Cities/Urban life

ponder (on/over/about)

(formal) to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened SYN consider: - The university board is still p____ing over the matter. - He continued to p_____ the problem as he walked home. - My colleagues and I were p____ring about the direction that our company headed towards - Take your time to ponder the question. - He was p_____ing what would have happened if he had made an all informed decision instead of leaping in the dark without any cost-benefit analysis of that decision.

not the sharpest tool in the shed

(informal, humorous) not intelligent: - He's not exactly the sharpest ____ __ _____, is he? - To put it mildly, he's not the sharpest ____ __ _____. - Her new boyfriend isn't the sharpest ____ __ _____, but he's pretty good looking! - I wasn't the sharpest ____ __ _____ in school, but I still managed to find a profession I loved. - Even if you weren't the s______ t___ __ ___ s___ at school it doesn't imply that you won't succeed later on in your life.

picturesque

(of a place, building, scene, etc.) pretty, especially in a way that looks old-fashioned: - a picturesque cottage/setting/village - a quiet fishing village with a picturesque harbour - It is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque and idyllically situated working sites in the county, if not the country. - Conwy Town is a picturesque and richly historic touring centre.

all-time

(used when you are comparing things or saying how good or bad something is) of any time: - What is your all-time favorite movie? - my all-time favourite song - Unemployment reached an all-time record of 3 million. - Profits are at an all-time high/low. - all-time favourite/classic/hero

secure

1)something that is secure is safe and is not going to change or be taken away from you. 2)If you feel secure, you are not worried and do not think that anything bad is going to happen; - A child should always feel safe and secure in the home - Her financial position was relatively secure due to the fact that she ironed out every issue regarding finances - The hotel offers secure parking (a car park that is protected from thieves) - As a child, he had always felt insecure when he was away from home - Their feeling of insecurity increased when the lights all went out

peculiarity

1) [countable] something that is a feature of only one particular place, person, situation peculiarity of: -The lack of a written constitution is a peculiarity of the British political system. - The pharmacist is familiar with the peculiarities of Dr. Klein's handwriting. - the cultural peculiarities of the English - A sharp ringing in the ears is a peculiarity of the disease. - The fish are dependent for survival on the peculiarities of the environment that they live in. 2)[countable] a strange or unusual habit, quality etc(.: - Margaret regarded her mother's peculiarities with a fond tolerance. - He was strongly attracted by her peculiarities of dress and behaviour. - Many nicknames describe physical peculiarities. 3)[uncountable] the quality of being strange or unfamiliar: - She was well aware of the peculiarity of her own situation. - The peculiarity of each and every event in our lives is what makes them so fascinating. PECULIAR TO SMTH/SMTH

sweep away

1) to get rid of something completely: - Any doubts had long since been swept away - l remember looking down on it from one of the restaurants along its banks, and feeling that it was sweeping away all my troubles. - A sudden feeling of grief swept all my anger away. 2)to make somebody very interested or involved in something, especially in a way that makes them forget everything else - Sw____ smb ____ away/along/up: - They were swept along by the force of their emotions. - He was swept up in all the excitement. - We couldn't help being swept away by Bette's enthusiasm. - Nineteenth-century scientists were swept along on the tide of Darwin's theories.

to constrain

1) to stop someone from doing what they want to do - The country's progress was constrained by a leader who refused to look forward. - Financial factors should not constrain doctors from prescribing the best treatment for patients.(= to stop someone from doing what they want to do); - The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. - The company said that it was constrained to raise prices. 2)to limit something/somebody - Poor soil has constrained the level of crop production. (= to limit smth); - Women's employment opportunities are often severely constrained by family commitments.((= to limit smth); - be constrained (by something): Research has been constrained by a lack of funds. - Men and women are becoming less constrained by stereotyped roles. - constrain something: There are a number of factors that constrain agricultural development. - be/feel constrained from doing something: She felt constrained from continuing by the threat of losing her job.

alienation

1)ALIENATION FROM - the feeling of not being part of society or a group - Many immigrants suffer from a sense of alienation. - Depressed people frequently feel a sense of alienation from those around them. - Unemployment may provoke a sense of alienation from society. - Many of us have lost human touch during the coronavirus pandemic, and now feel alienated from society 2)ALIENATION OF - when someone becomes less friendly, understanding, or willing to give support as the result of something that happens or is done: - The new policy resulted in the alienation of many voters. - This short-sighted alienation of their own supporters may lose them the election.

to confine

1)LIMIT to keep someone or something within the limits of a particular activity or subject SYN restrict: - confine something to something - The police cadet's duties were confined to taking statements from the crowd. - We confined our study to ten cases. - Cancer is not confined to old people.( = If something is confined to a particular group of people, it exists only among them); - We know that the illness is not confined to any one group in society. - This attitude seems to be confined to the very wealthy. - Let's confine our discussion to the matter in question, please! - Please confine your use of the phone to business calls. By closing the infected farms we're hoping to confine the disease to the north of the region (= stop it from spreading to other areas).

stunning

1)extremely impressive or attractive: - You look absolutely stunning in that dress; - a stunning view of the lake; - The down town of the city is absolutely stunning; - a stu_____LY beautiful woman 2)very surprising or shocking SYN staggering - stunning news; - He suffered a stunning defeat in the election. - The Prime Minister launched a stunning attack on her predecessor. - The election result was a stunning blow for the party - This morning staff were given the stunning news that the factory is to close.

isolated

1)far away from other places, buildings, or people; remote: - Not many people visit this isolated spot. - isolated rural areas 2)without much contact with other people or other countries: - Young mothers often feel isolated. - I felt very isolated in my new job. - The decision left the country isolated from its allies.

affluent

1)if someone is affluent, they have a lot of money and are able to live comfortably: - an affluent lifestyle / an affluent family; - She had a well-paid job and enjoyed an affluent lifestyle - Most towns have private schools for the children of affluent families 2)If a district is affluent, it has expensive houses and shops that sell good quality items, and the people who live there are quite rich: -an affluent suburb/neighbourhood/area; - An affluent district in the west of the city; - Egremont developed as an affluent residential area in the early 19th century Noun: affluence: - her climb out of poverty to greater affluence - the family lived in relative affluence

immaculate

1)perfectly clean and tidy, with no marks or flaws: - Though old, the books were in immaculate condition; - He wore an immaculate dark blue suit.; - The property is in immaculate condition; - be/look/keep something absolutely immaculate - She was always elegantly dressed and absolutely immaculate. 2)containing no mistakes or faults. Syn: flawless; - The incident ruined an otherwise immaculate safety record. - His sense of timing was immaculate. - His answers throughout the interview were immaculate, so was his resume, I believe he's eligible for the job.

strain

1)pressure on a system or relationship because great demands are being placed on it: - This has PUT the city UNDER enormous STRAIN. - As you get older, excess weight puts a lot of strain on the heart. - The hurricane put such a strain on the bridge that it collapsed. - The recent decline in the dollar has put a bigger strain on the economic system. - Migration into the cities is putting a strain on already stretched resources. - The flu epidemic has put a huge strain on the health service. - break/crack/collapse etc under the strain: The party split under the strain.

have your head in the clouds

1)to be thinking about something that is not connected with what you are doing; ​2)to have ideas, plans, etc. that are not realistic - The government has its head in the clouds when it comes to the rebels. -He is not right for this job; he has his head in the clouds; - Lolita has her head in the clouds if she thinks she will win the tournament. - Kim does not like the logic and keeps his head in the clouds all the time.

to contemplate sth

1)to think about something that you might do in the future: - You're too young to be c___________ing retirement; - He had even c__________ed suicide; - C___________ting your future isn't worthwhile at all if your present left neglected; - She co______ a change of direction in her life - He continued while she c__________ed how to answer. 2)to accept the possibility that something is true - Too dreadful/horrifying to con_______ - The thought that she might be dead was too terrible to c_________.

show off

1. to try to make people admire your abilities, achievements, or possessions - used to show disapproval: - He couldn't resist showing off on the tennis court. - Billy, please stop showing off and sit down quietly! - He doesn't usually drive as fast as this. He's just showing off because you're here. 2. to show something to a lot of people because you are very proud of it: - a picture of the restaurant's owners showing off their award - At last, this was a chance to show off her talents before a real audience. - She wanted to show off her new husband at the party. - SHOW OFF HOW, WHAT, etc... He likes to show off how well he speaks French.

run-down

;1)if a place is run-down, it is in a bad condition because no one has been looking after it for a while: - The city centre seems very run-down; - It's a bit more run-down where I live, but at least it's more lively - A rundown restaurant near the station - The house was very run-down when we bought it, but we've transformed it over the last two years; - He made a fortune buying run-down houses and fixing them up to sell. - Is the genuine Dublin culture to be found in the new sprawling suburbs with its run-down libraries and shopping malls?; - The men were hiding in an abandoned theater in a run-down part of the city; 2)(of a person) tired or slightly ill, especially from working hard: - Many people make the mistake of not eating enough to supplement the amount of exercise they do, which can leave you feeling tired and run-down; - She got very run-down working such long hours.

(be) up in arms (about/over something)

Angry, rebellious. - They're up in arms about/over the increase in the cost of study. - local businessmen were up in arms owing to the law that could've potentially resulted in a profit's slump - Residents are up in arms about the closure of the local library; - Pine Valley residents are up in arms about plans to build a prison in the area;

a force for good

Definition: Being/to be a force for good means actively trying to create a world that isn't just good for a small few, but that is good for everyone. - As I've been looking at this more deeply, I realize that my own commitment is not necessarily to "be positive," it's actually to be a force for good in the world, regardless of the circumstances. - Each of us acting in our own way can together create a stronger force for good. - Business can be a force for good, as long as its purpose is not merely to make money but serve the community and satisfy societal needs sustainably. - The movement of work to developing economies must be a force for good. - The most obvious force for good in industry is technical advance. - The expansion of higher education should be a powerful force for change.

leading authority(on smth)

Definition: a person with more power or authority than others; someone who knows a lot about a subject and whose knowledge and opinions are greatly respected: - Mr. Okuno, a retired schoolteacher, was the leading authority in Shingu on Hsu Fu the navigator. - Mr. Li is a leading authority on Chinese food. - Mr. Righton is regarded as a leading authority on the care of children.

curb

Definition: to control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect. - Measures to curb the spread of the virus .- You must try to put a curb on your bad temper/spending habits. - You really need to curb your spending. - measures to curb the spread of the virus; - As well as curbing pollution, these control flooding. - He is someone who finds it difficult to curb his fleshly desires. - The government should act to curb tax evasion.

short-lived

If a feeling or experience is short-lived, it only lasts for a short time: - Luckily for Lerner, this rebellion was short-lived. - had a few relationships at college, most of which were fairly short-lived. - Our happiness was short-lived. - However, the President's popularity may prove to be short-lived. - We were glad to be home, but our happiness was short-lived. - However, his success was to be short-lived. - The benefits are likely to be short-lived. - The stars enjoyed an intense but short-lived romance.

bustling (with smb/smth)

If a place is bustling, it is full of busy activity: - The bustling downtown area of Chicago is dotted with massive new office developments. - The old market is a busy, bustling place, full of local colour. - The once bustling riverside is now a quiet street, with many of the old buildings well preserved. - It is surrounded by bustling shops, bars and entertainment, and close to the well-equipped sandy beach. - The market was bustling with life. - Instead, what I saw from those few hundred feet in the air was a vibrant city bustling with life. - This used to be a bustling town but a lot of people have moved away over recent years. - The house, usually bustling with activity, was strangely silent.

go hand in hand with something

If something goes h___ in h___ with something else, it is closely related to it and happens at the same time as it or as a result of it: - Wealth and power go hand in hand in most societies; - Some people say that genius goes hand in hand with madness; - Delayed gratification and success usually go hand in hand. - Buoyant economy goes hand in hand with the heightened quality of life - Goals that we pursue go hand in hand with hardships the route to achieving them induces.

through thick and thin

Longman: in spite of any difficulties or problems Cambridge: If you support or stay with someone through thick and thin, you always support or stay with them, even if there are problems or difficulties: - Then, families stuck together through thick and thin. - He's supported the team for over ten years through thick and thin. - In marriage, you have to stick together through thick and thin. - He has been springing to my defense through thick and thin - We all need people who would support us through thick and thin when we're down in the dumps and share good moment when we're on the cloud nine/in seventh heaven; - They have forged such a strong platonic/fraternal relationships because they've been supporting each other through thick and thin.

moderation

Not too much or too little of something; not going to an extreme in your pursuit of a goal. - IN MODERATION: Alcohol should only ever be taken in moderation (= in small quantities); - You can eat whatever you want as long as it's in moderation. - You will only be able to recover from injury if you can force yourself to do physical exercises IN MODERATION; - One of the outcomes of not eating IN MODERATION is obesity; - Even sport can become an addiction, yet as long as you do it IN MODERATION and it doesn't bleed into other areas of your life, it's fine - MODERATION IN (doing) SMTH: MODERATION IN eating and drinking is a way to stay healthy. - Having well-build figure calls for moderation in diet; - Moderation is key.

let the cobbler should stick to his last.

People should not make judgments in areas about which they are not informed: - After his failed attempts at writing books and hosting a television show, many think the ageing DJ should retire or return to radio—let the cobbler stick to his last. - You're a doctor, not an artist, Bob. You should let the cobbler stick to his last. - My advise to the company: let the cobbler stick to his last

charity begins at home

This idiom means that family members are more important than anyone else, and should be the focus of a person's efforts: - Charity begins at home. There are many tasks right here on campus that need volunteers as well. - She seems to have forgotten that charity begins at home — she has no problem volunteering at the church but rarely visits her own mother. - If you really want to make the world a better place, start by being polite to your sister. Charity begins at home.

not have a leg to stand on

To be in a situation where you cannot prove or legally support what you say: - If you didn't sign a contract, you won't have a leg to stand on. - The crux of the matter is that your theory doesn't have a leg to stand on, albeit it seems plausible; - Your prognosis doesn't have a leg to stand on, there's no data that can be extrapolated to back it up. - If you have no witnesses, your alibi doesn't have a leg to stand on. - Although there's a bewildering amount of conspiracy theories, most of them do not have a leg to stand on and can be easily debunked.

chaotic

a chaotic situation is one in which lots of things are happening at the same time and in a very confused and disorganised way: - the city is busy, chaotic, and noisy; - it gets very chaotic in the shop during the weeks before Christmas ; - conditions at the airport were chaotic, with travellers sleeping on the floor for a second night; - it was difficult to stay calm in such a chaotic situation; - The traffic in the city is chaotic in the rush hour. - Things have been getting chaotic in the office recently.

condemned

a condemned building is in a very bad and dangerous condition, and the authorities have decided it must be pulled down: - a condemned cement factory - he lived for a few months in a condemned block of flats Verb: condemn - These buildings should all be condemned and rebuilt -- The factory was condemned two years ago, but the owners still haven't taken any action

cosmopolitan

a cosmopolitan place has people from many different parts of the world - use this to show approval: - a vibrant cosmopolitan city - a lively hotel with a cosmopolitan atmosphere - She liked the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the city. - a cosmopolitan Mediterranean port. - The club has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. - Jamaica is a very cosmopolitan island.

make an informed decision

a decision that is based on knowledge of a subject or situation: - Making an ill-informed decision can have an effect on you financially - Before taking the leap into this opportunity, try to find as much information to ponder about as possible in order to make an informed decision; - It is almost impossible for the average person to make an informed decision - He has always been a detail-conscious person, who leaves no stone unturned and is capable of making an informed decision. With that being said everyone was safe in the knowledge that everything should run smoothly. - You're better off gathering any available data before making an informed decision, otherwise it would be a leap in the dark.

escape the daily grind(of)

a difficult or boring activity that needs a lot of effort: - The daily grind of taking care of three children was wearing her down. - Workers emerging from their daily grind in the factory; - The daily grind of meetings and tutorials went on. - the daily grind of family life - One of the integral reasons for consumerism to flourish is people's immense desire to escape the daily grind and fill the void by buying more and more things. - Going on vacation to warm countries is the most popular way of escaping the daily grind; - He was strolling around the street, in an endeavour to escape the daily grind. - As his life unfolded it was insufferably more arduous to escape the daily grind and tolerate mind-numbing(tedious) activity throughout the day.

shortcoming

a falling short of what is expected or needed; a weakness or fault: - Psychology has revealed to us much about man's SHORTCOMINGS, his illnesses, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, or his full psychological height. - Peter was painfully aware of his own shortcomings. - Not all these shortcomings stem from inadequate resources. - The painting is an allusion to his own shortcomings. - The pent-up emotions in a workplace were almost palpable, and at this moment he thought that he cannot be impervious to this shortcoming of the office. - He considered his inability to bear up in a face of adversity to be his major shortcoming.

a place in the sun

a good or lucky position: - He certainly earned his place in the sun. - Your place in the sun will be assured when you win this match. - After being a secondary player on the world stage, the emerging power began to look for its place in the sun.

a wealth of

a large amount of something: - The website provides a wealth of information. - The new manager brings a great wealth of experience to the job. - Switzerland has an enormous wealth of beautiful old buildings. - This chapter contains a wealth of information in a very concise form. - The region possesses a vast natural wealth, particularly of timber. - There is a wealth of information available about pregnancy and birth.

commuter

a person who travels from home to work and back; - The impact derailed the leading carriage and commuters had to use buses between Bishop Auckland and Shildon. - It was a small shop that catered to(=to provide the things that a particular type of person wants, especially things that you do not approve of) commuters and local workers. - The five o'clock train is always packed with commuters.

idiosyncrasy

a person's particular way of behaving, thinking, etc., especially when it is unusual; an unusual feature - Wearing a raincoat, even on a hot day, is one of her idiosyncrasies. - The car has its little idiosyncrasies. - We are all individuals, unique beings with our own special qualities and idiosyncrasies. - She's easy to work for, and her employees don't mind her idiosyncrasies. - Flight crews must become familiar with each airplane's idiosyncrasies. - She often cracks her knuckles when she's speaking - it's one of her little idiosyncrasies. - One of the idiosyncrasies of this printer is that you can't stop it once it has started.

fast-rising tide

a quickly growing trend: - The President's call for restraint came amid a ................ of public wrath toward the oil industry. - There's a fast-rising tide of taking the leap into remote jobs.

dead end

a situation where no more progress is possible; - The negotiations have reached a dead-end; - From my perspective working as a salesman on a Belarusian labour market is a dead end. - He realized that the job at which he had been aiming all these years seemed to him to be a dead end. - He's in a dead-end job in the local factory (= one with low wages and no hope of promotion). - Negotiators have reached a dead end in their endeavour to find a peaceful solution.

foible

a small weakness or strange habit that someone has, which does not harm anyone else Syn Peculiarity,quirk: - We all have our little foibles - Her act is full of funny observations on human foibles. - We have to tolerate each other's little foibles. - He often writes about the workings of government and the foibles of politicians. - I soon became immune to his little foibles. - It's plausible that we cannot tolerate people who have committed despicable crimes, but little foibles can and should be tolerated. - In spite of each other irritating foibles they've managed to reconcile. - Foibles that are inextricably linked to our personality is what contributes to our identity the most.

sprawling

a sprawling place or building spreads out over a large area in an untidy or uncontrolled way: - Kamennaya Horka is a case in point that there should be fewer sprawling districts in the city. - The sprawling suburbs of the capital city - The sprawling Cairo district of Nasr City - Tokyo is exciting because it is a sprawling urban environment to explore - It was a sprawling, four-storey hotel that could house 2,000 guests - The college moved to a sprawling campus on the outskirts of Chennai Noun: sprawl | Verb: sprawl Collocates: urban sprawl - The city has seen population growth and considerable urban sprawl - The city sprawls out over 43 square miles - There is a definite tourist area which sprawls along the coast; - The town seemed to sprawl for miles.

oriental

a term used to describe people with descent from Asia and the Middle East - or______ languages/culture/cuisine/fruits/plants - In o______ medicine the body is made up of seven major chakra or energy points. - He became fascinated with all things oriental. - The style of the painting is so o_____. - There're a lot of peculiarities that originate from oriental culture. - Throughout his journey he got familiar with a lot of intricacies of oriental culture and language.

soak up the atmosphere/the culture

absorb: - We were just sitting soaking up the atmosphere. - Here's our pick of the best places to ................ on Saturday night. - Go to a sidewalk café, order coffee, and soak up the atmosphere.

lush vegetation

an area having a lot of healthy grass, plants, trees, etc. - You half expect to see a dinosaur wander by vacuuming up the ................ . - lush green valleys - the lush green countryside

stuck behind a desk

be unhappy in office job; sitting at a desk all day: - I'm not stuck behind a desk doing something boring. - Being a pilot is a glamorous job, however, the hours are irregular and anti-social. Pilots are not stuck behind a desk, yet long-haul flights can be mind-numbing. - As a white-collar working you shouldn't be gobsmacked that you are to be stuck behind your desk. - He was stuck behind his desk, cramming for the exam. - He has a natural talent for STEM subjects, some teachers even dubbed him as a "math prodigy", but the truth is he's a pretty laid-back guy, who isn't stuck behind a desk all the time. - It takes a lot of grit and determination(tenacity) to bury yourself in books or stuck behind a desk and study intensively and not give in to impulses for instant gratification;

come from all corners of the world

come from the four corners of the world/earth: Definition: (From) all parts of the world; from the farthest reaches. - People from the four corners of the world have come to Ontario to make it their home. - People traveled from all corners of the world to hear the guru speak. - She had invited relatives from the four corners of the world to her 80th birthday party. - People came from the four corners of the earth to see the sight.

keep up with the Joneses

compete with others in status/material goods: - A: "Why did she buy such an expensive car?" B: "Well, she lives in a wealthy part of town—I bet she just wants to keep up with the Joneses." - Of course, in this desperate attempt to keep up with the Joneses, they are all the more likely to end up poor.

safe in the knowledge that

confident because you know that something is true or will happen - Enjoy your "Sunwoy" cruise, safe in the knowledge that everything has been taken care of. - She went out, safe in the knowledge that no one else was awake. - She went out safe in the knowledge that she looked fabulous. - He took the test, safe in the knowledge that he would ace it. - She went on a shopping spree, safe in the knowledge that he can afford 2 times more after her promotion. - He was strolling around, safe in the knowledge that he was not being monitored. - He went to work, safe in the knowledge that he locked the door.

conspicuous consumption

conspicuous consumption involves buying a lot of expensive and often unnecessary things in order to impress people and show them you are rich: - there's a lot of conspicuous consumption with people showing off their wealth; - conspicuous consumption used to be regarded as acceptable behaviour but nowadays most people don't approve of it; - Thorstein Veblen was the first economist to identify the concept of conspicuous consumption in 1899; - Foreign imports such as colour television sets and hi-fi systems cram shop windows, catering to demands for conspicuous consumption. - The emergence of stratified societies culminating in states increased conspicuous consumption of precious substances. - The creative ones turned their backs on conspicuous consumption and decided in favor of a simpler, personalized lifestyle.

lingering

continuing to exist for longer than is usual or desirable - lingering doubts/suspicions etc - Any lingering hopes of winning the title soon disappeared. - Mr. Wilkins suffered a lingering death. - She says she stopped seeing him, but I still have lingering doubts. - Dad suffers from the lingering effects of radiation treatments - Slow lingering illnesses may require only one remedy a day or less - She had a lingering sense of guilt for some time after breaking off her relationship with Henry.

congested

crowded; full of traffic: - The M25 around Heathrow is always congested; - The congested streets of Bangkok; - Oxford's roads are congested, polluted and dangerous ; - Plan your journey well in advance to avoid congested areas; - Traffic engineers believe that the new road could free up congested city streets; - Controllers trying to manage increasingly congested airports; Noun: Congestion: To ease congestion /to avoid congestion/ traffic congestion / heavy congestion: - The government brought in controls on car use to try and ease congestion; - Traffic congestion is a serious problem here; - Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion; - Elon Musk's project aims to ease the traffic congestion in LA; - Better public transport would help ease traffic congestion;

exquisite

extremely beautiful and very delicately made: - the most exquisite craftsmanship; - Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite. - Across the plaza is another exquisite colonial building, which houses the offices of the state government. - And the Museum of Islamic Art has a whole lot of exquisite pieces from Muslim times.

hopelessly lost

extremely not knowing where you are and how to get to a place: - A visitor becomes ................ in its sylvan splay of strip malls and office parks. - They were hopelessly lost. - After about twenty minutes, walking and fishing, she realised that she was hopelessly lost.

off the beaten track

far away from other people, houses, etc. - They live miles off the beaten track. - Away from the Algarve, it's not hard to get off the beaten track.

vibrant

full of activity or energy in a way that is exciting and attractive: - Thailand is at its most vibrant during the New Year celebrations. - Hong Kong is a vibrant, fascinating city. - Minsk used to be a bustling, vibrant city where you could soak up the positive atmosphere and boost your spirits. - Disputes are inevitable in a dynamic society with changing mores and a vibrant(buoyant) economy.

replete (with something)

full of something: - The city is replete with a variety of entertainments, I'm safe in the knowledge that you will find smth tempting/compelling/alluring. - The company is replete with the project to get your teeth into. - The auditorium is replete with distinguished scholars, imminent professors and many of them even deemed as a leading authority in their fields of enveavour. - This car has an engine replete with the latest technology. - literature replete with drama and excitement

limited public funding

limited amount of money, provided by public: - Like many other major world cities, Curitiba in southern Brazil has had to deal with issues such as pollution, poverty, and limit ed public funding. However, the architect and three-times mayor of the city, Jaime Lerner, has introduced some innovative solutions.

flock to

go to (a place) in large numbers: - People and businesses have flocked to the city, which now has more than 1.8 million residents. - Thousands of people flocked to the beach this weekend. - flock to do something: People flocked to hear him speak. - People have been flocking to the exhibition. - They began to sell their land and, in a final bid to avoid starvation, started to flock to Calcutta.

fast approaching

going to happen soon: - The deadline was fast approaching. - November 5 is fast approaching and it is time to order your fireworks, build up the bonfire and chew on a toffee apple.

Ensueing

happening after something and because of it: - The ensuing increase in turnover rapidly persuaded shop owners to change their minds; - He lost his job and in the ensuing months became more and more depressed. - He had become separated from his parents in the ensuing panic. - They lost track of each other in the ensuing years. - The situation deteriorated over the ensuing weeks. - The Agency, however, has challenged the basis of the designations and the ensuing allocation of resources.

buzz

if a place has a buzz, lots of exciting and interesting things happen there. A buzz is also the feeling of excitement and happiness that you get from doing something exciting: -

fast approaching

if an event or a particular time approaches, or you approach it, it is coming nearer and will happen soon The school holidays are [--][--] and I'm sure all of you parents out there are worried about how to occupy your children.

by leaps and bounds

if something increases, develops, grows etc by leaps and bounds, it does it very quickly: - Lifeboat technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. - In fact, vegetarianism is growing by leaps and bounds, particularly among the health-conscious. - Existing industries expanded by leaps and bounds - Her health has improved in leaps and bounds. - His technique has come on in leaps and bounds this season. - The company is growing by leaps and bounds this year.

compact

if something is compact, it is small and does not take up much space: - the flat is nice and compact, so it's easy to keep clean - a compact car - the college occupies a relatively compact campus - PDF files are very compact, so they download quickly - Edinburgh is a compact city. -The kitchen was compact but well equipped. - Computers have become much more compact over the last 15 years.

mingle smth with smth

if two feelings, sounds, smells etc mingle, they mix together with each other: - The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air; - mingle (A) (with B) Her tears mingled with the blood on her face. - He felt a kind of happiness mingled with regret. - mingle (A and B) (together) The flowers mingle together to form a blaze of colour. - a lot of emotions all mingled together

overlap

if two subjects, ideas etc overlap, they include some but not all of the same things: - Maxwell's responsibilities overlap yours, so you will be sharing some of the work. OVERLAP WITH: - The study of sociology overlaps with the study of economics. -two great men with overlapping interests - My musical tastes don't overlap with my brother's at all. - Their core businesses do not overlap much. - Having merged the two companies, his first task is to eliminate overlapping product lines.

choke

if you choke, you have a lot of difficulty breathing because you cannot get air into your lungs easily: Collocates: choke on something | choke to death - the smog here is awful - you have to wear a mask or you'd choke on the fumes - Isabel nearly choked on a piece of meat - he lay in bed, coughing and choking - two of the prisoners choked to death on the toxic smoke - the smog is so bad you need a mask, otherwise, you'd choke on the fumes - the smog is so bad you need a mask, otherwise, you'd choke on the fumes

Unthinkable

impossible to accept or imagine: IT IS UNTHINKABLE THAT...: It was unthinkable that she could be dead; - It is unthinkable that a mistake like this could have happened. IT IS UNTHINKABLE (FOR somebody/something) (TO do something): It's unthinkable for something like this to happen.; - It would be unthinkable for me to stay anywhere but with the family.; UNTHINKABLE TO smb: This course of action would have been unthinkable to the Russian generals. - The idea of a world without music is unthinkable. - The ludicrous idea of "paying the debt" to your country is unthinkable in developed countries. - It's unthinkable for me to stop learning English; - It's unthinkable that Matrix could've had different ending; - The amount of sex on television that we see today would have been unthinkable in previous decades.

in dire straits

in a very bad situation that is difficult to fix, especially a financial one: - The factory is in dire straits. - These kids are in dire straits, and the schools are doing nothing to help them! - The company is in dire financial straits .- The team is in such dire straits they've even considered selling their three best players. - Everton, to put it bluntly, are in dire straits.

remarkably diverse

incredibly versatile - From dancing lemurs to giant baobab trees, the country is ................ .

Interweave

interweave-interwove-interwoven; if two things are interwoven, they are closely related or combined in a complicated way: - She has created an intriguing story by skillfully interweaving fictional and historical events. - CLOSELY/TIGHTLY/INEXTRICABLY INTERWOVEN: The two themes are inextricably INTERWOVEN in the book; - The problems are inextricably interwoven; - Aggression and assertiveness are INEXTRICABLY INTERWOVEN; - Bioshock Rapture and Bioshock Infinite are closely interwoven; - The economic downturn and political crisis are inextricably interwoven; - The slump in business activity and deterioration in the political realm are interwoven. BE INTERWOVEN WITH smth: - The problems that we are to address are tightly interwoven with the overall goal we want to hit. - The reason why the state is not inwoven with religion is because of numerous societal problems that this fusion stirs up.

on the horizon

likely to happen soon:Syn.just behind the corner/to be on the cards - There's trouble looming( =(of something bad) to appear serious and likely to happen soon); - There was a crisis looming on the horizon. - A new threat is now looming on the horizon.

be on the cards

likely to happen: - The merger has been on the cards for some time now; - They say that another recession is on the cards; - I was hoping for a promotion, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards right now; - No one was surprised when they got a divorce. It had been on the cards for years; - I don't think that the next wave of protests is on the cards; -

litter

litter is rubbish that is dropped in public places and which makes those places look untidy Collocates: litter bin | drop litter - there's not a trace of litter or chewing gum on the pavements - the streets are COVERED IN LITTER - don't DROP LITTER in the street - pick your litter up - a litter bin - clear up all the litter in the park Verb: - litter broken bottles LITTERED the beach -the entrance to the station was LITTERED WITH fast food containers

boost spirits

make feel more cheerful: - Politicians and celebrities have shown up to ................ .

come rain or shine

no matter what: - Come rain or shine, he is always unfazed; - Come rain or shine, he always takes part in brainstorming sessions; - He travels to bananas republic every year, come rain or shine.

environmentally friendly

not harmful to the environment: - environmentally friendly packaging. - Cycling is very environmentally friendly. - Is there such a thing as an environmentally friendly car?

not the sharpest knife in the drawer[drɔː(r)]

not the smartest: - Alisa isn't the ________ _______ in the drawer, albeit she is the one who has been executing every project on time and on budget. - Danny failed his third test this week. - Well, he's not not the sharpest ______ __ ___ drawer, you know. - I've never felt being not the sharpest knife in the drawer. - People who have been passing tests/exams with flying colors all the time oftentimes feel disheartened in situations when they're not the s_____ knives in the d____

cold and damp

opposite of "hot and humid"

per capita

per person basis; total divided by population - Japanese visitors' spending per capita was much higher than average spending by tourists from other countries. - The US uses twice as much oil per capita as European competitors. - Per capita income rose sharply last year.

spotless

perfectly clean: - By the time she had finished the house was absolutely spotless.; - Minsk is well known for its spotless streets; - the hotel room was absolutely spotless; - the streets are spotless, but it's also very dull(= boring) there; - he was wearing a spotless white suit Adverb: spotlessly collocates with: SPOTLESSLY CLEAN; -her shirt was old but spotlessly clean - a spotlessly white handkerchief

tranquil

pleasantly calm, quiet, and peaceful: - The campground is nestled in a ................ bushland setting by the Wentworth River. - For a few weeks, the atmosphere on the Street was quiet, almost tranquil. - Their tranquil dreams broken, they were united in their resolve to repair the damage.

swiftly

quickly or immediately: - She walked swiftly away; - It runs as swiftly as an underground railway but for a tenth of the cost. Commuters were delighted. - An idea to improve travel(commute). By devising a rapid transit bus system that runs swiftly and smoothly.

laze around

relax, enjoy yourself, and do nothing: - I've spent the afternoon just lazing around. - I'm just going to laze around and watch TV. - I found him lazing around in bed with a cup of coffee and the paper. - • Your life might consist of lazing about all day and partying all night but mine certainly doesn't - time is precious. - We spent the day lazing around on the beach. - Your children shouldn't be lazing around indoors on such a nice day.

fumes

smoke, gas,or something similar that smells strongly or is dangerous to breathe in: - It can take two and-a-half hours for commuters to drive to and from work in the rush hour through choking traffic f_____, and pollution levels are high. - diesel/petrol/exhaust f____ - Sometimes exhaust f____ escape into the vehicle. - She was overcome by smoke and f___ - The smog is awful - you have to wear a mask or you'd choke on the f____. - chemicals which give off nasty fumes - a petrol engine producing poisonous fumes - a cloud of toxic fumes - he was overcome by fumes (made unconscious by them)

staggering

so great, shocking or surprising that it is difficult to believe: - The attention to detail is staggering; - The public response was absolutely staggering. - The paintings on the wall were evidence of a staggering lack of talent. - They paid a staggering £5 million for the house. - She beat the two previous winners with staggering ease. - a STRAGGERINGLY beautiful landscape;

Recluse

someone who chooses to live alone, and does not like seeing or talking to other people: - to lead the life of a recluse; - He is a millionaire recluse who refuses to give interviews. - She became a recluse after her two sons were murdered. - The Hikikomori are inhabitants of Tokyo who cannot cope with 'the mechanical coldness and robotic uniformity' of a megacity and have become recluses, rarely or never leaving their homes. - If you don't get out more, you're going to turn into a recluse. - He has been living alone for over 2 years, owing to that no wonder that he's turned into a recluse. - One of the downsides of remote work is that you can easily become a recluse. - The incompatible interests of his classmates alienated him and somehow he couldn't reconcile the differences, which resulted in him, becoming a recluse. - He can be self-effacing every now and then, but it doesn't mean that he leads the life of a recluse, he's just timid.

incentive

something that encourages you to work harder, start a new activity etc: - He initiated a recycling scheme based on an 'incentives' system. - create/provide/give somebody an incentive; - Awards PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE for young people to improve their skills- incentive (for/to somebody/something) (to do something): - Farmers lack any incentive to manage their land organically. - have an incentive/ give/offer somebody an incentive/ provide somebody with an incentive/ create an incentive/ act as an incentive - This gives pupils a strong incentive to read in English.

well-run

something that is well-run is properly organised: - We stayed in a very well-run hotel in the city centre - The school had been very well run until a couple of years ago - A well-run factory that provides jobs for local people - A well-run city/town/company/factory/business/department etc.

Susceptible to something

susceptible (to something) very likely to be influenced, harmed or affected by something: Prone to - Vulnerable - Influenced - gullible - Well-intentioned white allies of black political groups are even more susceptible to this mistake than most black leaders. - He's highly susceptible to flattery. - Some of these plants are more susceptible to frost damage than others. - Salt intake may lead to raised blood pressure in susceptible adults. - There are few known diseases which are not susceptible to medical treatment. - Reporters are often susceptible to personal biases. - It is at this free-swimming stage that it is susceptible to treatment. - The greatest challenge is strengthening judicial systems, which in some countries have long been susceptible to bribery or political pressure. - Among particularly susceptible children, the disease can develop very fast.

take draconian measures

take extremely severe measures: - Runaway growth and inflation forced Beijing to .............. to cool things down. - There have been calls for draconian measures against drug-related crime. - He criticized the draconian measures taken by the police in controlling the demonstrators.

Golden Mean

the medium between extremes : MODERATION: - He has an aptitude to be unfazed in the face of adversity and not to overreact to both slight changes and upheavals which is a golden mean for this type of job. -

fabric of

the structure or parts of something: - Drug abuse poses a major threat to the fabric of our society. - The country's social fabric is disintegrating. - a trend which threatens the very fabric of society

keep your finger on the pulse

to always know about the most recent changes or developments in a particular situation or activity: - people who have their finger on the pulse of fashion and pop culture - The situation changes daily, so you need to keep your finger on the pulse.

be/stand head and shoulders above

to be much better than: - One contestant stood head and shoulders above the rest. - Though short, he stands head and shoulders above most. - His performance stood head and shoulders above the rest. - here's no competition - they're head and shoulders above the rest.

To pussyfoot around/about

to be too careful and frightened to do something, such as making firm decisions or telling someone exactly what you think: - You can't pussyfoot around when it comes to keeping kids safe. - When Cranston wants something, he doesn't pussyfoot around. - I realized I could no longer pussyfoot around. I had to say what I really thought. - He pussyfooted around for so long, because he knew how his decision can infuse(to have an effect on all parts of something) all aspects of his life.

veg out

to be very lazy and spend time doing very little: - Ralph vegged out in front of the TV all day again. - I'm exhausted - I think I'll just go home and veg out in front of the TV tonight. - Instead of finally finishing this quizlet I was vegging out in bad for a couple of hours. - If you feel mentally worn out and your motivation wears off, it's a normal thing to allow yourself to veg out;

to book well in advance

to book well beforehand - However, it's really hard to get accommodation during the Festival so you need to book well in advance.

To weather

to deal successfully with a difficult situation or a problem: - As a small new company they did well to weather the recession. - The company weathered the storm of objections to the scheme. - Northern Ireland weathered the recession better than any other region in the UK. - Luckily, he managed to weather all hardships on his way.

take the plunge

to decide to do something important or risky, especially after thinking about it for a long time: - We took the plunge and set up our own business. - And once you do take the plunge, avoid the computer ads for at least a year. - After pussyfooting around for almost a year, he finally took the plunge and switched into project management at the expense of his financial stability. - He finally took the plunge and ditched caffeine, the most widespread beverage that is notorious for its mind-altering effects.

secluded

very private and quiet: - secluded garden/spot/beach etc - We sunbathed on a small secluded beach. - He's 80 years old now and lives a very secluded life. - We managed to find a secluded spot for our picnic. - to lead a secluded life

thirst for

to feel very strongly that you want and need a particular thing: -the insatiable thirst for - to be thirsting for justice/truth/adventure. - Tampa Bay plays stout defense... the Bucs thirsted for a victory. - The local press are doing their best to satisfy the thirst for facts on the tournament and teams. - My thirst for knowledge had been slaked, surpassed by a hunger for cash.

escape the crowds

to get away from a place where there are lots of people: - It's good to ................ and appreciate the peacefulness of the mountain.

get away from it all

to go somewhere, usually on holiday, where you can completely relax and forget your responsibilities or problems: - People go fishing to get away from it all. - We've decided to go to hiking in the mountains to get away from it all.

make ends meet

to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need: - Many families struggle to make ends meet. - When Mike lost his job, we could barely make ends meet. - She is unemployed and depends upon benefits to make ends meet.

be at a loose end

to have nothing to do: - I was at a loose end so I decided to go see an old movie. - Come and see us, if you're at a loose end. - If you find yourself at a loose end, you could always clean the bathroom. - I woke up at the crack of dawn on Sunday and found myself at a loose end. - He took a vacation for the first time in years and was pretty uncomfortable being at a loose end. - Even if you're at a loose end, it's not an excuse for not doing anything, get your priorities right and go for it.

retain

to keep or continue to have something: - Beaches have given way to expensive houses and time-share apartments, but locals have fought tirelessly to retain charm. - She has lost her battle to retain control of the company. - He managed to retain his dignity throughout the performance. - She succeeded in retaining her lead in the second half of the race. - I have a good memory and am able to retain (= remember) facts easily. - To retain talent, companies must give employees the opportunity to develop.

put a/the lid on something

to keep something under control and stop it from increasing; to be the final act or event that causes your plans or hopes to fail: - His resignation will put a lid on the project; - The tasks that he has to plough through put a lid on having dinner with his family this evening; - It's a fallacy to think that implementation of this tool will not put a lid on existing projects. - He has delegated responsibilities to her which resulted in her putting a lid on - Lack of funding put a lid on this educational program

to add up to

to lead to a particular result; to show something: - These clues don't really add up to very much (= give us very little information). - An enormous volume of work can add up to the surge in stress levels. - Sedentary lifestyle and lack of engagement in physical exercises can add up to the risk of having cardiovascular disease.

life in the fast lane

to live in an exciting way of life that involves dangerous and expensive activities: - Brenda is a lady who loves life in the fast lane. - McCravey lived his life in the fast lane for 27 years. - They want to make life in the fast lane even faster. - Now at his lowest ebb, Marinello can reflect on life in the fast lane. - He had a good job, plenty of money and he was enjoying life in the fast lane. - Parties and women - he was living life in the fast lane.

peer

to look closely or carefully at something, especially when you cannot see it clearly: - These walls are amazing-they're completely intact, and you can peer into people's living rooms as you walk past. - He went to the window and peered out. - She kept peering over her shoulder.

keep your eyes peeled

to look out for somebody/something that you might see: - We kept our eyes peeled for any signs of life. - The village was in complete wilderness, our toilet a local bush - keeping our eyes peeled for lions! - One final word on buying components, keep your eyes peeled for products that are about to be discontinued. - However, eventually a public version could be released, so ................ .

cater for

to provide the things that a particular person or situation needs or wants: - The class caters for all ability ranges. - Schools often fail to cater for the needs of gifted children. - It is a resort that clearly caters for the well-off. - This section of the bookstore caters for minority interests. - She runs a specialist company that caters for people - with food allergies. - The college caters for deaf and visually-impaired students.

cater to

to provide the things that a particular type of person wants, especially things that you do not approve of: - They only publish novels which cater to the mass market. - Our magazines cater to professionals such as lawyers and physicians. - an LA bank catering to Asian businesses; - Most perfume ads cater to male fantasies.

get my teeth into

to put a lot of your time and energy into something that is interesting because it needs a lot of effort and skill - I'd like a project that I can really g_____ m__ t______ i______ . - I can't wait to get my teeth into the new course. - We were both the sort of people who just can't let go once they have got their teeth into something. - Choose an essay topic that you can really get your teeth into.

recharge your batteries

to rest or relax in order to get back your energy: - A week in the mountains should recharge my batteries; - They like to renew old acquaintances, make new friends, see an interesting place in good company, recharge their batteries. - In case you have a sedentary job I'd highly recommend to engage in vigorous physical exercises, cause it'll enable you to recharge your batteries and protect your mental agility.

unwind

to stop worrying or thinking about problems and start to relax: - Music helps me unwind after a busy day; - a beautiful country hotel that is the perfect place to unwind; - After a couple of drinks, Tom began to unwind. - But how many of us make time to unwind? - One of the downsides of studying intensively and burying yourself with books is that you have a little if no time to unwind; - Without giving yourself time to unwind you'll eventually hit the wall.

rack one's brain(s) (idiom)

to try very hard to remember or think of something: - She r___ ___ _____, trying to remember exactly what she had said. - We racked our ______ but we couldn't come up with a solution. - I've r___ed __ brains, but at my age, there are precious few left to rack - Desperately, Irvin racked ___ _____, but there was nothing he could tell them. - I've been r_____ __ _____, in an endeavour to find the best possible way to eradicate this impediment without affecting other business processes in a company. - I was r___ ___ _____, trying to tailor an approach to learning to my idiosyncratic needs

stroll

to walk somewhere in a slow relaxed way: - stroll(across/along/around/down/over). - We were strolling along, laughing and joking. - The city is full of taco stands and cafes where people meet and socialize and Mariachi bands STROLL THROUGH the boulevards and squares playing songs for money. - We drove to Penrhyn Castle and STROLLED AROUND the beautiful gardens there. - We can't have students STROLLING whenever they feel like it - I was just strolling around the moll, looking for her; a stroll - ​a slow relaxed walk: - BE OUT FOR/ GO FOR/ ENJOY A STROLL; - We WENT FOR A STROLL in the park.

stuck in a rut

too fixed in one particular type of job, activity, method, etc., and needing to change: - I need to change jobs - after 15 years here I feel I'm (stuck) in a rut. - I gave up my job because I felt I was stuck in a rut. - I was stuck in a rut and decided to look for a new job. - There're a lot of people who are discontented with the lives they life and it feels like they're stuck in a rut. - He's craving for new challenges, on his current position he feels like he is stuck in a rut.

not enough room to swing a cat

used humorously to say that an area or room is not very big: - Many families are forced to live in tiny apartments with not enough room to swing a cat. - They overbooked the conference, and by the time we were all in the room there wasn't enough room to swing a cat. - Their living room was very small. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat. - How can you work in a small room like this? There's not enough room to swing a cat.

incidentally

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. - Incidentally, have you heard the news about Sue?

rapidly

very quickly and in a very short time: - rapidly growing/changing/expanding etc. - The disease was spreading more rapidly than expected. - the rapidly changing world of technology. - Labour markets became very tight and money wages rose rapidly. - From Melbourne to Seoul, intraregional trade and investments were rapidly expanding. - The leisure industry, however, is one of the world's largest and most rapidly expanding businesses. - The rapidly expanding capabilities of information technology would facilitate the process.

To weather the storm

wait until the situation improves again: - In the next few days we will see if the ambassador can weather the political storm caused by his remarks. - She refuses to resign, intending to weather the storm; - The company has managed to weather the storm. - There're loads of people who will not be able to weather the storm of problems that coronavirus has sparked.

set your heart on something

want to get or achieve something very much. - "I've been to Ethiopia and this book has made me realise you can do anything you set your heart on." - They've set their heart on a house in the country. - His father bought him the bike he had set his heart on; - I've set my heart on acquiring as much knowledge in regard to English as possible; - He'd had set his heart on having a high-flying/high-profile/high-achieving career and was working his butt off, come rain or shine; - Many youngsters nowadays set their hearts on becoming popular

hungry for/to

wanting or needing something very much Syn Eager: - She is hungry for success. - Stan was hungry to learn. - Both parties are hungry for power. - The child is simply hungry for affection. - We like to use small agencies that are hungry for our business. - Every day they come to school hungry to learn.

To crawl

when cars, buses, and lorries are crawling, they are moving very slowly because there is a lot of traffic. When people crawl, they move slowly along the ground on their hands and knees: - the traffic is terrible and the cars just crawl along most of the time - we spent over an hour in the taxi crawling along - we should have walked - babies learn to crawl at about six months old - we had to crawl through the entrance to the tent Noun: crawl Collocates: at a crawl - traffic was moving at a crawl (very slowly) through the Blackwall Tunnel - The traffic was crawling along. - The weeks crawled by. - The traffic was crawling as I left the city. - The taxi crawled to a halt. - It took several hours to drive the 50 miles, crawling along through the snow. - We sat in the car with the radio on, crawling along behind a long line of other cars.

indulgent

willing to allow someone, especially a child, to do or have whatever they want, even if this is not good for them: - Mothers tend to be less indulgent towards daughters. - She was usually very indulgent with him.

intrepid

willing to do dangerous things or go to dangerous places - often used humorously: - intrepid explorers/reporter/hero; - Intrepid pioneers came to California by wagon train. - Traders and missionaries often proved themselves to be intrepid explorers. - a team of intrepid explorers

a sense of adventure

willingness to try new things, take risks etc: - It is like they embody the spirit of adventure, that sense of infinite newness. - The sense of adventure felt by the pioneers of flight still remains with those who carry on the tradition of ballooning today. - Sam won't come - he's got no sense of adventure (= he does not enjoy dangerous or exciting situations).

impeccable

without mistakes or faults; - impeccable manners/taste/character/credentials/logic - Her written English is impeccable. - Our staff take pride in providing impeccable service. - She came to the company with impeccable credentials. - The chain of logic is impeccable. - On paper, her qualifications seemed to be impeccable.

apprehensive

worried or nervous about something that you are going to do, or about the future: - apprehensive about/of: We'd been a little apprehensive about their visit. - apprehensive that...: I was apprehensive that something would go wrong. - Some had apprehensive looks on their faces. - Afterward the architects agreed that they had been very apprehensive about what it would look like. - I was a little apprehensive about the effects of what I had said.