted by them: integration into The family unit is supported by its integration into a wider social network.

segregation

when people of different races, sexes, or religions are kept apart so that they live, work, or study separately OPP integration racial segregation segregation of the segregation of men and women

forced labour

when prisoners or slaves are forced to do very hard physical work, or a system in which this happens: Two million suffered imprisonment or forced labour.

intrusion

when someone does something, or something happens, that affects your private life or activities in an unwanted way: intrusion into/ on/ upon I resented this intrusion into my domestic affairs. the unwelcome intrusion of the press

disregard

when someone ignores something that they should not ignoredisregard for of his disregard for her feelings total reckless complete flagrant etc disregard Local councillors accused the terrorists of showing a complete disregard for human life. in disregard of something He said the bombing was in complete disregard of the Geneva Convention

custody

when someone is kept in prison until they go to court, because the police think they have committed a crime: The committee is looking at alternatives to custody. in custody the death of a man in custody hold/ keep somebody in custody A man is being held in police custody in connection with the murder.

referral

when someone sends someone or something to another person to be helped or dealt with: referral to The doctor will give you a referral to a specialist in your area. Only 39 percent of patients were seen within four weeks of referral.

transition

when something changes from one form or state to another: transition from something to something the smooth transition from full-time work to full retirement Making the transition from youth to adulthood can be very painful. a society that is in transition (=changing) the period of transition to full democracy

betrayal

when you betray your country, friends, or someone who trusts you: betrayal of a ruthless betrayal of their election pledges She felt a great sense of betrayal.

self-assessment

when you judge your own work or progress

restoration

when you repair something such as an old building or a piece of furniture, so that it looks the same as when it was first built or made: restoration of a fund for the restoration of historic buildings Major restoration work will begin in May.

irony

when you use words that are the opposite of what you really mean, often in order to be amusing: 'Of course Michael won't be late; you know how punctual he always is,' she said with heavy ... .

collaboration with sb

when you work together with another person or group to achieve something, especially in science or art: The company is building the centre in collaboration with the Institute of Offshore Engineering. collaboration between a collaboration between the two theatres collaboration with The project has involved collaboration with the geography department.

mouth ulcer

why does he get mouth ulcer?

The storms caused extensive damage.

widespread damage

team spirit

willingness to work as part of a team

cobbled streets

with a surface made from round stones) The cobbled streets were closed to cars.

within reason

within sensible limits: You can go anywhere you want, ... .

impeccable

without any faults and impossible to criticize SYN perfect She has taught her children impeccable manners. a bar with impeccable service

regardless of sth

without being affected or influenced by something: regardless of The law requires equal treatment for all, regardless of race, religion, or sex.

green

without experience informal young and lacking experienceSYN naive I was pretty green then I had a lot of things to learn

pull your weight

work as hard as everyone else in a job or activity

Limp

work slowly and with difficulty because one leg or foot is injured.

uneasy

worried or slightly afraid because you think that something bad might happen: ... about Ninety percent of those questioned felt ... about nuclear power.

put a strain on sb/sth

worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time. The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.

sceptical about sg

you are not confident that it is true or will happen

cynical

you believe people do things for themselves rather than for unselfish reasons

behind sb's back

you say or do it without their knowledge, and usually it is bad or unkind. I don't like the idea of the two of them talking about me ... I should have realized that hed go =do something without telling me

innermost thoughts

your ... feelings, desires etc are your most personal and secret ones: a man who would never share his ... thoughts with anyone

next of kin

your closest living relative or relatives: May I have your name, address and next of kin, please?

restriction

1[countable] a rule or law that limits or controls what people can do: restriction on restrictions on immigration a 50 mph speed restriction trade/ travel restrictions impose/ place restrictions on something The law imposed new financial restrictions on private companies. strict/ tough/ tight restriction tougher restrictions on alcohol advertising lift/ remove a restriction Restrictions on trade were lifted.

falsehood

1[countable] a statement that is untrue SYN lie Saunders is deliberately telling a falsehood. 2[uncountable]the practice of telling lies SYN lying No one had accused me of falsehood before. 3[uncountable]the state of not being true OPP truth Most people believe in right and wrong, truth and falsehood.

insight

1[countable] a sudden clear understanding of something or part of something, especially a complicated situation or idea: insight into The article gives us a real insight into the causes of the present economic crisis. The research provides new insights into the way we process language. 2[uncountable] the ability to understand and realize what people or situations are really like: a woman of great insight

conviction /kənˈvɪkʃən/

1[countable] a very strong belief or opinion: religious/ political etc convictions a woman of strong political convictions deep/ strong conviction The Dotens have a deep conviction that marriage is for life. conviction that The students possess the conviction that they can make a difference to their community. 2[uncountable] the feeling of being sure about something and having no doubts: with/ without conviction He was able to say with conviction that he had changed. 'No,' she said, without conviction. It was a reasonable explanation, but his voice lacked conviction. It took her so much effort to speak that what she said carried great conviction (=showed she felt sure of what she said).

sway

1[intransitive] to move slowly from one side to another: The trees swayed gently in the breeze. 2[transitive] to influence someone so that they change their opinion: Don't allow yourself to be swayed by his promises.

apparently

1[sentence adverb] used to say that you have heard that something is true, although you are not completely sure about it: Apparently the company is losing a lot of money. I wasn't there, but apparently it went well. 2according to the way someone looks or a situation appears, although you cannot be sure: She turned to face him, her anger apparently gone.

stifle

1[transitive] to stop something from happening or developing OPP encourage rules and regulations that stifle innovation How can this party stifle debate on such a crucial issue? 2[transitive] to stop a feeling from being expressed: He stifled an urge to hit her. stifle a yawn/ smile/ grin etc I tried to stifle my laughter.

combat

1[uncountable] fighting, especially during a war: in combat Corporal Gierson was killed in combat. We flew over 200 combat missions. training in unarmed combat (=fighting without weapons) mortal combat (=fighting until one person kills another) hand-to-hand combat (=fighting in which you are close enough to touch your opponent) combat aircraft/ jacket/ boots etc 2[countable] a fight or battle

posh

1a posh restaurant, hotel, car etc is expensive and looks as if it is used or owned by rich people: a posh private school 2BrE upper class: Her parents are terribly posh.

incident

1an event, especially one that is unusual, important, or violent: Am I at risk because of some incident in my sexual past? Roads were sealed off because of a major incident. without incident The plane landed without incident.

stance

1an opinion that is stated publicly SYN stand: stance on What is your stance on environmental issues? stance against a strong stance against abortion take/ adopt a stance The President has adopted a tough stance on terrorism.

promptly

1at the right time without being late SYN on time She arrived promptly. 2immediately: She turned off the alarm and promptly went back to sleep. 3without delay: A reply came very promptly.

objective

1based on facts, or making a decision that is based on facts rather than on your feelings or beliefs OPP subjective objective assessment/ measurement/ description etc It's hard to give an objective opinion about your own children. Scientists need to be objective when doing research. purely/ totally/ completely objective the importance of a completely objective, independent press

rigorous /ˈrɪgərəs/

1careful, thorough, and exact: a rigorous analysis of defence needs the rigorous standards required by the college 2very severe or strict: rigorous army training

unlike

1completely different from a particular person or thing: Tammy was unlike any other woman I have ever known. 2not typical of someone at all: It's unlike Greg to be late. 3used when saying how one person or thing is different from another: Unlike most people in the office, I don't come to work by car.

practically

1especially spoken almost: I've read practically all of his books. She sees him practically every day. It's practically impossible to predict what will happen. The two designs were practically identical.

vast

1extremely large SYN huge: vast amounts/ numbers/ quantities/ sums etc (of something) The government will have to borrow vast amounts of money. The refugees come across the border in vast numbers. vast areas/ expanses/ tracts etc (of something) vast areas of rainforest In the past five years, there has been a vast improvement in graduation rates. 2the vast majority (of something) used when you want to emphasize that something is true about almost all of a group of people or things: The vast majority of books on the subject are complete rubbish.

go under

1if a business goes under, it has to stop operating because of financial problems: More than 7,000 businesses have gone under in the last three months. 2to sink beneath the surface of water: The Titanic finally went under. She went under, coughing and spluttering.

comprehensive /ˌkɒmprɪˈhensɪv/

1including all the necessary facts, details, or problems that need to be dealt with SYN thorough We offer our customers a comprehensive range of financial products. a comprehensive guide to British hotels and restaurants The following guidelines do not aim to be totally comprehensive. comprehensive review/ study/ survey/ account etc a thorough and comprehensive review of the case a comprehensive study of alcoholism

flak

1informal strong criticism: Lilley has taken a lot of flak for his views on drugs.

aptitude /ˈæptɪətjuːd/

1natural ability or skill, especially in learning: aptitude for He has a natural aptitude for teaching.

negligent /ˈneglɪdʒənt/

1not taking enough care over something that you are responsible for, with the result that serious mistakes are made SYN irresponsible OPP responsible negligent in (doing) something The report stated that Dr Brady had been negligent in not giving the patient a full examination. Mr Brown was found guilty of negligent driving.

facet /ˈfæsɪət/

1one of several parts of someone's character, a situation etc SYN aspect: facet of He has travelled extensively in China, recording every facet of life. 2multi-faceted/ many-faceted consisting of many different parts: The issues are complex and multi-faceted.

mount

1organize[transitive] to plan, organize, and begin an event or a course of action: The National Gallery mounted an exhibition of Danish painting. mount a campaign/ challenge/ search etc Friends of the Earth are mounting a campaign to monitor the illegal logging of trees. mount an assault/ attack Guerrillas have mounted an attack on the capital.

concise /kənˈsaɪs/

1short, with no unnecessary words SYN brief Your summary should be as clear and concise as possible.

daft

1silly: a daft idea Me, jealous? Don't be daft (=that is a silly idea). She's as daft as a brush (=extremely silly). 2be daft about something to be extremely interested in something: Tony's still daft about cars!

occupant /ˈɒkjʊəpənt/

1someone who lives in a house, room etc➔ resident: The furniture had been left by the previous occupants. occupant of Police are still trying to trace the occupants of the house which was destroyed by fire. 2someone who is in a room, vehicle etc at a particular time: Neither of the car's two occupants was injured.

back

1support[transitive usually passive] a) to support someone or something, especially by giving them money or using your influence: The scheme has been backed by several major companies in the region. Some suspected that the rebellion was backed and financed by the US. government-backed loans b)(alsoback up) to support an idea by providing facts, proof etc: His claims are not backed by any scientific evidence.

withstand sth /wɪðˈstænd/

1to be strong enough to remain unharmed by something such as great heat, cold, pressure etc SYN resist, stand up to This fabric can withstand steam and high temperatures. 2to defend yourself successfully against people who attack, criticize, or oppose you SYN stand up to The Chancellor has withstood the criticism and held firm.

deteriorate /dɪtɪəriəreɪt/

1to become worse: Ethel's health has deteriorated. America's deteriorating economy

budget

1to carefully plan and control how much money you spend and what you will buy with it: We'll have to budget more carefully. This scheme enables you to budget the cost through fixed monthly payments. budget for We've budgeted for a new car next year. 2if you budget something such as time, you decide how much of it you will need

con

1to get money from someone by deceiving them SYN swindle: con somebody out of something He conned me out of £300. 2to persuade someone to do something by deceiving them SYN trick: con somebody into doing something You had no right to con me into thinking I could trust you.

reinforce /ˌriːɪənˈfɔːs/

1to give support to an opinion, idea, or feeling, and make it stronger: The film reinforces the idea that women should be pretty and dumb. 2to make part of a building, structure, piece of clothing etc stronger

encroach upon sth

1to gradually take more of someone's time, possessions, rights etc than you should: encroach on/ upon Bureaucratic power has encroached upon the freedom of the individual. 2to gradually cover more and more land: encroach into The fighting encroached further east. —encroachment noun[uncountable and countable]: foreign encroachment

archive

1to put documents, books, information etc in an archive

preserve

1to save something or someone from being harmed or destroyed➔ preservation: We must encourage the planting of new trees and preserve our existing woodlands. 2to make something continue without changing: the responsibility of the police to preserve the peace Norma tried to preserve a normal family life in difficult circumstances.

biased /ˈbaɪəst/

1unfairly preferring one person or group over another: Of course I'm biased, but I thought my daughter's paintings were the best. racially biased attitudes biased against/ towards/ in favour of news reporting that was heavily biased towards the government 2more interested in a particular thing than in another: biased towards The majority of infants are biased towards being social rather than being antisocial.

mount

2increase[intransitive usually in progressive] to increase gradually in amount or degree: Tension here is mounting, as we await the final result. Casualties on both sides of the battle have continued to mount.

in possession of sth

=have it) Before applying for a job, make sure you are in possession of the required qualifications. She was found in possession of stolen goods.

meadow

A field of grass or wildflowers.

slope

A surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another.

fire/flames die down

After not adding any fuel to the fire, it ... .

bloke

BrE informal a man: He's a nice bloke.

ta

BrE informal thank you

come unstuck

BrE informalFAIL if a person, plan, or system comes unstuck, they fail at what they were trying to achieve: a dangerous area of rock where many climbers come unstuck

kip

BrE informalto steal something, especially something small or not very valuable: Someone's pinched my coat!

pinch

BrE informalto steal something, especially something small or not very valuable: Someone's pinched my coat!

exceed

Do not ... the stated dose. you should not ... the speed limit.

My heart told me to help him.

Emotionally, I felt I should help him.

hear gossip

Have you heard the latest gossip about Steve?

do sth at the last minute

He cancelled his trip to England at the last minute.

take revenge

He dreamed of taking revenge on his father's killers.

listen to gossip

He was always willing to listen to gossip.

move/ head/ go in the right direction

I believe that things are heading in the right direction in South Africa.

itchy scalp

I had an ... until I started using this special shampoo.

constipated constipation

I often get ... on holiday.

beneath the surface

I sensed a lot of tension and jealousy ... . Prejudice is never far ... (=often appears) in the region.

couldn't you defend yourself?

I was completely defenceless.

after the meeting, my head was buzzing for hours.

I was thinking about it continuously

splitting headache

I've got a ... headache.

meadow /ˈmedəʊ/

I've scattered seeds to create a wild-flower meadow, and I hope birds will soon build nests.

regard sth/sb as sth

Paul seemed to regard sex as sinful and immoral. Edith was widely regarded as (=considered by many people to be) eccentric. His work is highly regarded (=regarded as very good) by art experts.

drawn to sth/sb

She is ... to men who are considerate.

How does she occupy her time?

She keep herself occupied with work.

as light as a feather

She was as light as a feather =very light to carry

spread gossip

Someone's been spreading gossip about Lucy and Ian.

catch fire

The boat ... fire and sank

go up in flames

The cottage ... flames.

light a fire

The cottage was cold inside so I decided to ... .

fire spread

The fire spread to the first floor.

soil

The loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow.

chair a meeting

The meeting was chaired by Professor Jones of the University of York.

burst into flames

The plane took off and after a while it ... .

draw attention to sth

The purpose of the article was to ... to the problems faced by single parents. We wanted to focus public attention on this matter. He left quietly to avoid ... to himself.

make my mouth water mouth-watering

The smells from the kitchen were making ... .

march

The soldiers ... for over 20 kms. walk with stiff regular steps

neutral venue

The teams are going to play the final at a neutral venue.

self-explanatory

The video controls are pretty ... .

take an instant dislike to sb

They ...to each other (=they disliked each other immediately).

forest fire

We get a lot of ... in this area due to careless campers. ... have broken out across the region.

rules and regulations

We must reduce the number of rules and regulations.

fire goes out

We waited for the fire to ... before taking down the tent.

What do you make of sb/sg?

What's your impression of sb/sth?

what do you make of sb?

What's your impression sb/sth? What did you ... the two candidates for the job?

under pressure

When the opposition put us under pressure, we just went to pieces.

moan

[informal] to complain in an annoying way, especially in an unhappy voice and without good reason: 'I feel seasick already,' she moaned. moan about A lot of people moaned about the parking problems. moan atBrE: My mum never stops moaning at me. moan that He's always moaning that we use too much electricity. He moaned and groaned all the way there.

conventional

[only before noun] a conventional method, product, practice etc has been used for a long time and is considered the usual type: Internet connections through conventional phone lines are fairly slow. Bake for 20 minutes in a conventional oven; 8 in a microwave.

extend

[time] to continue for a longer period of time, or to make something last longer: Management have agreed to extend the deadline. extend for/ into/ over etc Some of our courses extend over two years. extend something for/ by/ until something The government has extended the ban on the import of beef until June.

bolt sth to sth

[transitive]to fasten two things together using a bolt: bolt something to something The cell contained an iron bedframe bolted to the floor. bolt something together The boxes were made of heavy panels of metal bolted together.

merit

[uncountable] formal a good quality that makes someone or something deserve praise: There is never any merit in being second best. have (some) merit/ be of merit (=be good) The suggestion has some merit. on merit Students are selected solely on merit (=because they are good). artistic/ literary merit a film lacking any artistic merit

involvement /ɪnˈvɒlvmənt/

[uncountable]the act of taking part in an activity or event, or the way in which you take part in it SYN participation School officials say they welcome parental involvement. involvement in His new book examines the United States' involvement in World War II. involvement with Carey's possible involvement with a series of robberies

eliminate sb from sth

[usually passive] to defeat a team or person in a competition, so that they no longer take part in it SYN knock out Our team was eliminated in the first round.

built-up

a ... area has a lot of buildings and not many open spaces: He was fined for speeding in a ... area.

figurative

a ... word or phrase is used in a different way from its usual meaning, to give you a particular idea or picture in your mind: He's my son, in the figurative sense of the word.

stereotype /ˈsteriətaɪp/

a belief or idea of what a particular type of person or thing is like. Stereotypes are often unfair or untrue: racial/ sexual/ cultural etc stereotype racist stereotypes in the media stereotype of women who don't fit the stereotype of the good mother stereotype about stereotypes about the elderly

corporation

a big company, or a group of companies acting together as a single organization: He works for a large American corporation. multinational corporations the Siemens Corporation corporation tax (=tax that companies have to pay on their profits)

we made a real effort to finish it on time.

a big effort

compilation /ˌkɒmpɪəˈleɪʃən/

a book, list, record etc which consists of different pieces of information, songs etc: compilation of a compilation of love songs compilation CD/ album/ tape

glare

a bright unpleasant light which hurts your eyes: the glare of something the harsh ... of the desert sun a special screen to reduce ... adjust lightning to eliminate ... .

adrenalin /ədrenəl-ɪən/

a chemical produced by your body when you are afraid, angry, or excited, which makes your heart beat faster: There's nothing like a good horror film to get the adrenalin going (=make you feel nervously excited).

cliquey

a cliquey organization, club etc has a lot of cliques or is controlled by them - used to show disapproval

bond

a close connection

enterprise

a company, organization, or business: commercial enterprises such as banks and food manufacturers state/ public enterpriseespecially BrE (=one owned by the government)

reproduction

a copy of a work of art, piece of furniture etc: reproduction of a reproduction of Vincent Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' reproduction furniture/ chairs etc a reproduction Louis XIV table

dilapidated /dəˈlæpɪədeɪtɪəd/

a dilapidated building, vehicle etc is old and in very bad condition

consultation

a discussion in which people who are affected by or involved in something can give their opinions: consultation with The decision was reached after consultation with parents and teachers. consultation between He's calling for urgent consultations between the government and the oil industry to resolve the problem. in consultation with somebody The plans were drawn up in consultation with engineers.

forgery

a document, painting, or piece of paper money that has been copied illegally SYN fake The painting was a very clever forgery.

broken home

a family that no longer lives together because the parents have divorced: The majority of offenders do not come from broken homes.

trait

a feature of sb's character

affection

a feeling of liking or love and caring SYN fondness: ... for Bart had a deep ... for the old man. She looked back on those days with ... . Their father never showed them much ... The church was held in great ... (=loved and cared about a lot) by the local residents.

It was a great honor to meet the president.

a feeling of pride

discomfort

a feeling of slight pain or of being physically uncomfortable: If the exercise causes ..., stop immediately.

hedge

a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

adaptation

a film or television programme that is based on a book or play: adaptation of the BBC adaptation of the best-selling book television/ film/ stage etc adaptation He's working on a screen adaptation of his latest novel.

flop

a film, play, product etc that is not successful OPP hit disastrous/ spectacular etc flop The film was a complete flop.

common goal

a goal shared by two or more people

virtue

a good or desirable quality

grounds for sth

a good reason for doing, believing, or saying something: grounds for (doing) something Mental cruelty can be grounds for divorce. There are strong grounds for believing his statement. have grounds to do something Did the police have reasonable grounds to arrest him?

there was a huge roar when Esteghlal scored.

a huge noise from the crowd

lucrative

a job or activity that is lucrative lets you earn a lot of money SYN profitable: lucrative business/ market/ contract etc He inherited a lucrative business from his father.

deluge /deljuːdʒ/

a large amount of something such as letters or questions that someone gets at the same time SYN flood: deluge of Viewers sent a deluge of complaints about the show.

organized crime

a large and powerful organization of criminals: Organized crime is involved in drug trafficking.

hike

a large increase in prices, wages, taxes etc SYN rise: hike in The president has proposed a hike in the minimum wage. price/ rate/ tax etc hikes Several airlines have proposed fare hikes, effective October 1.

stacks of sth

a large quantity of sth tons/loads/bags of sth He earns stacks of money

solicitor

a lawyer who gives legal advice and prepares documents.

warrant

a legal document that is signed by a judge, allowing the police to take a particular action: warrant for The magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest.

life-threatening

a life-threatening situation, illness, or injury could cause a person to die➔ fatal

tailback

a line of traffic that is moving very slowly or not moving at all: a five-mile ... on the M25

20-odd/ 30-odd etc spoken

a little more than 20 etc: I have another 20-odd years to work before I retire.

trek

a long and difficult journey, made especially on foot as an adventure SYN hike a lonely trek through the forest

I had to face strong criticism over this issue.

a lot of disapproval from others

racket

a loud noise: The old machine used to make an awful racket.

tumble dryer

a machine that uses hot air to dry clothes after they have been washed SYN dryer

paunch

a man's fat stomache

procedure

a medical treatment or operation: Liposuction is a minor surgical procedure.

cure

a medicine or medical treatment that makes an illness go away: cure for There is still no cure for AIDS. incurable

shell

a metal container, like a large bullet, which is full of an explosive substance and is fired from a large gun We ran for cover as shells dropped all around us. an exploding mortar shell

compost

a mixture of decayed plants, leaves etc used to improve the quality of soil

musty

a musty room, house, or object has an unpleasant smell, because it is old and has not had any fresh air for a long time: the ... smell of old books

charisma

a natural ability to attract and interest other people and make them admire you: He lacks ... . I wonder whether she's got the necessary ... .

eye strain

a pain you feel in your eyes, for example because you are tired or have been reading a lot

dividend

a part of a company's profit that is divided among the people with shares in the company

proportion

a part of a number or an amount, considered in relation to the whole: proportion of The proportion of women graduates has increased in recent years. Every parent is asked to contribute a proportion of the total cost. high/ large/ small etc proportion The decision affects a significant proportion of the population. Although the majority of offenders are men, a small proportion - about five percent - are women.

virtue

a particular good quality in someone's character OPP vice Among her many ... are loyalty, courage, and truthfulness.

era

a period of time in history that is known for a particular event, or for particular qualities: era of We live in an era of instant communication. a new era of world peace His death marked the end of an era. the Victorian era

loner

a person who is or prefers to be alone, especially one who avoids the company of others

chatterbox

a person who talks a lot

charity begins at home

a phrase meaning that you should take care of your own family, country etc before you help other people

corkscrew

a piece of equipment used for pulling corks out of wine bottles

price tag

a piece of paper with a price on it that is attached to something in a shop

off the beaten track/ path

a place that is off the beaten track is not well known and is far away from the places that people usually visit

unspoilt

a place that is unspoiled is still beautiful because no one has built roads or buildings on it: It was a pleasant unspoilt village. The countryside is remarkably unspoiled.

landfill

a place where waste is buried under the ground

turbulence

a political or emotional situation that is very confused SYN turmoil A period of political turbulence followed the civil war.

setback

a problem that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than they were: setback for The December elections were a major ... for the party. The team's hopes of playing in Europe suffered a ... last night.

setback

a problem that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than they were: setback for The December elections were a major setback for the party. The team's hopes of playing in Europe suffered a setback last night.

shake-up

a process by which an organization makes a lot of big changes in a short time to improve its effectiveness: There could be quite a ... at the end of the year.

trial and error

a process of trying to solve a problem in different ways until you are successful I learnt how to use a computer by ....

attribute

a quality of feature of sb/sth

attribute

a quality or feature, especially one that is considered to be good or useful: What ...s should a good manager possess?

inherent (in sth)

a quality that is inherent in something is a natural part of it and cannot be separated from it: inherent in I'm afraid the problems you mention are inherent in the system. Every business has its own inherent risks.

charisma

a quality that makes other people like you and be attracted to you

ulterior motive

a reason for doing something that you deliberately hide in order to get an advantage for yourself: He's just being nice. I don't think he has any ... .

train of thought

a related series of thoughts that are developing in your mind: The phone interrupted my train of thought. I've lost my train of thought.

on the rocks

a relationship or business that is on the rocks is having a lot of problems and is likely to fail soon SYN in trouble I'm afraid Tim's marriage is on the rocks.

bulb

a root shaped like a ball that grows into a flower or plant: tulip bulbs We're gonna plant bulbs for the following spring.

hedge

a row of small bushes or trees growing close together, usually dividing one field or garden from another I have to tidy hedges and fallen leaves.

dispute /dɪˈspjuːt/

a serious argument or disagreement: dispute with The firm is involved in a legal dispute with a rival company. dispute over He got into a dispute over a taxi fare. dispute between the bitter border dispute between the countries

survey

a set of questions that you ask a large number of people in order to find out about their opinions or behaviour➔ poll: carry out/ conduct a survey (=do a survey) We conducted a survey of parents in the village. survey of a survey of US businesses survey shows/ reveals (that) The survey showed that Britain's trees are in good health.

synopsis

a short description of the main events or ideas in a book, film etc SYN summary: synopsis of a synopsis of the play

spree

a short period of time when you do a lot of one activity, especially spending money or drinking alcohol: on a spree They went on a drinking spree. a shopping spree

excerpt /ˈeksɜːpt/

a short piece taken from a book, poem, piece of music etc SYN extract: excerpt of/ from An excerpt of the speech appeared in the Sunday paper.

motto /ˈmɑːtoʊ/

a short sentence or phrase giving a rule on how to behave, which expresses the aims or beliefs of a person, school, or institution: 'Be prepared' is the motto of the Boy Scouts.

deadlock

a situation in which a disagreement cannot be settled SYN stalemate The talks have reached a complete deadlock. a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock Negotiations ended in deadlock.

jam

a situation in which a machine does not work because something is stopping a part from moving It caused a jam in the printer

law and order

a situation in which people respect the law, and crime is controlled by the police, the prison system etc: We are concerned about the breakdown of law and order in the country.

in crisis

a situation in which there are a lot of problems that must be dealt with quickly so that the situation does not get worse or more dangerous➔ emergency: The country now faces an economic crisis. The Prime Minister was criticized for the way in which he handled the crisis. the current debt crisis a major political crisis I was relieved that we had averted yet another financial crisis. Oil companies were heavily criticized when they made large profits during the oil crisis of the 1970s. The car industry is now in crisis. He doesn't seem to be very good at crisis management.

the best of both worlds

a situation in which you have the advantages of two different things without any of the disadvantages: They live in a village but it's only an hour from London, so they have the best of both worlds.

exploitation

a situation in which you treat someone unfairly by asking them to do things for you, but give them very little in return - used to show disapproval: exploitation of The film industry thrives on the sexual exploitation of women.

ethnic minority

a small ethnic group living within a much larger group) Ethnic minorities have tended to live together in the same areas of the city.

fib

a small unimportant lie He's been known to tell fibs.

gadget

a small, useful, and cleverly-designed machine or tool: a neat gadget for sharpening knives

charm

a special quality someone or something has that makes people like them, feel attracted to them, or be easily influenced by them - used to show approval➔ charming the charm of this small Southern city This city has retained its wonderful charm throughout history.

turmoil /ˈtɜːmɔɪl/

a state of confusion, excitement, or anxiety: political/ emotional/ economic/ religious etc turmoil the prospect of another week of political turmoil in (a) turmoil Ashley gazed at him, her thoughts in turmoil.

The place was in utter chaos when I arrived.

a state of total confusion; total chaos

make generalizations about sth

a statement about all the members of a group that may be true in some or many situations but is not true in every case: You can't make ... about what men and women are like. Bear in mind the danger of making generalizations about body language.

half-truth

a statement that is only partly true, especially one that is intended to keep something secret: His replies were full of evasions and half-truths.

ghost story

a story about ghosts that is intended to frighten people

sentimental

a story, film, book etc that is sentimental deals with emotions such as love and sadness, sometimes in a way that seems silly and insincere: a sentimental story set in Russia

sieve

a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles

stringent /ˈstrɪndʒənt/

a stringent law, rule, standard etc is very strict and must be obeyed: stringent anti-noise regulations

peer pressure

a strong feeling that you must do the same things as other people of your age if you want them to like you: Teenagers often start smoking because of peer pressure.

desire

a strong hope or wish: desire to do something a strong desire to win desire for a desire for knowledge desire that It was Harold's desire that he should be buried next to his wife. express/ show a desire She expressed a desire to visit us. have no desire to do something (=used to emphasize that you do not want to do something) I have no desire to cause any trouble.

aroma

a strong pleasant smell: the ... of fresh coffee

surge in sth

a sudden increase in amount or number: surge in/ of a surge in food costs a surge of reporters' interest in his finances

impulse to do sth

a sudden strong desire to do something without thinking about whether it is a sensible thing to do SYN urge: impulse to do something a sudden impulse to laugh Marge's first impulse was to run. Gerry couldn't resist the impulse to kiss her. on impulse On impulse, I picked up the phone and rang her. Most beginners buy plants on impulse and then hope for the best.

ballot

a system of voting, usually in secret, or an occasion when you vote in this way: The party leader is elected by secret ballot. Workers at the plant held a ballot and rejected strike action.

delicate

a taste, smell, or colour that is ... is pleasant and not strong. The wine has a dry ... flavour. a delicate pink

unbeaten

a team, player etc that is unbeaten has not been defeated

thriving

a thriving company, business etc is very successful SYN flourishing a thriving tourist industry

breaking point

a time when someone or something can no longer deal with something) Our resources are stretched to breaking point.

spade

a tool for digging

knockout

a type of competition in which only the winning players or teams at each stage continue to play until there is only one winner

write-off

a vehicle that has been so badly damaged that it can never be used again: The car was a complete ... .

take a heavy toll on sth/sb

a very bad effect that something has on something or someone over a long period of time: toll on Years of smoking have taken their toll on his health. a heavy toll on the environment

resounding /rɪˈzaʊndɪŋ/

a very great or complete success, victory etc: The show was a resounding success.

giant

a very large successful company:

trek

a very long and difficult journey on foot

an outside chance

a very small possibility that something will happen: Ireland still have an outside chance of winning.

stench

a very strong bad smell SYN stink the ... of urine

passion for sth

a very strong liking for something: passion for his ...for football Gardening was her great ... .

It was a classic example of his stupidity.

a very typical example of sth; a perfect example

volatile

a volatile situation is likely to change suddenly and without warning OPP stable an increasingly volatile political situation the highly volatile stock and bond markets

remedy

a way of dealing with a problem or making a bad situation better SYN solution The problems in our schools do not have a simple remedy. remedy for The program is one remedy for discrimination.

procedure /prəˈsiːdʒə/

a way of doing something, especially the correct or usual way➔ process: procedure for What's the procedure for applying for a visa? correct/ proper/ normal etc procedure This is standard procedure for getting rid of toxic waste. legal/ court/ parliamentary etc procedures All schools have disciplinary procedures they must follow. On board, we were given the usual talk on safety procedures (=what to do if an accident happens, or to prevent an accident).

sarcasm

a way of speaking or writing that involves saying the opposite of what you really mean in order to make an unkind joke or to show that you are annoyed: 'Good of you to arrive on time,' George said, with heavy ... . (=very clear ...).

the first cracks are appearing in the government

a weakness in an idea, a system,or an organization

heroine

a woman you admire for her ability or personal qualities; idol a heroine of the French Resistance

pejorative

a word or expression that is pejorative is used to show disapproval or to insult someone: For hard-line Republicans, the word 'liberal' had become a pejorative term.

manifesto /ˌmænɪəˈfestəʊ/

a written statement by a political party, saying what they believe in and what they intend to do: the Labour Party's election manifesto The Tories are due to publish their manifesto tomorrow.

in honor of sb

a) in order to show how much you admire and respect someone: The stadium was named in honour of the club's first chairman. in somebody's honour A special dinner will be held in her honour. b) to celebrate an event: An oak tree was planted in honour of the occasion.

without fail

a)ALWAYS/EVERY TIME if you do something without fail, you always do it: Tim visits his mother every day without fail. b)CERTAINLY/DEFINITELY used to tell someone very firmly that they must do something: I want that work finished by tomorrow, without fail!

my mind goes blank

a)FORGET if your mind goes blank, or if you go blank, you are suddenly unable to remember something: My heart began to race and my mind went blank. b)NONE/NOTHING to stop showing any images, writing etc: Suddenly the screen went blank.

conceivable /kənˈsiːvəbəl/

able to be believed or imagined OPP inconceivable It is conceivable that you may get full compensation, but it's not likely. We were discussing the problems from every conceivable angle. —conceivably adv: Conceivably, interest rates could rise very high indeed.

trustworthy

able to be relied on as good, honest

trustworthy

able to be relied on as good, honest, etc

sustainable

able to continue without causing damage to the environment: The government should do more to promote sustainable agriculture. the sustainable use of rainforest resources Cycling is a totally sustainable form of transport. environmentally sustainable development

cunning, crafty

able to do things by being clever but not always honest

compatible /kəmˈpætɪəbəl/

able to exist or be used together without causing problems ➔ compatibility: compatible with Stephen's political views often weren't compatible with her own.

agile

able to move quickly and easily: Dogs are surprisingly ... .

quick-witted

able to think and understand things quickly OPP slow-witted Toby was ... and entertaining. a ... reply

quick-witted

able to think quickly, intelligent

sheer

absolute Jumping into the freezing water was an act of ... desperation.

There is a growing recognition that we can't go on polluting the atmosphere.

acceptance that sth is true or legal.

customary

according to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances

within reason

according to what is practical, possible or sensible

potential

achieve/ fulfil/ reach/ realize your potential (=succeed as much as you have the potential to succeed) A lot of athletes find it difficult to achieve their potential.

counter-productive /ˌkaʊntəprəˈdʌktɪv/

achieving the opposite result to the one that you want: Sending young offenders to prison can be counterproductive.

sponteneous

acting in an open and natural way without worrying about what you say or do

look up to sb

admire and respect sb, often sb who is older or in a higher position

nationwide/ city-wide etc

affecting all the people in a nation, city etc: a country-wide revolt against the government

sweeping change

affecting many things or people, especially because of an official decision) There are likely to be sweeping changes in the company.

consent /kənˈsent/

agreement about something➔ dissent: The chairman was elected by common consent (=with most people agreeing). divorce by mutual consent (=by agreement between both the people involved)

cyberspace

all the connections between computers in different places, considered as a real place where information, messages, pictures etc exist: Students are discovering the endless amount of information in cyberspace.

leave sth to/ with sb

allow sb to take care of sth We need to book a table. I'll leave that to you. Leave it to/with me - I'll do it.

as good as ...

almost: as good as done/ finished etc The summer's as good as over. as good as dead/ ruined/ useless etc This carpet's as good as ruined.

virtually

almost; practically He was ... unknown before running for office.

subservient /səbˈsɜːviənt/

always obeying another person and doing everything they want you to do - used when someone seems too weak and powerless: subservient to Don remained entirely subservient to his father. subservient role/ position His wife refused to accept a traditional subservient role.

considerate, thoughtful

always thinking about other people's wishes and feelings

considerate

always thinking of what other people need or want and being careful not to upset them OPP inconsiderate He was always kind and ... . it is ... of somebody (to do something) It was very ... of you to let us know you were going to be late.

soar

amounts/prices etc to increase quickly to a high level OPP plummet SYN rocket Her temperature soared. The price of petrol has soared in recent weeks. soaring unemployment

precedent /ˈpresɪədənt/

an action or official decision that can be used to give support to later actions or decisions: a legal precedent set/ create a precedent UN involvement in the country's affairs would set a dangerous precedent. precedent for precedents for what courts will accept as 'fair'

pursuit

an activity such as a sport or hobby, which you spend a lot of time doing: outdoor /leisure pursuit pursuits such as swimming and tennis

virtue of

an advantage that makes something better or more useful than something else: virtue of Adam Smith believed in the ...s of free trade. Wilkins is now extolling (=praising very much) the ...s of organic farming.

hay fever

an allergy affecting the nose, eyes, and throat, caused by pollen from plants. I suffer from ... in the summer.

pension

an amount of money paid regularly by the government or company to someone who does not work any more, for example because they have reached the age when people stop working or because they are ill: At what age can you start drawing your pension? If you are self-employed, you should think about taking out a private pension. Many people find it hard to live on a basic state pension. She pays a quarter of her salary into a pension plan.

allowance

an amount of money that you are given regularly or for a special purpose: a monthly/ annual etc allowance His father gives him a monthly allowance of £200. allowance for Do you get an allowance for clothes? Sales staff get a generous mileage allowance or a company car. If you are entitled to sickness allowance, you must claim it from your employer.

sum of sth

an amount of money: He owes me a large sum of money. sum of the sum of £4,000 large/ substantial/ considerable etc sum Bill wants to spend a large sum on modernizing the farm. small/ modest/ trifling etc sum We should be happy to buy it for a modest sum

reserve

an area of land where wild animals can live without being hunted SYN reserve preserve a wildlife reservation

eminent /ˈemɪnənt/

an eminent person is famous, important, and respected: an eminent lawyer

complex

an emotional problem in which someone is unnecessarily anxious about something or thinks too much about something I used to have a complex about my looks

contingency /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/

an event or situation that might happen in the future, especially one that could cause problems: a contingency plan Add up your outgoings, putting on a bit more for contingencies.

imminent

an event that is imminent, especially an unpleasant one, will happen very soon: imminent danger/ threat/ death/ disaster etc He was in imminent danger of dying. A new trade agreement is imminent.

the reserve (alsothe reserves)

an extra military force that a country has in addition to its usual army, navy etc which can be used if needed

cliché

an idea or phrase that has been used so much that it is not effective or does not have any meaning any longer: There is plenty of truth in the cliché that a trouble shared is a trouble halved.

hypothesis /haɪˈpɒθəsɪəs/

an idea that is suggested as an explanation for something, but that has not yet been proved to be true SYN theory One hypothesis is that the victim fell asleep while driving. prove/ test/ support etc a hypothesis We hope that further research will confirm our hypothesis. hypothesis about The authors reject the hypothesis about unemployment contributing to crime.

breakthrough

an important new discovery in something you are studying, especially one made after trying for a long time: breakthrough in Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.

innovative /ˈɪnəˌveɪtɪv/

an innovative idea or way of doing something is new, different, and better than those that existed before: an innovative approach to language teaching innovative schemes for recycling waste materials

insluble

an insoluble problem is or seems impossible to solve: SYN insurmountable insoluble conflicts within the department

character

an interesting or unusual person

a real character

an interesting or unusual person can be called ...

bid

an offer to pay a particular price for something, especially at an auction: bid for They put in a bid for the house. the person who places the highest bid We've made a bid of nearly £400 million for the company. A takeover bid for the airline was launched today.

ban

an official order that prevents something from being used or done: ban on a total ban on cigarette advertising a call to lift the ban on homosexuals in the military

cliche

an overused expression

twist

an unexpected feature or change in a situation or series of events: a new/ cruel/ unexpected/ strange etc twist The robbery took a deadly new twist as the robber pulled out a gun. an unexpected twist in the plot By an amazing twist of fate, we met again in Madrid five years later.

unpalatable /ʌnˈpælətəbəl/

an unpalatable fact or idea is very unpleasant and difficult to accept: The unpalatable truth is that the team isn't getting any better. unpalatable to an idea that's unpalatable to most people

prejudice against sb/sth

an unreasonable dislike and distrust of people who are different from you in some way, especially because of their race, sex, religion etc - used to show disapproval: Women still face prejudice in the workplace. It takes a long time to overcome these kinds of prejudices. prejudice against a cultural prejudice against fat people racial/ sexual prejudice Asian pupils complained of racial prejudice at the school.

hostile

angry and deliberately unfriendly towards someone, and ready to argue with them: Southampton fans gave their former coach a ... reception. Carr wouldn't meet Feng's stare, which was openly ... . his ... attitude ... to/ towards The boy feels hostile towards his father.

wildlife

animals and plants growing in natural conditions: measures to protect the area's wildlife the destruction of wildlife habitats

get up sb's nose

annoy sb very much

civilian /sɪəˈvɪljən/

anyone who is not a member of the military forces or the police: Many innocent civilians were killed during the war. —civilian adjective[only before noun]: It was difficult to return to civilian life after ten years in the military.

come into view

appear suddenly, a deer ..., and then we spotted two of her young.

insolent

arrogant; insulting

the minute (that) somebody does something

as soon as someone does something: Tell him I need to see him the minute he arrives.

in due course

at some time in the future when it is the right time, but not before: Further details will be announced in due course.

initially

at the beginning: Stan ... wanted to go to medical school. ...ly, I thought I would only stay there a year.

high-profile

attracting a lot of public attention, usually deliberatelyOPP low profile a high-profile public figure

mediocre

average, ordinary, undistinguished

disgraceful

bad, embarrassing, or unacceptable: It's a disgraceful waste of taxpayers' money. absolutely/ utterly etc disgraceful Their behaviour was absolutely disgraceful. It is disgraceful that anyone should have to live in such conditions.

empirical /ɪmˈpɪrɪkəl/

based on scientific testing or practical experience, not on ideas OPP theoretical, hypothetical empirical evidence

get accustomed to (doing) sth

be accustomed to (doing) something to be familiar with something and accept it as normal: We were accustomed to working together. become/ grow/ get accustomed to something Her eyes quickly became accustomed to the dark.

be drawn to sth/sb

be attracted to sth/sb

in tears

be crying When Evelyn put the phone down, she was ... .

do (for sb/sth)

be enough or be acceptable in a particular situation: I peeled six potatoes. Will that do? Will these shoes do for the wedding?

The MPs were thrown in at the deep end. Let's see if they sink or swim

be faced with a new and difficult task that you're not prepared for.

discharge

be given permission to leave

be bullied

be hurt or frightened by sb who is bigger and stronger I was ... at school, and since then I've learned to stand up to my rights.

Many believe the minister is out of her depth

be in a situation that is too difficult for you to control

people are wondering who is in the driving seat

be in control of a situation pull the strings

inundated with sth /ˈɪnəndeɪt/

be inundated (with/ by something) to receive so much of something that you cannot easily deal with it all SYN swamp After the broadcast, we were inundated with requests for more information.

give sth a go, have a go

be prepared to try sth

come with come in

be sold or purchased or produced with a particular feature: I'm sure the radio comes with batteries. The chairs come in four different colors.

The university excels at / in sciences

be very good at sth

make a fuss about sth

become angry and complain about sth unimportant

beforehand

before something else happens or is done: The police need to be briefed beforehand on how to deal with this sort of situation. When you give a speech, it's natural to feel nervous beforehand.

before your time

before you were born or before you started working or living somewhere: They say he was a great actor but that was before my time.

prior to something formal

before: All the arrangements should be completed prior to your departure.

assertive

behaving confidently so that people take notice of what you say

assertive

behaving in a confident way, so that people notice you. I don't think she's ... enough for this role.

wicked /ˈwɪkɪəd/

behaving in a way that is morally wrong SYN evil the wicked stepmother in 'Hansel and Gretel'

unique

being the only one of its kind: our China trek offers a unique experience for for the adventurous travelers.

faith

belief and trust in God: deep religious faith faith in my faith in God

better still

better/ harder/ worse etc still (alsostill better/ harder/ worse etc) still is used to make a comparison stronger even better, harder etc than something else: Dan found biology difficult, and physics harder still.

tedious

boring, tiresome

colander

bowl with holes used to drain vegetables etc.

rubble

broken stones or bricks from a building or wall that has been destroyed

We need more family housing.

buildings for people to live in.

fall into disrepair/decay

buildings, roads etc that are in disrepair are in bad condition because they have not been cared for: buildings allowed to fall into disrepair The castle is in a state of disrepair.

buoyant /ˈbɔɪənt/

buoyant prices etc tend to rise: a buoyant economy

hustle and bustle

busy and noisy activity

discreet

careful about what you say or do, so that you do not offend, upset, or embarrass people or tell secrets OPP indiscreet He assured her that he would be ... . I stood back at a ... distance.

scrutiny /ˈskruːtɪəni/

careful and thorough examination of someone or something: careful/ close scrutiny Careful scrutiny of the company's accounts revealed a whole series of errors. Their activities have come under police scrutiny.

on reflection

careful thought, or an idea or opinion based on this: A moment's reflection will show the stupidity of this argument. on/ upon reflection At first I disagreed, but on reflection (=after thinking carefully about it), I realized she was right.

conscientious

careful to do everything that it is your job or duty to do: A ... teacher may feel inclined to take work home. a conscientious and hard-working student

The prime minister doesn't want MPs to rock the boat

cause problems by making champ gets to a situation that is satisfactory as it is

cancer is a very emotive subject

causing people to have strong emotions.

disruptive

causing problems and preventing something from continuing in its usual way: disruptive to Night work can be very disruptive to home life. Mike's parents thought I was a disruptive influence (=a person who causes disruption). ways to handle disruptive pupils

inevitable

certain to happen; unavoidable

something like 100/2,000 etc

close to but not exactly a large amount such as 100, 2,000 etc: Something like 50,000 homes are without power.

flattering

clothes, pictures etc that are ... make someone look as attractive as they can or make something as good as possible, even if it is not really very good: That colour is very ... .

dry up

come to an end if a supply of something dries up, it comes to an end and no more is available: Foreign investment may dry up. The work soon dried up.

complementary medicine

complementary medicine uses treatments that are not part of traditional Western medicine➔ conventional medicine: acupuncture and other types of complementary medicines

utter

complete - used especially to emphasize that something is very bad, or that a feeling is very strong: That's utter nonsense! This company treats its employees with utter contempt. I watched in complete and utter horror as he pulled out a gun. fifteen years of utter confusion

self-contained

complete and not needing other things or help from somewhere else to work: a self-contained database package

downfall

complete loss of your money, moral standards, social position etc, or the sudden failure of an organization: the scandal that led to the president's downfall

I haven't finalized my plans.

complete the last part of a plan.

spotless

completely clean➔ pristine: a spotless white handkerchief By the time she had finished the house was absolutely spotless.

chalk and cheese

completely different from each other: The two brothers are as different as chalk and cheese. They're like chalk and cheese, those two.

concluding /kənkluːdɪŋ/

concluding remark section stage etcthe last remark etc in an event or piece of writing the concluding section of Chapter 6

disorientated

confused about where you are or which direction you should go: When he emerged into the street, he was completely disoriented.

perplexed /pəˈplekst/

confused and worried by something that you do not understand SYN puzzled The student looked at him, perplexed. Perplexed investors tried to work out what the deal meant.

green

connected with the environment or its protection green issues such as the greenhouse effect and global warming He was an early champion of green politics. b harming the environment as little as possible We need to develop greener cleaning products. The industry has promised to go green =change so that it harms the environment less

toxic

containing poison, or caused by poisonous substances fumes from a toxic waste dump toxic chemicals/ substances/ fumes/ gases Toxic chemicals were spilled into the river. a highly toxic pesticide

perennial /pəˈreniəl/

continuing or existing for a long time, or happening again and again: Lack of resources has been a perennial problem since the beginning. Teddy bears are a perennial favorite with children.

ongoing

continuing, or continuing to develop: their ongoing search for a new director ongoing negotiations The discussions are still ongoing.

could do with something spoken

could do with something spoken to need or want something: I could have done with some help this morning.

muddy

covered with mud or containing mud: Take your boots off outside if they're muddy. the muddy waters of the lake

pose a threat to sb/ sth

create a threat a danger/a risk to sb/sth The chemical leak poses a threat to human health The chemical leak poses a threat to human health

put a strain on sb/sth

create atmosphere of pressure and anxiety in a relationship

She laid the foundation of the party's success

create the basic ideas or principles from which sth can then develop

It was a heartless thing to say.

cruel

he was howling in pain

crying loudly with pain

mow the lawn

cut the grass

abolition

death as a punishment for a crime) The are trying to abolish capital punishment except in cases of terrorism.

go off

decay: if food goes off, it becomes too bad to eat: The milk's ... .

wise

decision/idea etc wise decisions and actions are sensible and based on good judgment SYN sensible: it is wise to do something It's wise to check whether the flight times have changed before you leave for the airport. be wise to do something I think you were wise to leave when you did. a wise precaution I don't think that would be a very wise move (=not be a sensible thing to do).

initiative

decisions, the ability to make decisions and take action without waiting for someone to tell you what to do: I wish my son would show more initiative. Don't keep asking me for advice. Use your initiative. Lt. Carlos was not obeying orders. He acted on his own initiative (=he was not told what to do).

ruthless

determined and firm when making unpleasant decisions: He ran the company with ruthless efficiency. Throw away clothes you don't wear - be ruthless.

ruthless

determined to get what you want and not caring about others

diverse

different; varied

implausible /ɪmˈplɔːzɪəbəl/

difficult to believe and therefore unlikely to be true OPP plausible implausible theory/ idea/ explanation etc Margaret found his excuse somewhat implausible. It's not entirely implausible that a galaxy could be identical to our own.

faint

difficult to see, hear, smell etc: She gave a ...smile. a very ... noise the ... light of dawn

frown on/upon sth/sb

disapprove of sth

take an instant dislike

dislike sb as soon as you meet them

alternate between A and B

do A, then B, then do A again, and so on.

put your foot in it

do or say something accidentally which upsets or embarrasses someone or lets out a secret

indulge in sth

do sth you like, especially sth that is bad for you

follow in sb's footsteps

do the same work or be as successful as sb before you

impulsive, impetuous, rash

doing things quickly, without thinking about the results

don't judge a book by its cover

don't form an opinion of sb/sth by their appearance only

expiry date

don't use after expiry date

The scar on his face is quite noticeable

easily noticed

detrimental effect

effect tending to cause harm

energy saving

energy-saving/ time-saving etc money-saving ideas

happy-go-lucky

enjoying life and not worrying about things SYN easy-going a ... kind of person

exemplary

excellent and providing a good example for people to follow: a company with an exemplary record on environmental issues

benefit

extra money or other advantages that you get as part of your job or from insurance that you have ➔ perk: We offer an excellent benefits package. medical benefits

drastic

extreme and sudden: drastic action/ measures NATO threatened drastic action if its terms were not met. drastic cuts in government spending Drastic changes are needed if environmental catastrophe is to be avoided. —drastically-kliadv: The size of the army was drastically cut.

stunning

extremely attractive or beautiful: You look absolutely stunning in that dress. a stunning view

atrocious

extremely bad SYN awful atrocious weather Her singing was atrocious

gutted

extremely disappointed

nail-biting

extremely exciting because you do not know what is going to happen next: The match went all the way to a nail-biting finish. some nail-biting moments near the end of the movie

sensational

extremely good; wonderful SYN fabulous, brilliant a sensational discovery The show was a sensational success. a sensational 6-0 victory

jubilant

extremely happy and pleased because of a success: Radicals were ... at getting rid of him. The fans were in ... mood as they left the stadium.

jubilant

extremely joyful, happy

excruciating

extremely painful SYN painful When I bend my arm, the pain is excruciating. if something is excruciating, it is extremely unpleasant, for example because it is boring or embarrassing SYN agonizing Helen described the events of the night before in excruciating detail. —excruciatingly adv: His poetry is excruciatingly bad.

gobsmacked

extremely surprised or shocked;

exhaustive /ɪgˈzɔːstɪv/

extremely thorough and complete: an exhaustive investigation The list is by no means exhaustive.

revolting

extremely unpleasant SYN disgusting The food was ... . What a ... colour!

invaluable /ɪnˈvæljuəbəl/

extremely useful: invaluable to/ for Your advice has been invaluable to us. invaluable in/ for (doing) something This help was invaluable in focussing my ideas. The internet is an invaluable source of information.

feeble

extremely weak OPP strong His voice sounded feeble and far away. She was too feeble to leave her room.

like a dream

extremely well or effectively: The plan worked like a dream.

ultra-

extremely: an ultra-modern building He remained ultra-cautious. an ultra-light jacket

dire

facing extreme danger

unconvincing

failing to make you believe that something is true or real: an unconvincing smile an unconvincing explanation Some readers will find the arguments unconvincing.

negligence

failure to take enough care over something that you are responsible for: negligence in carrying out safety procedures The bridge's architect was sued for criminal negligence.

remote

far from towns or other places where people liveSYN isolated a remote border town a fire in a remote mountain area

impeccable

faultless; perfect

resent sth

feel angry and bitter about sth

lethargy

feeling as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything OPP energetic The hot weather was making us all ... .

ecstatic

feeling extremely happy and excited; elated; over the moon; euphoric an ... welcome from the thousands who lined the streets I was ... about my new job

devastated

feeling extremely shocked and sad; heartbroken She was left feeling totally ... .

respectful

feeling or showing respect OPP disrespectful They listened in respectful silence. respectful of He was always respectful of my independence.

at ease

feeling relaxed, especially in a situation in which people might feel a little nervous: ease with She felt completely at ease with Bernard. put/ set somebody at (their) ease (=make someone feel relaxed) She had an ability to put people at their ease.

seek/take refuge from sth/sb

find shelter or protection from trouble or danger The men had to take refuge in the French Embassy They sought refuge inside the castle.

imply sth

folded arms may imply stubbornness

insipid

food or drink that is insipid does not have much taste SYN bland an ... pasta dish

appetizing

food that is ... smells or looks very good, making you want to eat it OPP unappetizing an appetizing aroma The food wasn't particularly appetizing.

for the time being

for a short period of time from now, but not permanently: Now, for the time being, she is living with her father in Tijuana.

the bubble bursts

for saying that a very successful or happy period of time suddenly ends The bubble has finally burst in the mobile phone industry

replicate sth /ˈreplɪəkeɪt/

formal if you replicate someone's work, a scientific study etc, you do it again, or try to get the same result again: There is a need for further research to replicate these findings.

address /əˈdres/

formalif you address a problem, you start trying to solve it: address a problem/ question/ issue etc Our products address the needs of real users.

vibrant

full of activity or energy in a way that is exciting and attractive SYN lively Hong Kong is a vibrant, fascinating city. She was sixteen, young and vibrant

I hear you had a very eventful trip in China.

full of interesting things to happen. OPP uneventful

hit the roof

get very angry

strike sb (as sth)

give sb a particular impression

strike sb as sth

give sb a particular impression Catherine actually ... being more suitable for this job.

inspire sb

give sb the enthusiasm and desire to do sth. inspiration

make a sacrifice

give up sth important or valuable in order to do sth that seems more important I know he appreciates the ... I've made.

on the edge of your seat

giving all your attention to something exciting: The film's ending had me on the edge of my seat.

misleading, deceptive

giving the wrong idea or impression

lose your temper hit the roof

go mad; become very angry He'll ... when he sees it. He completely ... .

go pear-shaped

go pear-shapedBrE informal if an activity or situation goes pear-shaped, it goes wrong: The whole thing went pear-shaped.

shrewd, astute

good at judging people and situations

shrewd

good at judging what people or situations are really like: Malcolm is a ... businessman. She was ... enough to guess who was responsible. Capra looked at her with ... eyes.

I had considerable difficulty getting here.

great difficulty

groundbreaking

groundbreaking work involves making new discoveries, using new methods etc: groundbreaking research

ensuing

happening after a particular action or event, especially as a result of it SYN following: the ensuing battle/ conflict/ debate etc In the ensuing fighting, two students were killed. the ensuing days/ months/ years etc (=the days, months etc after an event) The situation deteriorated over the ensuing weeks.

recurrent

happening or appearing again and again I have a ... elbow problem.

last-minute

happening or done as late as possible before something else happens: a few ... changes to the script.

posthumous /'pɒstjʊəməs/

happening, printed etc after someone's death a posthumous collection of his articles —posthumously adv He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross

bright and cheerful

happy and lively Max was very bright and cheerful today

dedication

hard work or effort that someone puts into a particular activity because they care about it a lot: To reach a high level of skill requires talent, ... , and a lot of hard work. ... to I admire his dedication to the job.

long and hard

hard, for a long time, before making a decision) I thought long and hard about taking the role.

despise

hate, regard as disgusting

It's a very reputable company, so you should be OK

having a good reputation

fragrant

having a pleasant smell ... flowers

as red as a beetroot

having a red face, especially because you are embarrassed

pungent

having a strong taste or smell: ... smell/ aroma/ odour etc the ... odour of garlic

bereaved /bɪəˈriːvd/

having lost a close friend or relative because they have recently died: a bereaved mother

childlike /ˈtʃaɪldlaɪk/

having qualities that are typical of a child, especially positive qualities such as innocence and eagerness: childlike innocence/ simplicity/ directness 'You know I love you,' she said with childlike simplicity. childlike delight/ wonder/ excitement The sight filled her with childlike excitement. Standing, she looked less childlike.

synonymous (with)

having the same or nearly the same meaning. Nixon's name has become ... with political scandal.

up against it

having to deal with a difficult situation or opponent: He came up against a lot of problems with his boss. Murphy will be really up against it when he faces the champion this afternoon.

victorious

having won a victory, or ending in a victory: the victorious team We were confident that the Allies would emerge victorious (=finally win).

Did he confess to robbery?

he eventually made a confession.

Did he assure you it would be ok?

he gave us full assurance.

was he abused when he was young?

he suffered physical abuse as a child.

my boss's bark is worse than his bite

he's not really as angry or aggressive as he sounds.

apalled

horrified

condition

how healthy or fit you are: She is being treated at Walton Hospital, where her condition is described as 'satisfactory'. in (a) critical/ stable/ satisfactory condition One of the victims was in a critical condition after suffering severe burns. physical/ mental condition If you are uncertain about your physical condition, check with your doctor before trying these exercises. 'I'm so out of condition (=unfit), ' she panted. an athlete in peak condition

form

how well a sports person, team, musician etc is performing, or has performed recently: I have been greatly encouraged by the team's recent form. on present/ current/ past etc form On current form he's one of the top three players in the country. in good/ fine/ great form He's been in good form all this season. He had no qualms about dropping players he thought were off form (=not performing well).

downsize

if a company or organization downsizes, it reduces the number of people it employs in order to reduce costs: The airline has downsized its workforce by 30%.

mobilize sth

if a country mobilizes or mobilizes its army, it prepares to fight a war

dawn on sb

if a fact .... you, you realize it for the first time: It ... me that Jo had been right all along.

subsidize

if a government or organization subsidizes a company, activity etc, it pays part of its costs: Farming is heavily subsidized (=subsidized a lot) by the government.

privatize

if a government privatizes an organization, industry, or service that it owns or controls, it sells it

rally (round/ to sb/ sth)

if a group of people rally round, they all try to help you when you are in a difficult situation: Her friends all rallied round when she was ill.

splash on /onto sth

if a liquid ..., it hits or falls on something and makes a noise: ... against/ on/ over The ocean ... against the pier.

boil down to sth

if a long statement, argument etc boils down to a single statement, that statement is the main point or cause: It boils down to a question of priorities.

drown sth out

if a loud noise drowns out another sound, it prevents it from being heard: A train blew its whistle and drowned his voice. The noise of the battle was drowned out by his aircraft's engine.

warm up

if a party, election etc warms up, it starts to become enjoyable or interesting, especially because more is happening: The race for governor is beginning to warm up.

relocate

if a person or business relocates, or if they are relocated, they move to a different place: relocate to A lot of firms are relocating to the North of England. relocate in businesses that relocate in depressed areas relocate somebody/ something to something The residents were relocated to temporary accommodation while the work was being done.

go to pieces

if a person or what they do goes to pieces, they are so upset or nervous that they cannot live, work, or perform as they should: He just went to pieces after his wife died. Her performance goes to pieces when her father is watching.

comeback make/ stage a comeback

if a person, activity, style etc makes a comeback, they become popular again after being unpopular for a long time: The miniskirt made a comeback in the late 1980s.

arise

if a problem or difficult situation arises, it begins to happen: A crisis has arisen in the Foreign Office. More problems like those at the nuclear power plant are certain to arise.

confront sb/sth /kənˈfrʌnt/

if a problem, difficulty etc confronts you, it appears and needs to be dealt with: The problems confronting the new government were enormous.

go downhill

if a situation goes downhill, it gets worse SYN deteriorate Grandma fell and broke her leg, and she went downhill quite rapidly after that.

be/get out of hand

if a situation or person gets out of hand, they become impossible to control any longer: The demonstration was getting out of hand.

at home

if a sports team plays at home, they play at their own sports field OPP away home to Birmingham Bullets are at home to Kingston.

crawl by/along

if a vehicle ..., it moves forward very slowly. The traffic was .... .

screech

if a vehicle ..., its wheels make a high unpleasant noise as it moves along or stops: A van ... onto the road in front of me. The car ... to a halt.

breed

if animals breed, they mate in order to have babies: Eagles breed during the cooler months of the year.

go in one ear no out the other

if information goes in one ear and out the other, you forget it as soon as you have heard it: I don't know why I tell her anything. It just goes in one ear and out the other.

infested

if insects, rats etc infest a place, there are a lot of them and they usually cause damage: be infested with something The kitchen was infested with cockroaches. shark-infested/ rat-infested etc shark-infested waters

rustle

if leaves, papers, clothes etc ..., or if you ... them, they make a noise as they rub against each other: She moved nearer, her long silk skirt ... around her. He ... the papers on his desk.

come across (as)

if someone ... in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities SYN come over: He ... as a very intelligent sensitive man. She sometimes ... as being rather arrogant. I don't think I ... very well (=seemed to have good qualities) in the interview.

fit in with sb/sth

if someone fits in, they are accepted by the other people in a group: I never really fitted in at school. fit with I wasn't sure if she would fit in with my friends.

impose sth on/ upon sb

if someone in authority imposes a rule, punishment, tax etc, they force people to accept it: The court can impose a fine. impose something on something/ somebody The government imposed a ban on the sale of ivory.

be about to do sth

if someone is about to do something, or if something is about to happen, they will do it or it will happen very soon: We were just about to leave when Jerry arrived. Work was about to start on a new factory building.

pretentious

if someone or something is ..., they try to seem more important, intelligent, or high class than they really are in order to be impressive OPP unpretentious a ... film

subject to sth

if someone or something is subject to something, especially something bad, it is possible or likely that they will be affected by it: All flights are subject to delay. Prices are subject to change.

scatter

if someone scatters a lot of things, or if they scatter, they are thrown or dropped over a wide area in an irregular way: scatter (something) over/ around/ across etc something Scatter the onions over the fish. The flowers fell and scattered on the ground.

off-putting

if someone's behaviour or the appearance of something is ...., you do not like it or you think it is unattractive: Some women found the competitive style of the discussions off-putting.

stick out

if something ... . you notice it because part of it comes out further than the rest of a surface: The children were so thin their ribs ... out. ... out of/ from/ through etc Paul's legs were ... out from under the car.

hard-hit

if something bad hits a place or a person, it suddenly happens and affects people badly: The village has been hit by a devastating drought. Hurricane Louis is expected to hit at the weekend. be badly/ severely/ hard hit The company has been hard hit by the drop in consumer confidence. The south of the country is the worst hit by the recession.

over time

if something happens over time, it happens gradually during a long period: The research project will be assessed over time. Students are encouraged to consider the way language changes over time.

invariably /ɪnˈveəriəbli/

if something invariably happens or is invariably true, it always happens or is true: It invariably rains when I go there. The security guards were invariably ex-servicemen.

be a foregone conclusion

if something is a foregone conclusion, its result is certain, even though it has not happened yet: The election result was a foregone conclusion.

in memory of sb /sth

if something is done or made in memory of someone, it is done to remember them and remind other people of them after they have died: a statue in memory of those who died in the war She set up a charitable fund in her father's memory.

hold

if something is on hold, it is going to be done or dealt with at a later date rather than now: The plans are on hold until after the election. Since having the kids, my career has been put on hold.

scarce

if something is scarce, there is not very much of it available: Food was often scarce in the winter. There was fierce competition for the scarce resources.

short motice

if something is short notice, you are told about it only a short time before it happens: I can't make it Friday. It's very short notice. at short noticeBrE,on short noticeAmE: The party was arranged at short notice.

play a part (in sth)

if something or someone plays a part in something else, they are involved in it: play a part in Health education will play a part in preparing us for old age. Britain should play its full part in the negotiations. play a big/ important part in something Pictures play an important part in publishing.

at stake

if something that you value very much is at stake, you will lose it if a plan or action is not successful: They have to win the contract - thousands of jobs are at stake. National pride is at stake in next week's game against England.

ease alleviate sth

if something unpleasant ..., or if you ... it, it gradually improves or becomes less: ... the pain/ stress/ tension He'll give you something to ... the pain. ... the pressure/ burden This should ... the burden on busy teachers.

pinch

if something you are wearing ... you, it presses painfully on part of your body, because it is too tight: Her new shoes were pinching.

all (other) things being equal spoken

if things are as you normally expect them to be: All things being equal, a small car will cost less than a larger one

time goes by

if time ..., it passes: Things will get easier as time ... as the days/ weeks/ years ... As the weeks ..., I became more and more worried.

overwhelm sb/sth

if work or a problem overwhelms someone, it is too much or too difficult to deal with: be overwhelmed by something We were overwhelmed by the number of applications. overwhelm somebody with something They would be overwhelmed with paperwork.

rattle

if you ... something, or if it ..., it shakes and makes a quick series of short sounds: Dan banged on her door and rattled the handle. The window rattled in the wind. Bottles rattled as he stacked the beer crates.

pour sth out

if you ... your thoughts, feelings etc, you tell someone all about them, especially because you feel very unhappy: She ... all her troubles to him.

passionate

if you are ... about something, you like it a lot: She developed a ... interest in wild flowers. passionate about I've always been ... about football.

in credit

if you are in credit, there is money in your bank account: There are no bank charges if you stay in credit.

overdraw

if you are overdrawn or if your bank account is overdrawn, you have spent more than you had in your account and so you owe the bank money: I try not to go overdrawn if possible. overdrawn by My account is overdrawn by £300.

by choice

if you do something by choice, you do it because you want to do it and not because you are forced to do it: She lives alone by choice. the

have nothing to lose

if you have nothing to lose, it is worth taking a risk because you cannot make your situation any worse: You might as well apply for the job - you've got nothing to lose. have nothing to lose but your pride/ reputation etc The working class has nothing to lose but its chains. (=disadvantages, restrictions etc).

lose face

if you lose face, you do something which makes you seem weak, stupid etc, and which makes people respect you less: He doesn't want to back down (=accept defeat in an argument) and risk losing face.

mention/ note something in passing

if you say something in passing, you mention it while you are mainly talking about something else: He did mention his brother's wife, but only in passing.

off the top of your head

if you say something off the top of your head, you say it immediately, without thinking carefully about it or checking the facts: Just off the top of my head, I'd say there were about 50.

to sb's face

if you say sth to ... , you say it to them directly She finds it difficult to criticize people to their ...

on balance

if you think something on balance, you think it after considering all the facts: I think on balance I prefer the old system.

undergo sth

if you undergo a change, an unpleasant experience etc, it happens to you or is done to you: The country has undergone massive changes recently. He has been released from prison to undergo medical treatment in the United States. She has been undergoing tests since Monday. Teachers should be expected to undergo mid-career training and development.

at once

immediately or without delay: Now, go upstairs at once and clean your room! When I saw him I recognized him at once.

I thought the meeting was very worthwhile.

important, interesting

the pain in my arm was indescribable

impossible to describe.

things are looking up

improve, get better Now the summer's here things are ...

phenomenally

in a very great or impressive way; extraordinary Still her books remain phenomenally popular.

unanimously

in a way that is agreed by everyone

remarkably

in an amount or to a degree that is unusual or surprising SYN surprisingly: [+ adjective/adverb] She plays the violin remarkably well. [sentence adverb] Remarkably, all of the passengers survived the crash.

back to front

in an incorrect position so that what should be at the back is at the front: You've got your sweater on back to front.

formerly

in earlier times SYN previously Kiribati, formerly known as the Gilbert Islands This elegant hotel was formerly a castle.

in mint condition

in mint condition looking new and in perfect condition: A copy in mint condition would fetch about £2,000.

in the wild

in natural and free conditions, not kept or controlled by people: There are very few pandas living in the wild now.

somehow

in some way, or by some means, although you do not know how: Don't worry, we'll get the money back somehow. Somehow, I managed to lose my keys. Maybe we could glue it together somehow or other.

notwithstanding

in spite of something SYN despite Notwithstanding differences, there are clear similarities in all of the world's religions. Fame and fortune notwithstanding, Donna never forgot her hometown.

growing

increasing in size, amount or degree obesity is a growing problem

his behavior was unforgivable

inexcusable

a mind like a sieve have a memory like a sieve

informal to forget things easily

get the hang of sth

informal to learn how to do something or use something: It seems difficult at first, but you'll soon get the hang of it.

make a go of sth

informal to make something succeed, especially a business or marriage: Nikki was determined to make a go of the business. Many businesses are struggling hard to make a go of it.

deaf as a post

informal (=completely deaf)

mix-up

informal a mistake that causes confusion about details or arrangements: mix-up in Geoffrey rushed in late pleading a mix-up in his diary. mix-up between A council official blamed a mix-up between departments. mix-up over There was a mix-up over the hotel booking.

be over the hill (alsobe past it

informalto be too old to do something: Everyone thinks you're past it when you get to 40.

pull a muscle

injure a muscle by stretching it too much He ... in training.

on behalf of somebody

instead of someone, or as their representative: She asked the doctor to speak to her parents on her behalf. On behalf of everyone here, may I wish you a very happy retirement.

disposable

intended to be used once or for a short time and then thrown away: disposable nappies

malicious

intentionally harmful

persist

intransitive if something bad ..., it continues to exist or happen If the pain ..., you must see a doctor

invasive

invasive medical treatment involves cutting into someone's body: invasive surgery

joint

involving two or more people or groups, or owned or shared by them: The two ministers have issued a joint statement. Both companies are involved in the joint development of a new medium-sized car. The meal was a joint effort (=two or more people worked on it together). Manchester United and Arsenal are joint favourites to win the title (=are thought to have the same chance of winning). Both parties must sign the form if the account is to be in joint names (=belong to two named people).

what does the report indicate?

it gives some indication of progress.

it's more trouble than it's worth

it is too difficult to be worth doing

tough

it's a ... decision. he had a ... childhood. ... driving laws. she'll be ok -she's ...

channel of communication

keep channels of communication open at all times and respect their ideas

nag

keep complaining about sb's behaviour

keep sb informed

keep somebody informed to give someone the latest news and details about a situation: Please keep me fully informed of any developments.

lose track of sth/sb

keep track of sth/sb

sweet (of sb)

kind, gentle, and friendly: a sweet smile How sweet of you to remember my birthday!

shallow

lacking depth of intellect or knowledge

naive

lacking experience of life and trusting others too easily

feeble

lacking physical strength, especially as a result of age or illness

transparent

language or information that is ... is clear and easy to understand: The way the system works will be ... to the user.

ladle

large deep spoon used to serve soups, stews, punch and sauces

the audience howled with laughter

laughed loudly

we roared with laughter

laughed loudly

siege

lay siege to somebody/ something a) if the army or police lay siege to a place, they start a siege against it: In June 1176, King Richard laid siege to Limoges.

the dust settles

let the dust settle wait for the dust to settleto allow or wait for a confused situation to become clear

prone to sth

likely to do something or suffer from something, especially something bad or harmful: prone to Some plants are very prone to disease. prone to do something Kids are all prone to eat junk food. accident-prone/ injury-prone etc He's always been accident-prone.

misleading

likely to make someone believe something that is not true: deceptive The article was misleading, and the newspaper has apologized.

be in bad/ poor etc taste

likely to offend people She acknowledged her remark had been in bad taste.

addicted to something

liking something so much that you do not want to stop doing it or having it: addicted to kids addicted to surfing the Net

live at peace with sb

live without quarreling with others and for my part, I recognize the need for integration in order to be able to live at peace with my neighbors.

gaze at sth

look at sth for a long time because you are interested in it or are thinking about sth else. we stood at the top of the hill for ages, ... at the breathtaking view below our feet.

bargain hunting

looking for something at a good price and cheaper than usual They're off to do some bargain hunting at the January sales.

in search of sth

looking for something: Mark went in search of water.

as white as a sheet

looking pale, because of illness, strong emotion etc Are you OK Youre white as a sheet =extremely pale

give sth away

lose a game, point, or competition through a bad mistake. We dominated the game and were on the verge of winning, then we gave away a silly penalty.

there were hoots of derision from the audience

loud cries suggesting sb is stupid

deafening

loud enough to cause (temporary) hearing loss

cobbled

made of rounded stones used on the surface of an old-fashioned road

primarily /ˈpraɪmərəli/

mainly: The advertisement is aimed primarily at children.

make a fuss about sth

make a fuss/ kick up a fuss (about something) to complain or become angry about something, especially when this is not necessary: Josie kicked up a fuss because the soup was too salty. I don't know why you're making such a fuss about it.

come across (as)

make a particular impression

get sth / sb to do sth

make or persuade sb/sth to do sth: I finally got the car to start. I couldn't get him to leave the party.

arouse sth

make sb have a particular feeling or attitude. suspicion/curiosity/interest/hostility/anger/resentment

be cruel to be kind

make sb suffer because it will be good for them later

push sb

make sb work harder. Some parents push their kids really hard. I need to push myself more at work.

set fire to

make sth start burning A candle fell over, ... ing fire to the curtains.

creak

make the sound that an old door or floor makes. a floorboard on the stairs creaked and there was a high-pitched scream -from me.

proactive

making things happen or change rather than reacting to events: a proactive approach to staffing requirements

fulfilling

making you feel happy and satisfied because you are doing interesting, useful, or important things SYN satisfying Nursing is still one of the most fulfilling careers.

nauseating

making you feel that you are going to vomit SYN sickening the ... smell of rotting fish

spine-tingling

making you feel very excited or frightened, in an enjoyable way The festival opened with Nic Roeg's latest spine-tingling film.

grim

making you feel worried or unhappy SYN harsh the grim reality of rebuilding the shattered town When he lost his job, his future looked grim. Millions of Britons face the grim prospect (=something bad that will probably happen) of dearer home loans. We received the grim news in silence.

bail

money left with a court of law to make sure that a prisoner will return when their trial starts: Carpenter is free on bail while he appeals his conviction. She was murdered by a man who was out on bail for rape. The three men were released on bail pending an appeal. He is not likely to be granted bail. Carter has been refused bail and will remain in custody. The judge ordered that Jones be held without bail. Why can't you ask your father to put up bail for you? Two of the defendants jumped bail and fled to New York. Bail was set at $30,000. release sb on bail / grants bail or refuses bail

funds

money that an organization needs or has: A sale is being held to raise funds for the school. government/ public funds claims that ministers had misused public funds The park remains unfinished due to lack of funds. The Museum is so short of funds (=has so little money) it may have to sell the painting.

somewhat

more than a little but not very: somewhat larger/ higher/ newer etc The price is somewhat higher than I expected. Things have changed somewhat since then. somewhat of To say that I was surprised is somewhat of an understatement.

superfluous (formal) /suːˈpɜːfluəs/

more than is needed or wanted SYN unnecessary a modern building with no superfluous decoration

charge

move quickly in a particular direction, often to attack somebody or something An angry section of the crowd ... towards the security men. who led the charge?

stroke sth

move your hand or fingers gently over the surface of sth men ... an earlobe if they fancy a woman.

I was buzzing about all day

moving around continuously from place to place

sluggish

moving or reacting more slowly than normal: Alex woke late, feeling tired and ... . Economic recovery has so far been ... .

excessive

much more than is reasonable or necessary: excessive hand gestures

mutual

mutual feelings such as respect, trust, or hatred are feelings that two or more people have for each other➔ reciprocal: mutual respect/ trust/ understanding etc Mutual respect is necessary for any partnership to work. European nations can live together in a spirit of mutual trust. I didn't like Dev, and the feeling seemed to be mutual. The two men were a mutual admiration society, gushing about how much they were learning from each other.

or thereabouts

near a particular time, place, number etc, but not exactly: These houses were built in 1930 or thereabouts.

on the verge of sth

near to a moment of doing or achieving sth

strenuous

needing a lot of effort or strength: a ... climb The doctor advised Ken to avoid ... exercise.

brand-new

new and not yet used: a brand-new car His clothes looked brand-new.

What's the origin of the disease?

no body knows where it originated.

unproductive

not achieving very much: an unproductive meeting

keep sth in perspective

not allow a problem to have too much importance

vulgar

not behaving politely in social situations SYN uncouth ... behaviour

happy-go-lucky

not caring or worrying about the future

unspoilt

not changed or damaged by people

blurred vision

not clear He complained of headaches and ... vision.

diffident

not confident, not wanting to talk about yourself, shy

diffident

not confident; not wanting to talk about yourself. shy diffident about He was ... about his own success.

fail to do sth

not do something[intransitive] to not do what is expected, needed, or wanted: fail to do something The letter failed to arrive. Firms that fail to take advantage of the new technology will go out of business. The government are failing in their duty to protect people. SYN neglect to do sth

subtle

not easy to notice or understand unless you pay careful attention OPP obvious The pictures are similar, but there are subtle differences between them. The warning signs of the disease are so subtle that they are often ignored. a subtle form of racism subtle taste/ flavour/ smell etc The flavour of the dried berries is more subtle. The dish had a subtle hint of ginger.

aloof, distant, stand-offish

not friendly towards others

tight-fisted

not generous with money SYN stingy

guarded

not giving very much information or showing your feelings about something SYN cautious The minister was quite ... in his comments. He gave the proposal a ...ed welcome.

environmentally-friendly/ ozone-friendly/ eco-friendly etc

not harmful to the environment, ozone layer etc: eco-friendly washing powder

naive

not having much experience of how complicated life is, so that you trust people too much and believe that good things will always happen➔ innocent: a ... young girl Jim can be so ... sometimes. it is ... to think/ suppose/ assume etc It would be ... to think that this could solve all the area's problems straight away.

deprived

not having the things that are necessary for a comfortable or happy life: Deprived children tend to do less well at school. deprived areas/ neighbourhoods etc (=where a lot of deprived people live) our deprived inner cities

not hold your breath spoken

not hold your breath spoken used to say that you do not expect something to happen, even though someone has said it will: He promised he'd phone, but I'm not holding my breath.

solely

not involving anything or anyone else SYN only Scholarships are given solely on the basis of financial need. I shall hold you solely responsible for anything that goes wrong.

as quiet as a mouse

not making much noise, or making no noise at all Well have to be quiet so as not to wake the baby. It's a nice car. The engine's really quiet. Ill be as quiet as a mouse =very quiet

unappealing

not pleasant or attractive: an unappealing shade of grey

discourteous

not polite, and not showing respect for other people SYN rude, impolite It would be discourteous to ignore his request.

awkward

not relaxed or comfortable: She liked to dance but felt awkward if someone was watching her. Geoff looked uneasy and awkward. Make sure that the baby is not sleeping in an awkward position.

trivial

not serious, important, or valuable: trivial problem/ matter/ complaint etc We were punished for the most trivial offences. a trivial sum Her feelings for Simon seemed trivial by comparison.

wooden

not showing enough expression, emotion, or movement, especially when performing in public The show was filled with wooden dialogues.

shallow

not showing serious thought, feelings superficial It is too cliché to say all men are shallow.

mediocre /ˌmiːdiˈəʊkər/

not very good, of only average qualty SYN second rate I thought the book was pretty mediocre. a mediocre student

reluctant

not willing to take action

disposable

not worthy of being kept; easily given or thrown away

embellish /ɪmˈbelɪʃ/

o make a story or statement more interesting by adding details that are not true SYN embroider She gave an embellished account of what had happened.

gossip

often false or unkind information about other's private lives

behind the times

old-fashioned: Our equipment is a bit behind the times.

quid

one pound in money: She earns at least 600 quid a week.

exclusively

only: This offer is available exclusively to people who call now.

resistant to sth

opposed to something and wanting to prevent it from happening: resistant to Many managers are resistant to change.

irritated

painful and sore: Her throat and eyes were ... .

focused

paying careful attention to what you are doing, in a way that shows you are determined to succeed: I've got to stay focussed if I want to win this competition.

collateral damage

people who are hurt or killed, or property that is damaged accidentally in a war - used especially by the army, navy etc: Hitting any non-military targets would risk 'collateral damage'.

consent /kənˈsent/

permission to do something: He took the car without the owner's consent. Her parents gave their consent to the marriage. A patient can refuse consent for a particular treatment at any time. Most owners are happy to have their names used for publicity if this is done with their prior consent. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before the study began.

host

person who invites you to a party, especially in his house

manners

polite ways of behaving in social situations: Her children all had such good manners. It's considered bad manners to talk with your mouth full (=talk and eat at the same time). His manners were impeccable. Dad gave us a lecture about our table manners. You mind your manners, young man! 'Lesley just got up and left.' 'Some people have no manners.' Good heavens, child, where are your manners?

down-to-earth

practical and direct in a sensible honest way: Fran's a friendly, ... person. a chef with a ... approach to cooking

apply pressure to sth

press on sth hard with your hand, foot, etc. ... gentle pressure to the temples.

My main concern is the effect of the drugs.

principal concern; growing concern

hard-wearing

products that are .... will remain in good condition for a long time even when they are used a lot long-wearing These boots are worn out now. but they've been incredibly hard-wearing.

thriving

prosperous, successful, flourishing

asylum

protection given to someone by a government because they have escaped from fighting or political trouble in their own country: apply for/ seek/ be granted asylum He has been granted asylum in France. seek asylum, apply for asylum

acclaimed

publicly praised by a lot of peoplehighly widely universally acclaimed The book has been widely acclaimed by teachers and pupils. His work was critically acclaimed =praised by people who are paid to give their opinion on art, music etc

face the prospect (of/that ...)

recognize the possibility that sth may happen: Now they face the prospect of unemployment.

with regard to

relating to a particular subject: US foreign policy with regard to Cuba

diagnostic

relating to or used for discovering what is wrong with someone or something: diagnostic tests/ tools Doctors depend on accurate diagnostic tools.

laid-back

relaxed and seeming not to be worried about anything OPP uptight I don't know how you can be so laid-back about your exams. laid-back attitude/ manner/ approach etc He is famed for his laid-back attitude.

keep keep sb going

remain fresh be enough for sb until a later time: We must eat the grapes - they won't keep. I'll have a sandwich. That will keep me going until lunch time.

reminiscent /ˌremɪəˈnɪsənt/

reminiscent of something reminding you of something: a style strongly reminiscent of Virginia Woolf's novels

restoration

repair, renovation

accountable

responsible for the effects of your actions and willing to explain or be criticized for them: accountable to The government should be accountable to all the people of the country. accountable for Managers must be accountable for their decisions. The hospital should be held accountable for the quality of care it gives.

prosperous

rich and successful: a prosperous landowner

insolent

rude and not showing any respect ➔ cheeky: an insolent tone of voice You insolent child!

cheeky

rude and showing a lack of respect often in a way that seems playful or amusing

cheeky

rude or disrespectful, sometimes in a way that is amusing: cheeky devil/ monkey etc You did that on purpose, you cheeky little devil! Now don't be cheeky to your elders, young woman. a chubby five-year-old with a cheeky grin

sprint

run a short distance very fast Bill ... up the steps.

dash

run quickly and suddenly I ... across the road for the bus. he made a ... for the door.

What are you doing here? he growled.

said in a low angry voice. snarl

put sth

say or write sth in a particular way: It's hard to ... your feelings into words. I think he ... it very well in his essay.

have a go at sb

say unkind things or complain about sb; criticize sb You're always having a ... . Will you stop having a ... at me! Mum had a ... at me for not doing my homework.

complimentary (about sb)

saying that you admire someone or something: ... about Jennie was very ... about Katharine's riding. ... remarks

scroll up/down

scroll up and down the page using the scroll bar

dodgy

seeming to be false, dishonest, or not to be trusted: One girl thought the men looked dodgy. dodgy share dealings

never-ending

seeming to continue for a very long time SYN endless Keeping the house neat and clean is a ... battle.

never-ending

seeming to continue for a very long time SYN endless Keeping the house neat and clean is a never-ending battle.

down-to-earth

sensible and realistic in things you say or think

thus (formal)

sentence adverb] as a result of something that you have just mentioned: Most of the evidence was destroyed in the fire. Thus it would be almost impossible to prove him guilty.

retribution

severe punishment for something very serious: retribution for Victims are demanding retribution for the terrorist attacks. divine retribution (=punishment by God)

fancy sb

sexual attraction (BrE informal)to feel sexually attracted to someone: All the girls ... him.

disgraceful

shameful

stunned

shocked and surprised; gobsmacked I was ... when they gave me the prize.

appalled

shocked because sth is very unpleasant; horrified

devastated

shocked, stunned, or crushed

set a good/bad example

show by your own behaviour how other people should behave) You should be setting an example for your little brother.

conclusive /kənˈkluːsɪv/

showing that something is definitely true OPP inconclusive conclusive proof/ evidence/ findings etc The investigation failed to provide any conclusive evidence.

It's his fault and he's very apologetic.

showing you are sorry.

slam sth

shut sth with a lot of force so that it makes a loud noise someone ... the car door shut and it awakened me.

straightforward

simple and easy to understand OPP complicated relatively/ quite/ fairly straightforward Installing the program is relatively straightforward. This area of law is far from straightforward (=complicated). straightforward matter/ task/ process etc For someone who can't read, shopping is by no means a straightforward matter.

sleep like a log

sleep very well I was exhausted and slept like a log.

moist

slightly wet, especially in a way that is pleasant or suitable: Make sure the soil is ... before planting the seeds. a rich, moist chocolate cake warm ... air Her eyes were ... (=she was almost crying).

reluctant

slow and unwilling OPP willing She gave a ... smile. ... to do something Maddox was ... to talk about it.

minor

small and not very important or serious, especially when compared with other things OPP major We have made some minor changes to the program. a relatively minor error a minor road They played only a minor role in local government. minor injury/ illness/ operation etc (=one that is not very serious or dangerous) He escaped with only minor injuries.

haze

smoke, dust, or mist in the air which is hard to see through. in the distance, the port was barely visible through the early morning haze, but we could just make out the island.

ruthless

so determined to get what you want that you do not care if you have to hurt other people in order to do it: a ... dictator They have shown a ... disregard for basic human rights.

panic-stricken

so frightened that you cannot think clearly or behave sensibly: Lucy suddenly looked ... when she couldn't find her smartphone.

too good to be true

so good that you cannot believe it is real, or you expect something bad to happen: Their relationship had always seemed too good to be true.

nutcase

someone who behaves in a crazy way SYN idiot He's a complete nutcase.

gatecrasher

someone who goes to a party or event when they have not been invited

refugee

someone who has been forced to leave their country, especially during a war, or for political or religious reasons: Refugees were streaming across the border. refugee camps

supple

someone who is ... bends and moves easily and gracefully OPP stiff She exercises every day to keep herself ... .

pushy

someone who is ... does everything they can to get what they want from other people - used in order to show disapproval: a ... salesman

spontaneous

someone who is ... does things without planning them first - used to show approval She laughed spontaneously.

wary

someone who is ... is careful because they think something might be dangerous or harmful She eyed him ...ly.

cunning

someone who is ... is clever and good at deceiving people in order to get what they want SYN crafty a ... opponent

frail

someone who is ... is weak and thin because they are old or ill: ... elderly people her ... health

conceited

someone who is ... thinks they are very clever, skilful, beautiful etc - used to show disapproval SYN vain You're the most ... selfish person I've ever known.

inmate

someone who is being kept in a prison

eligible

someone who is eligible for something is able or allowed to do it, for example because they are the right age: eligible for Students on a part-time course are not eligible for a loan. eligible to do something Over 500,000 18-year-olds will become eligible to vote this year.

impulsive

someone who is impulsive does things without considering the possible dangers or problems first Rosa was ... and sometimes regretted things she'd done. In a burst of ... generosity, I offered to pay.

phoney

someone who is phoney is insincere and pretends to be something they are not —phoney noun[countable]: He's a complete phoney!

pitiful

someone who is pitiful looks or sounds so sad and unfortunate that you feel very sorry for them➔ pity: The refugees were a pitiful sight.

superficial

someone who is superficial does not think about things that are serious or important - used to show disapproval SYN shallow All the other girls seemed silly and superficial to Darlene.

vulnerable

someone who is vulnerable can be easily harmed or hurt OPP invulnerable He took advantage of me when I was at my most .. We work mainly with the elderly and other ... groups. be ... to something Children are most ... to abuse within their own home.

shopaholic

someone who loves to go shopping and buys lots of things they may not need

shareholder

someone who owns shares in a company or business SYN stockholder Shareholders have been told to expect an even lower result next year.

hypocrite

someone who pretends to have certain beliefs or opinions that they do not really have - used to show disapproval hypocrisy, hypocritical

rebel

someone who refuses to do things in the normal way, or in the way that other people want them to: Alex has always been a bit of a ... .

snob

someone who thinks they are better than people from a lower social class - used to show disapproval: Stop being such a ... . I don't want to sound like a snob, but I thought she was vulgar.

role model

someone whose behaviour, attitudes etc people try to copy because they admire them: I want to be a positive role model for my sister.

a safe pair of hands

someone you can trust and depend on because they are sensible - used especially in news reports: Colleagues regard him as a safe pair of hands.

nature

someone's character: a child with a happy, easy-going nature somebody's ... It's just not in Jane's ... to lie. by ... She was by ...ma very affectionate person. I tried appealing to his better nature (=his feelings of kindness) but he wouldn't agree to help us. Of course she's jealous - it's only human ...(=the feelings and ways of behaving that all people have).

chatterbox

someone, especially a child, who talks too much

lightning never strikes twice (in the same place)

something bad or unpleasant is not likely to happen to the same people or in the same place twice

relentless

something bad that is relentless continues without ever stopping or getting less severe SYN endless the ... crying of a small baby a family facing ... financial problems

genuine /ˈdʒenjuɪən/

something genuine really is what it seems to be SYN real We need laws that will protect genuine refugees. The strap is genuine leather.

a stroke of luck/fortune

something lucky that happens to you unexpectedly: In a stroke of luck, a suitable organ donor became available.

incentive

something that encourages you to work harder, start a new activity etc. ➔ motivation: As an added incentive, there's a bottle of champagne for the best team. create/ provide/ give somebody an incentive Awards provide an incentive for young people to improve their skills. incentive to do something Farmers lack any incentive to manage their land organically.

phenomenon

something that happens or exists in society, science, or nature, especially something that is studied because it is difficult to understand: phenomenon of the growing phenomenon of telecommuting Homelessness is not a new phenomenon. natural/ historical/ social etc phenomenon Language is a social and cultural phenomenon.

guideline

something that helps you form an opinion or make a decision: When starting a new business, try to follow these general ... . Teachers can choose books within certain broad ... .

ambiguous

something that is ... is unclear, confusing, or not certain, especially because it can be understood in more than one way: The language in the Minister's statement is highly ... .

unmitigated

something that is completely bad or good

customery

something that is customary is normal because it is the way something is usually done SYN usual: it is customary (for somebody) to do something In some cultures it is customary for the bride to wear white.

tedious

something that is tedious continues for a long time and is not interesting SYN boring The work was tiring and tedious.

eyesore

something that is very ugly, especially a building surrounded by other things that are not ugly: Having put a a three-meter wire fence round his garden, people thought it was a real ... and asked him to remove it.

worthless /ˈwɜːθləs/

something that is worthless has no value, importance, or use OPP valuable The house was full of worthless junk. The information was worthless to me

constraint /kənˈstreɪnt/

something that limits your freedom to do what you want SYN restriction: constraint on Constraints on spending have forced the company to rethink its plans. the constraints of family life financial/ environmental/ political etc constraints There have been financial and political constraints on development. impose/ place constraints on somebody/ something constraints imposed on teachers by large class sizes

deterrent

something that makes someone less likely to do something, by making them realize it will be difficult or have bad results: The small fines for this type of crime do not act as much of a deterrent. deterrent to/ for/ against Window locks are an effective deterrent against burglars. the deterrent effect of prison sentences

create an illusion

something that seems to be different from the way it really is: The mirrors in the room gave an illusion of greater space. Credit creates the illusion that you can own things without paying for them

cure

something that solves a problem, or improves a bad situation➔ solution: cure for There is no easy cure for loneliness.

contribution

something that you give or do in order to help something be successful: contribution to/ towards Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for his contribution to Quantum Theory. The school sees its job as preparing students to make a contribution to society. significant/ substantial/ valuable etc contribution Wolko made outstanding contributions to children's medicine.

remark

something that you say when you express an opinion or say what you have noticed SYN comment Unfortunately, a local journalist overheard the remark.

pet hate pet peeve

something that you strongly dislike because it always annoys you: TV game shows are one of my pet hates.

shortly

soon: Ms Jones will be back shortly. shortly before/ after something The accident happened shortly before midday.

She hooted at me

sounded her car horn

blunt

speaking in an honest way even if this upsets people➔ bluntly: To be blunt, many of the candidates cannot read or write. Julian's blunt words hurt her.

jargon [U]

special words and phrases used by people who do the same kind of work she used a lot of technical jargon in her explanation. Keep it simple and avoid the use of jargon.

I've won the cup! she squeaked down the phone.

spoke in a high-pitched, excited voice.

That's a thought!

spoken used to say that someone has made a good suggestion: 'Why don't you ask Walter?' 'That's a ... ! I'll phone him right away.'

take to sb/sg

start liking sb/sth

status quo

state of a situation as it is maintain preserve defend the status quo =not make any changes Will the West use its influence to maintain the status quo and not disrupt the flow of oil

suppress your feelings

stop yourself from having or expressing feeling

suppress your feelings

stop yourself from having or expressing feelings Psychologists say it's unhealthy to ...

in sb's way

stopping sb from doing sth we had to work hard together to overcome all the obstacles in our way

animosity /ˌænɪəˈmɒsɪəti/

strong dislike or hatred SYN hostility: animosity between There is no personal animosity between the party leaders. animosity towards/ against She felt a certain amount of animosity towards him.

thick

stupid (BrE informal) a ... person is stupid: He's a nice guy, but he's a bit ... .

victorious

successful in a contest or battle

distinguished

successful, respected, and admired: a long and distinguished career

stick up for sb

support and defend sb if they are criticized

be behind sb/sth

supporting a person, idea etc: The workers are very much behind these proposals. I suppose I'm lucky because my parents were behind me all the way.

keyhole surgery

surgery done through a very small hole in the skin) The operation will be done using keyhole surgery.

be admitted to hospital

taken there and treated

time consuming

taking a long time to do: a complex and time-consuming process

conscientious

taking care to do things carefully and correctly

exchange gossip

talk about other people and their private lives with someone They used to meet up and exchange gossip.

he was crowning about his victory all night.

talking too proudly about. boast about sth

skeptical / sceptical

tending to disagree with what other people tell you SYN doubtful: sceptical about/ of I'm extremely sceptical about what I read in the press. Environmental groups are sceptical of the government's claims. highly/ deeply sceptical He is highly sceptical of the reforms. 'You can trust me,' he said. Jane looked sceptical.

His behavior was inexplicable.

that cannot be explained.

nuclear capability

the ability that a country has to take a particular kind of military action: military/ nuclear etc capability America's nuclear capability

resilience

the ability to become strong, happy, or successful again after a difficult situation or event➔ toughness: resilience of the resilience of youth People showed remarkable resilience during the war.

dignity

the ability to behave in a calm controlled way even in a difficult situation: with ... The family faced their ordeal with ... an appearance of quiet dignity

hindsight /ˈhaɪndsaɪt/

the ability to understand a situation only after it has happened➔ foresight: with/ in hindsight With hindsight, I should have seen the warning signs. the benefit/ wisdom of hindsight With the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to criticize.

handover

the act of giving someone else control of a place or business: The president will remain in office until the official handover in April. handover of a smooth handover of power the handover of the business handover to The handover to civilian government has been delayed.

inexchange

the act of giving someone something and receiving something else from them: exchange of an exchange of political prisoners in exchange for something I've offered to paint the kitchen in exchange for a week's accommodation. Four of my cassettes for your Madonna CD is a fair exchange.

warfare

the activity of fighting in a war - used especially when talking about particular methods of fighting: the realities of modern warfare chemical/ nuclear/ germ etc warfare trench/ jungle/ mountain etc warfare guerrilla warfare (=fighting by small groups of fighters in mountains, forests etc)

consumption

the amount of a substance that people eat, drink, smoke etc: alcohol/ tobacco/ caffeine etc consumption The Government wants to reduce tobacco consumption by 40%.

carbon footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide that a person or organization produces by the things they do, used as a way of measuring the amount of harm they do to the environment: There are lots of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint.

outlay

the amount of money that you have to spend in order to start a new business, activity etc For a relatively small ..., you can start a home hairdressing business. House buyers usually have a large initial ... on carpets and furniture.

expenses

the amount of money that you spend on something: He borrowed £150,000 and used the money for legal expenses. Conference rooms were equipped at great expense.

yield

the amount of profits, crops etc that something produces: The average milk yield per cow has doubled. high/ low yield Shareholders are expecting a higher yield this year. yield of a yield of over six percent

territory

the area that an animal, bird etc regards as its own and will defend against other animals: A tiger has a large territory to defend. A dog uses urine to mark its territory.

trafficking

the buying and selling of illegal goods, especially drugs: drug trafficking the activity of taking people to another country and forcing them to work: human trafficking

fraud

the crime of deceiving people in order to gain something such as money or goods: tax/ insurance/ credit card etc fraud He's been charged with tax fraud. electoral fraud She was found guilty of fraud.

smuggling

the crime of taking something illegally from one country to another: He was arrested in connection with drug smuggling.

cutting-edge

the cutting edge (of something) the newest and most exciting stage in the development of something: at the cutting edge (of something) research that's at the cutting edge of genetic science The deck represents the cutting edge in CD reproduction.

deforestation

the cutting or burning down of all the trees in an area: the deforestation of the tropics

likelihood

the degree to which something can reasonably be expected to happen SYN probability: likelihood of Using a seatbelt will reduce the likelihood of serious injury in a car accident. little/ lower/ high/ greater etc likelihood There was very little likelihood of her getting the job. likelihood (that) They must face the likelihood that the newspaper might go bankrupt.

shortfall

the difference between the amount you have and the amount you need or expect➔ deficit: shortfall in Parents have been asked to pay £30 each to cover the shortfall in the budget. shortfall of an estimated shortfall of about £1 million

food miles

the distance between the place where food is produced and the place where it is eaten, which is a way of measuring its harmful effect on the environment: Reducing food miles would reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

impact

the effect or influence that an event, situation etc has on someone or something: impact on/ upon We need to assess the impact on climate change. major/ significant/ profound etc impact Higher mortgage rates have already had a major impact on spending. impact of an international meeting to consider the environmental impacts of global warming

repercussions /ˌriːpəˈkʌʃən/

the effects of an action or event, especially bad effects that continue for some time➔ consequence: repercussion for The collapse of the company had repercussions for the whole industry. repercussion on There were serious repercussions on his career. repercussion of the repercussions of the crisis

self-esteem (high/low)

the feeling of being satisfied with your own abilities, and that you deserve to be liked or respected➔ self-respect: raise/ build (up)/ boost somebody's self-esteem Playing a sport can boost a girl's self-esteem. students' sense of self-esteem low/ poor self-esteem (=not much self-esteem)

affection

the feeling of liking or caring about sth/sb

outcome

the final result of a meeting, discussion, war etc - used especially when no one knows what it will be until it actually happens SYN result: outcome of It was impossible to predict the outcome of the election. People who had heard the evidence at the trial were surprised at the outcome.

etiquette

the formal rules for polite behaviour in society or in a particular group: strict rules of professional etiquette

upper class

the group of people who belong to the highest social class his family are very upper class.

eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth)

the idea that if someone does something wrong, you should punish them by doing the same thing to them: An eye for an eye is no way to run a civilised justice system.

peer pressure

the influence that people your age may have on you

finding

the information that someone has discovered as a result of their study, work etc: Surveys conducted in other countries reported similar findings.

morale /məˈræl/

the level of confidence and positive feelings that people have, especially people who work together, who belong to the same team etc: A win is always good for morale. low/ high morale low staff morale The failed coup caused a loss of morale within the army. boost/ raise/ improve/ build morale There is a need to raise morale in the teaching profession. the Prince's morale-boosting (=intended to raise morale) mission to the war-torn country maintain/ keep up/ restore morale The media feels pressure to keep the morale of the country up in war time.

degree

the level or amount of something: degree of 1960s Britain was characterised by a greater degree of freedom than before. Newspapers vary in the degree to which they emphasize propaganda rather than information.

breadwinner

the member of a family who earns the money to support the others

ups and downs

the mixture of good and bad experiences that happen in any situation or relationship: We have our ... like all couples.

proceeds of sth

the money that is obtained from doing something or selling something➔ profit: We sold the business and bought a villa in Spain with the proceeds. proceeds of/ from The proceeds of the concert will go to charity.

protagonist

the most important character in a play, film, or story SYN main character

habitat

the natural home of a plant or animal: watching monkeys in their natural habitat The grassland is an important habitat for many wild flowers.

dependent on sb/sth /dɪˈpendənt/

the needing someone or something in order to exist, be successful, be healthy etc OPP independent dependent on/ upon Norway's economy is heavily dependent on natural resources. Jan's mother was dependent on her for physical care. Do you have any dependent children (=who you are still supporting financially) ?

mortality

the number of deaths during a particular period of time among a particular type or group of people: Mortality from heart disease varies widely across the world. infant/ child/ maternal/ adult mortality an appallingly high infant mortality rate (=number of babies who die) mortality/death/survival/birth rate

turn-out

the number of people who go to a party, meeting, or other organized event: I was disappointed by the ... for our home match.

entitlement

the official right to have or do something, or the amount that you have a right to receive: entitlement to Do you need advice on your entitlement to state benefits? benefit/ holiday/ pension etc entitlement The paid holiday entitlement is 25 days.

ruins

the part of a building that is left after the rest has been destroyed an interesting old ruin the ruins of a bombed-out office block

the key to sth

the part of a plan, action etc that will make it possible for it to succeed: Working well as a team is the ... to success. a discovery that may hold the ... to our understanding of the universe

runner-up

the person or team that comes second in a race or competition

the draft

the practice of ordering people to serve in the armed forces military service conscription

make a speedy recovery

the process of getting better after an illness, injury etc: make a full/ good/ remarkable etc recovery Doctors expect him to make a full recovery. recovery from Ann made a quick recovery from her operation.

on the surfce

the qualities, emotions etc of someone or something that are easy to notice, but which are not the only or not the real qualities, emotions etc: ... , it seems a simple story. Half an hour later, Enid had calmed down, at least ... .

courage

the quality of being brave when you are facing a difficult or dangerous situation, or when you are very ill➔ bravery OPP cowardice Sue showed great ... throughout her illness. ... to do something Gradually I lost the ... to speak out about anything. He did not have the ... to tell Nicola that he was ending their affair.

integrity

the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

integrity

the quality of being honest and strong about what you believe to be right: personal/ professional/ political etc ... a man of great moral ...

humility

the quality of not believing you are better or more important than others. modesty

motive

the reason that makes someone do something, especially when this reason is kept hidden: What do you suppose the killer's motive was? motive for (doing) something The police believe the motive for this murder was jealousy. motive behind The motives behind the decision remain obscure. The violence was clearly prompted by political motives. It's not the kind of thing he'd do unless he had an ulterior motive (=a reason he kept hidden).

remaining

the remaining people or things are those that are left when the others have gone, been used, or been dealt with: The few remaining guests were in the kitchen. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes. The only remaining question is whether we can raise the money.

have some/ no/ little say in something

the right to take part in deciding something: have some/ no/ little say in something The workers had no say in how the factory was run. The chairman has the final say (=has the right to make the final decision about something).